Fungal Genomics & Biology
Open Access

Abstract

Repositioning of Solifenacin and Hydroxyzine as Antibiofilm Agents in Candida albicans

Sankunny Mohan Karuppayil and Awad Ali

Biofilm growth and drug resistance by Candida albicans can cause serious health problems in immunocompromised patients. Therefore there is a necessity for developing novel drugs. One of the strategies is repositioning of drugs. Solifenacin is a muscarinic receptor antagonist used for overactive bladder treatment. While Hydroxyzine is an anti-allergy drug and also it has mild anti-muscarinic receptor effect. In this manuscript, the effect of Solifenacin and hydroxyzine against C. albicans virulence factors is reported. It is found that Solifenacin and Hydroxyzine inhibited biofilm formation, adhesion, growth and morphogenesis in C. albicans. C. albicans Rrp9, an essential protein is found to exhibit identity and similarity with muscarinic receptor M1. A docking study between Hydroxyzine and C. albicans Rrp9 revealed good binding energy. Molecular docking studies between human muscarinic M1 receptor and muscarinic receptor antagonists, Solifenacin and hydroxyzine were carried out. It was found that both Solifenacin and Hydroxyzine can bind with muscarinic M1 receptor. Based on this study, it is suggested that Solifenacin and Hydroxyzine could be repositioned as anti-biofilm as well as anti-virulence agents in the human pathogen, C. albicans.