DeCure's autonomous AMR AI scientist is researching a drug-repurposing hypothesis for oral candidiasis — screening already-approved drugs against its 1-gene Open Targets disease module to publish open-access research. Research is fast; the path to publication is funded in milestone stages.
Disease moduleOral candidiasis maps to a 1-gene Open Targets module — the target space DeCure's AI scientist screens approved drugs against.
DeCure.ai methodSignature reversal (LINCS) plus network proximity (STRING) rank already-approved drugs likely to perturb this module — the same engine that produces DeCure.ai's repurposing hypotheses.
Repurposing thesisScreening approved medicines against this disease module, then publishing the evidence for the strongest candidate. Known pharmacology and human exposure data make the first question sharper — they do not establish safety or efficacy in a new indication.
Research record
01
ResearchComing soon
Candidate research + dossier — target rationale, drug-repurposing thesis and evidence pack.proof: Published dossier + on-chain hash
02
ValidationComing soon
In-vitro biological validation at a contract research org (CRO).proof: CRO contract + in-vitro report
03
Peer review & paperComing soon
Peer-reviewed paper published open-access (preprint + journal).proof: DOI + open-access link + on-chain hash
Current lead
No approved-drug candidate for oral candidiasis is corroborated in the literature DeepSearch retrieved. Some conditions are managed with non-pharmacological care — a device, surgery or physical therapy — rather than a medicine; that may be the case here, or the literature we found may simply be too sparse yet to support a drug-repurposing angle.
Molecular view
IKAROS family zinc finger 2 (IKZF2) — IKZF2 is one of the genes genetically linked to this disease in Open Targets — shown as context, not as a drug target we're pursuing: no approved-drug candidate for this disease is yet corroborated in the literature we found.
Loading structure…
helix sheet 3sdrag to rotate · scroll to zoom
RCSB Protein Data Bank · entry 8DEY · 3.7 Å · ligand (3S)-3-[5-(1-benzylpiperidin-4-yl)-1-oxo-1,3-dihydro-2H-isoindol-2-yl]piperidine-2,6-dione (LWK). Experimental structure, not a prediction.
What the evidence adds up to
Oral candidiasis is a common oral mucosal infection whose management is frequently frustrating due to treatment failure or recurrence. Historically it has been branded a disease of the diseased. Unsuccessful management can result from incorrect diagnosis, failure to identify or correct underlying predisposing factors, or inaccurate prescription of antifungal agents. Failure to properly treat leads to persistence of fungal cells in the oral cavity and hence recurrence. The infection is opportunistic, most prevalent in the very young, the elderly, and those already ill.
Local risk factors for Candida spp. colonisation include the inappropriate use of oral dentures, biofilm accumulation, and hyposalivation. Systemic factors include immunosuppression from antineoplastic treatments, HIV infection, and metabolic alterations. Antifungal resistance, both intrinsic and acquired, is a significant therapeutic challenge, potentiated by biofilm formation and prolonged or inappropriate medication use.
Medicinal herbs and nutraceuticals have been suggested as a safe, accessible, and cost‑effective therapy option, but no clinical trial data from these abstracts support that claim. The 2025 review concludes that controlling oral candidiasis requires an integrated approach: rational use of antifungals, oral hygiene, proper denture maintenance, and regular clinical follow‑up to prevent recurrences.
No abstract reports a specific drug, a response rate, a survival figure, or a sample size. What is still missing is any randomised trial comparing herbal or nutraceutical interventions against standard antifungals, a validated strategy for overcoming biofilm‑mediated resistance, and a prospective study that stratifies patients by both local and systemic risk factors to test a tailored prevention protocol.
Evidence
Retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works and resolved on OpenAlex — ranked by citations, including the results that did not work.
Journal of Mycology · 2014 · 34 citations · open access
What Makes Oral Candidiasis Recurrent Infection? A Clinical View
AbstractClinical oral Candida infection (candidiasis) is one of the common oral mucosal infections, and its management is usually frustrating due to either treatment failure or recurrence. Historically, oral candidiasis has been branded as disease of diseased. The unsuccessful management of oral candidiasis can due to either incorrect diagnosis, failure to identify (or correct) the underlying predisposing factor(s), or inaccurate prescription of antifungal agents. Failure to properly treat oral candidiasis will lead to persistence of the fungal cell in the oral cavity and hence recurrence of infection. The oral health care provider should be aware of these fall pits in order to successfully manage oral candidiasis.
Journal of International Medical Research · 1989 · 3 citations
The Use of 2.5% Natamycin, as Orally Administered Drops, in the Treatment of Fungal Infections of the Oral Cavity in Children with Chronic Blood Diseases
AbstractA total of 34 children with oral candidiasis were treated with 2.5% natamycin in the form of orally administered drops; 6-20 drops applied to oral lesions four times daily for up to 8 weeks. A total cure was achieved in 28 (82.3%) cases. No side-effects were observed. This preparation was an effective treatment for Candida albicans infections in children with blood diseases, and was well tolerated.
Journal Of Advanced Zoology · 2023 · 1 citations · open access
Oral Candidiasis Review: Pathogenesis, Clinical Presentation, And Treatment Strategies
AbstractThe candidiasis is an opportunistic infection commonly affecting the oral cavity. The most prevalent clinical symptoms of candidiasis seen in medical and dental practice is oral candidiasis. People who are extremely young, elderly, or already ill are more likely to develop the illness. The present review summarize classification, pathophysiology, laboratory diagnosis and treatment and management of oral candidiasis. Additionally, medicinal herbs and nutraceuticals can be explored as a safe, accessible, and cost-effective therapy option for oral candidiasis.
ANÁLISE DOS FATORES DE RISCO ASSOCIADOS À CANDIDÍASE BUCAL E ESTRATÉGIAS TERAPÊUTICAS UTILIZADAS
AbstractABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the main risk factors associated with the development of oral candidiasis in vulnerable populations, as well as analyze the therapeutic approaches used for its control and prevention. Therefore, an integrative literature review was conducted, including articles published between 2015 and 2025, addressing associated factors, prevalence, antifungal resistance, and therapeutic strategies. The research findings indicate that local factors such as the inappropriate use of oral dentures, biofilm accumulation, and hyposalivation are closely linked to Candida spp. colonization. Systemic factors include immunosuppression resulting from antineoplastic treatments, HIV infection, and metabolic alterations, which increase susceptibility to infection. Furthermore, it is evident that antifungal resistance, both intrinsic and acquired, poses a significant therapeutic challenge, as it is potentiated by biofilm formation and prolonged or inappropriate medication use. Therefore, it is concluded that controlling oral candidiasis requires an integrated approach, which not only considers its associated factors but also requires adopting more effective prevention and control strategies, such as the rational use of antifungals, oral hygiene, proper denture maintenance, and regular clinical follow-up, aiming to prevent recurrences and improve the quality of life of affected populations. Keywords: Oral Candidiasis. Candida albicans. Risk Factors. Dentures.
Disease module: DeepOracle (Open Targets). Structures: RDKit from PubChem SMILES. Literature: retrieved by DeepSearch across 234,678,978 indexed works (targeted per-candidate search), resolved on OpenAlex.
DeCure is a research and publication project, not medical advice and not a treatment. "DeCure for X" describes a research goal, not a claim that a cure exists. Backing a cure is a contribution to fund the research — it is not an investment, and confers no yield, royalty, equity or IP ownership. Papers are published open-access by the DeCure.ai DAO.
