SIGNIFICANCE OF ABC TRANSPORTERS IN FUNGICIDE SENSITIVITY AND RESISTANCE

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters are members of a protein super family which can be responsible for efflux of drugs from cells of targ et organisms. In this way, the transporters may provide a mechanism of protection against cytotoxic drugs. In laboratory-generated mutants o f fungi, overproduction of ABC transporters can cause multi-drug resis tance to azoles and other non-related toxicants. The impact of this me chanism of resistance in field populations with decreased sensitivity to azoles remains to be established. Inhibitors of ABC transporter act ivity may synergize activity of azoles to populations of both sensitiv e and azole-resistant pathogens. The natural function of ABC transport ers in plant pathogenic fungi may relate to transport of plant-defence compounds or fungal pathogenicity factors. Therefore, inhibitors of A BC transporter activity may act as disease control agents with an indi rect mode of action.