{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,31]],"date-time":"2026-03-31T03:45:43Z","timestamp":1774928743861,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":46,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"18","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,8]],"date-time":"2021-09-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1631059200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Molecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Our study aimed to characterise the action mode of N-phenacyldibromobenzimidazoles against C. albicans and C. neoformans. Firstly, we selected the non-cytotoxic most active benzimidazoles based on the structure\u2013activity relationships showing that the group of 5,6-dibromobenzimidazole derivatives are less active against C. albicans vs. 4,6-dibromobenzimidazole analogues (5e\u2013f and 5h). The substitution of chlorine atoms to the benzene ring of the N-phenacyl substituent extended the anti-C. albicans action (5e with 2,4-Cl2 or 5f with 3,4-Cl2). The excellent results for N-phenacyldibromobenzimidazole 5h against the C. albicans reference and clinical isolate showed IC50 = 8 \u00b5g\/mL and %I = 100 \u00b1 3, respectively. Compound 5h was fungicidal against the C. neoformans isolate. Compound 5h at 160\u20134 \u00b5g\/mL caused irreversible damage of the fungal cell membrane and accidental cell death (ACD). We reported on chitinolytic activity of 5h, in accordance with the patterns observed for the following substrates: 4-nitrophenyl-N-acetyl-\u03b2-d-glucosaminide and 4-nitrophenyl-\u03b2-d-N,N\u2032,N\u2033-triacetylchitothiose. Derivative 5h at 16 \u00b5g\/mL: (1) it affected cell wall by inducing \u03b2-d-glucanase, (2) it caused morphological distortions and (3) osmotic instability in the C. albicans biofilm-treated. Compound 5h exerted Candida-dependent inhibition of virulence factors.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/molecules26185463","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,8]],"date-time":"2021-09-08T10:12:03Z","timestamp":1631095923000},"page":"5463","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["The Antifungal Action Mode of N-Phenacyldibromobenzimidazoles"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"26","author":[{"given":"Monika","family":"Staniszewska","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies CEZAMAT, Warsaw University of Technology, Poleczki 19, 02-822 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1887-6361","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"\u0141ukasz","family":"Kuryk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health-National Institute of Hygiene, Chocimska 24, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland"},{"name":"Clinical Science, Targovax Oy, Lars Sonckin Kaari 14, Espoo Stella Luna Business Park, 02600 Espoo, Finland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9584-9626","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Aleksander","family":"Gryciuk","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5335-4433","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Joanna","family":"Kawalec","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marta","family":"Rogalska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Joanna","family":"Baran","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies CEZAMAT, Warsaw University of Technology, Poleczki 19, 02-822 Warsaw, Poland"},{"name":"Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8835-6495","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anna","family":"Kowalkowska","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2021,9,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1117","DOI":"10.1517\/17460441.2013.807245","article-title":"Candidiasis drug discovery and development: New approaches targeting virulence for discovering and identifying new drugs","volume":"8","author":"Pierce","year":"2013","journal-title":"Expert Opin. 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