Attenuation of the activity of caspofungin at high concentrations against Candida albicans:: Possible role of cell wall integrity and calcineurin pathways

Caspofungin had diminished activity in vitro against Candida albicans at concentrations of 8 to 32 mu g/ml. This phenomenon was markedly attenuated in a Delta mkc1/Delta mkc1 deletion mutant and by the addition of cyclosporine to the wild type. Short exposure to these caspofungin concentrations resulted in MKC1 upregulation, suggesting roles of cell wall integrity and calcineurin pathways.