Candida cell wall glycans (CCWG)

Candida cell wall glycans are a complex, essential network of polysaccharides and glycoproteins that form the protective outer layer of Candida species, including Candida albicans and the multidrug-resistant Candida auris [2, 10]. These glycans—primarily beta-(1,3)-glucan, beta-(1,6)-glucan, mannans, and chitin—provide mechanical strength and osmotic protection while serving as the primary interface for host-pathogen interactions [14, 16]. They act as critical pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) that trigger the host immune response; however, Candida can mask these glycans with an outer mannan layer to evade immune recognition [11, 15]. Because these glycans are absent in human cells, they are ideal therapeutic targets for antifungal agents [4, 11]. Clinically approved drugs like echinocandins and newer triterpenoids like ibrexafungerp inhibit the synthesis of beta-(1,3)-glucan, leading to cell wall disruption, osmotic lysis, and enhanced immune 'unmasking' [2, 10, 11]. Despite their therapeutic promise, challenges include the emergence of resistance through mutations in synthase enzymes and compensatory shifts in cell wall composition [5, 11].

Other names

Fungal cell wall glycansCandida cell wall polysaccharidesBeta-glucansMannansChitinFungal glycans

Inhibition of beta-(1,3)-D-glucan synthase, inhibition of chitin synthase, inhibition of GPI-anchor biosynthesis, or direct binding to cell wall polysaccharides leading to osmotic instability, cell wall weakening, and fungal cell lysis.