Inhibitors of candida albicans

A method for treating a fungal infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject a compound of the formula:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
• wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, hydroxy, and halo;
• p is an integer ranging from 1 to 5;
• each X and each Y are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, nitro, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkenyl, C1-C6 alkynyl, amido, aryl, heteroaryl, and acyl;
• or two Xs or two Ys together form a 5, 6, or 7-membered ring;
• m is an integer varying from 0 to 11;
• and
• n is an integer varying from 0 to 11;
• in an amount effective to treat the fungal infection.

A method for treating a fungal infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject a compound of the formula:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
• wherein R1 and R2 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkenyl, C1-C6 alkynyl, aryl, and heteroaryl;
• wherein R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, halo, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkenyl, and C1-C6 alkynyl;
• or R5 and R6 together are a carbonyl oxygen;
• n is an integer ranging from 1 to 5;
• each X and each Y are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkenyl, C1-C6 alkynyl, amido, aryl, heteroaryl, and acyl;
• or two Xs or two Ys together form a 5, 6, or 7-membered ring;
• m is an integer varying from 0 to 5;
• and
• p is an integer varying from 0 to 5;
• in an amount effective to treat the fungal infection.

A method for treating a fungal infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject a compound of the formula:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
• wherein R is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, halo, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkenyl, and C1-C6 alkynyl;
• each X and each Y are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro, C1-C6 alkynyl, amido, aryl, heteroaryl, and acyl;
• or two Xs or two Ys together form a 5, 6, or 7-membered ring;
• m is an integer ranging from 0 to 5;
• and
• n is an integer ranging from 0 to 5;
• in an amount effective to treat the fungal infection.

A method for treating a fungal infection in a subject in need of such treatment comprising administering to the subject a compound of the formula:

• or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,
• wherein each R1, each R2, and each R3 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, halo, C1-C6 alkyl, C1-C6 alkenyl, and C1-C6 alkynyl;
• or R1 and R2 together are a carbonyl oxygen;
• each q is an integer ranging from 0 to 6;
• each r is an integer ranging from 0 to 6;
• each s is an integer ranging from 0 to 6;
• each t is an integer ranging from 0 to 6;
• each X, each Y, and each Z are independently selected from the group consisting of halo, hydroxy, C1-C6 alkoxy, nitro, C1-C6 alkynyl, amido, aryl, heteroaryl, and acyl;
• or two Xs or two Ys, or two Zs, together form a 5, 6, or 7-membered ring;
• m is an integer ranging from 0 to 5;
• n is an integer ranging from 0 to 4;
• and
• p is an integer ranging from 0 to 5;
• in an amount effective to treat the fungal infection.

A method for identifying a modulator of a phenotypic transition of Candida cells comprising:

• providing a sample of the cells characterized by a first phenotypic form;
• adding a test compound to the sample of the cells;
• observing whether or not there is a measurable change in the cells from the first phenotypic form to a second phenotypic form;
• and
• classifying the test compound as a modulator of the phenotypic transition if there is a change or classifying the test compound as not being a modulator of the phenotypic transition if there is no change.

A method for identifying an inhibitor of a budded-to-hyphal transition of Candida albicans cells comprising:

• providing a sample of the cells characterized by the budded form;
• adding a test compound to the sample of the cells;
• observing whether or not there is a measurable change in the Candida albicans cells from the budded form to the hyphal form;
• and
• classifying the test compound as an inhibitor of the phenotypic transition if there is no increase in the budded form or classifying the test compound as not being an inhibitor if there is no change.