Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40038303›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Structure-guided optimization of small molecules targeting Yck2 as a strategy to combat Candida albicans.

Emily Puumala, Meganathan Nandakumar, Bonnie Yiu, Peter J Stogios, Benjamin G Strickland, Robert Zarnowski, Xiaoyu Wang, Noelle S Williams, Alexei Savchenko, David R Andes and 4 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Imidazo[1,2‑ACS omega · 2026
    Review
  2. Advancing the Understanding of the Mo-CBPProbiotics and antimicrobial proteins · 2026
    Article
  3. The pathogenicity and future treatment strategies ofFrontiers in cellular and infection microbiology · 2026
    Review
  4. Article
  5. Article
  6. Chemoproteomic Profiling ofJournal of medicinal chemistry · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

14 authors.

Emily PuumalaDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0008-3371-5877
Meganathan NandakumarStructural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Bonnie YiuDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Peter J StogiosDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8663-1425
Benjamin G StricklandStructural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
Robert ZarnowskiDepartment of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6343-1500
Xiaoyu WangDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA.
Noelle S WilliamsDepartment of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA.
Alexei SavchenkoDepartment of Chemical Engineering and Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5256-9237
David R AndesDepartment of Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7927-9950
Nicole RobbinsDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Luke WhitesellDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Timothy M WillsonStructural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0003-4181-8223
Leah E CowenDepartment of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada. leah.cowen@utoronto.ca.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-5797-0110

Funding

TO PROVIDE SCIENTIFIC SUPPORT TO THE CENTERS FOR RESEARCH ON STRUCTURAL BIOLOGY OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES.75N93022C00035 · NIAID · NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY AT CHICAGO · PI SATCHELL, KARLA · 2022 to 2025
$20.7M
Targeting the casein kinase 1 (CK1)-like kinase Yck2 in fungal pathogenesisR01AI162789 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO · PI LEAH Elizabeth Cowen, Timothy M Willson · 2022 to 2026
$3.1M
Expression and function of the TLRs on T cellsR01AI062789 · NIAID · UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA · PI TURKA, LAURENCE A · 2006 to 2010
$1.9M
Request for a 500 MHz NMR console and nitrogen-cooled cryoprobeS10OD032476 · OD · UNIV OF NORTH CAROLINA CHAPEL HILL · PI LEE, ANDREW L · 2022 to 2022
$599k
Foundation for the National Institutes of Health (Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Inc.) 1R01AI62789NIAID NIH HHS 75N93022C00035NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI062789NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI162789NIH HHS S10 OD032476
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Candida albicans is the most common cause of life-threatening fungal infection in the developed world but remains a therapeutic challenge. Protein kinases have been rewarding drug targets across diverse indications but remain untapped for antifungal development. Previously, screening kinase inhibitors against C. albicans revealed a 2,3-aryl-pyrazolopyridine, GW461484A (GW), which targets casein kinase 1 (CK1) family member Yck2. Here, we report optimization of GW via two complementary approaches, synthesis of bioisosteres possessing an imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine core, and R-group substitution of GW's pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyridine core. Characterization of compounds reveals two 6-cyano derivatives with improved pharmacological properties that retain whole-cell bioactivity and selectivity for fungal Yck2 compared to human CK1α. Efficacy studies in mice indicate both analogs possess single-agent activity against C. albicans resistant to first-line echinocandin antifungals and potentiate non-curative echinocandin treatment. Results validate Yck2 as an antifungal target and encourage further development of inhibitors acting by this previously unexploited mode of action.

Indexed as

Antifungal AgentsCandida albicansCandidiasisFungal ProteinsProtein Kinase InhibitorsSmall Molecule LibrariesAnimalsDrug Resistance, FungalFemaleHumansMiceMicrobial Sensitivity TestsPyrazolesPyridinesStructure-Activity RelationshipAntifungal AgentsFungal ProteinsProtein Kinase InhibitorsPyrazolesPyridinesSmall Molecule Libraries

Identifiers

PMID40038303
PMCPMC11880385

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.