Medical and agricultural uses of beta-carbolines as inhibitors of fungal DYRK-family kinases

Abstract

Methods and compositions for treating, preventing and controlling fungal infections, including superficial infections, using compounds of the β-carboline class are disclosed. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising β-carbolines alone, or in combination with therapeutically effective amounts of an antimycotic, are administered to a subject to treat or prevent a superficial fungus infection such as those caused by fungi selected from the Candida or Trichophyton genus, infections such as dermatomycosis, diaper rash (yeast dermatitis), athletes' foot (tinea pedis), jock itch (tinea cruris), ringworm (tinea capitis) and cutaneous candidiasis. Methods of treating, preventing or controlling fungal infections in a plant are also disclosed, wherein a composition comprising an agriculturally acceptable amount of a β-carboline and a fungicide is administered to the plant and / or the locus of the plant, β-carbolines having the following formula are preferred. (Formula I).

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