Caspofungin Susceptibility in <i>Aspergillus</i> and Non- <i>Aspergillus</i> Molds: Inhibition of Glucan Synthase and Reduction of β- <scp>d</scp> -1,3 Glucan Levels in Culture

Abstract

Caspofungin inhibits synthesis of beta-D-1,3 glucan, essential to cell walls in Candida and Aspergillus spp., but activity against less common molds is largely uncharacterized. We demonstrate that caspofungin inhibits beta-D-1,3 glucan synthesis and reduces in vitro growth of clinical isolates from the genera Alternaria, Curvularia, Scedosporium, Acremonium, Bipolaris, and Trichoderma.