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El-Sayed SE, Abdelaziz NA, El-Housseiny GS, Aboshanab KM. Nanosponge hydrogel of octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate of Alcaligenes faecalis. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:100. [PMID: 38217256 PMCID: PMC10786974 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12819-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate (ODHP) was extracted in a previous study from the culture broth of soil isolate Alcaligenes faecalis MT332429 and showed a promising antimycotic activity. This study was aimed to formulate ODHP loaded β-cyclodextrins (CD) nanosponge (NS) hydrogel (HG) to control skin fungal ailments since nanosponges augment the retention of tested agents in the skin. Box-Behnken design was used to produce the optimized NS formulation, where entrapment efficiency percent (EE%), polydispersity index (PDI), and particle size (PS) were assigned as dependent parameters, while the independent process parameters were polyvinyl alcohol % (w/v %), polymer-linker ratio, homogenization time, and speed. The carbopol 940 hydrogel was then created by incorporating the nanosponges. The hydrogel fit Higuchi's kinetic release model the best, according to in vitro drug release. Stability and photodegradation studies revealed that the NS-HG remained stable under tested conditions. The formulation also showed higher in vitro antifungal activity against Candida albicans compared to the control fluconazole. In vivo study showed that ODHP-NS-HG increased survival rates, wound contraction, and healing of wound gap and inhibited the inflammation process compared to the other control groups. The histopathological examinations and Masson's trichrome staining showed improved healing and higher records of collagen deposition. Moreover, the permeability of ODHP-NS-HG was higher through rats' skin by 1.5-folds compared to the control isoconazole 1%. Therefore, based on these results, NS-HG formulation is a potential carrier for enhanced and improved topical delivery of ODHP. Our study is a pioneering research on the development of a formulation for ODHP produced naturally from soil bacteria. KEY POINTS: • Octadecyl 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl) propanoate was successfully formulated as a nanosponge hydrogel and statistically optimized. • The new formula exhibited in vitro good stability, drug release, and higher antifungal activity against C. albicans as compared to the fluconazole. • Ex vivo showed enhanced skin permeability, and in vivo analysis showed high antifungal activity as evidenced by measurement of various biochemical parameters and histopathological examination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayed E El-Sayed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, Sixth of October City, Giza, 12451, Egypt
| | - Neveen A Abdelaziz
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Ahram Canadian University, Sixth of October City, Giza, 12451, Egypt
| | - Ghadir S El-Housseiny
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Organization of African Unity St, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, 11566, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Khaled M Aboshanab
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Organization of African Unity St, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, 11566, Cairo, Egypt.
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Yiallouris A, Pana ZD, Marangos G, Tzyrka I, Karanasios S, Georgiou I, Kontopyrgia K, Triantafyllou E, Seidel D, Cornely OA, Johnson EO, Panagiotou S, Filippou C. Fungal diversity in the soil Mycobiome: Implications for ONE health. One Health 2024; 18:100720. [PMID: 38699438 PMCID: PMC11064618 DOI: 10.1016/j.onehlt.2024.100720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Today, over 300 million individuals worldwide are afflicted by severe fungal infections, many of whom will perish. Fungi, as a result of their plastic genomes have the ability to adapt to new environments and extreme conditions as a consequence of globalization, including urbanization, agricultural intensification, and, notably, climate change. Soils and the impact of these anthropogenic environmental factors can be the source of pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi and subsequent fungal threats to public health. This underscores the growing understanding that not only is fungal diversity in the soil mycobiome a critical component of a functioning ecosystem, but also that soil microbial communities can significantly contribute to plant, animal, and human health, as underscored by the One Health concept. Collectively, this stresses the importance of investigating the soil microbiome in order to gain a deeper understanding of soil fungal ecology and its interplay with the rhizosphere microbiome, which carries significant implications for human health, animal health and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Yiallouris
- School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
- Medical innovation center (MEDIC), School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
| | - Zoi D. Pana
- School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
- Medical innovation center (MEDIC), School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Danila Seidel
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Oliver A. Cornely
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Translational Research, Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Cologne, Germany
- University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Department I of Internal Medicine, Center for Integrated Oncology Aachen Bonn Cologne Duesseldorf (CIO ABCD) and Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany
- German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Bonn-Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Elizabeth O. Johnson
- School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
- Medical innovation center (MEDIC), School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
| | - Stavros Panagiotou
- School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
- Division of Medical Education, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester
| | - Charalampos Filippou
- School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
- Medical innovation center (MEDIC), School of Medicine, European University, Cyprus
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Dasilva MA, Andrada KFC, Torales MM, Hughes IM, Pez P, García-Martínez JC, Paraje MG. Synergistic activity of gold nanoparticles with amphotericin B on persister cells of Candida tropicalis biofilms. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:254. [PMID: 38755625 PMCID: PMC11097580 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02415-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
AIM The antifungal activity was studied on sessile and persister cells (PCs) of Candida tropicalis biofilms of gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) stabilized with cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB-AuNPs) and those conjugated with cysteine, in combination with Amphotericin B (AmB). MATERIALS/METHODS The PC model was used and synergistic activity was tested by the checkerboard assay. Biofilms were studied by crystal violet and scanning electron microscopy. RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS After the combination of both AuNPs and AmB the biofilm biomass was reduced, with significant differences in architecture being observed with a reduced biofilm matrix. In addition, the CTAB-AuNPs-AmB combination significantly reduced PCs. Understanding how these AuNPs aid in the fight against biofilms and the development of new approaches to eradicate PCs has relevance for chronic infection treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Dasilva
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - K F Crespo Andrada
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - M Maldonado Torales
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - I Manrrique Hughes
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, X5000HUA, Argentina
| | - P Pez
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, X5000HUA, Argentina
- Departamento de Ciencias Farmacéuticas, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - J C García-Martínez
- Facultad de Farmacia de Albacete, Centro Regional de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, Ciudad Real, España
| | - María Gabriela Paraje
- Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal (IMBIV), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Córdoba, Argentina.
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, X5000HUA, Argentina.
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Zhou Y, Phelps GA, Mangrum MM, McLeish J, Phillips EK, Lou J, Ancajas CF, Rybak JM, Oelkers PM, Lee RE, Best MD, Reynolds TB. The small molecule CBR-5884 inhibits the Candida albicans phosphatidylserine synthase. mBio 2024; 15:e0063324. [PMID: 38587428 PMCID: PMC11077991 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00633-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic infections by Candida spp. are associated with high mortality rates, partly due to limitations in current antifungals, highlighting the need for novel drugs and drug targets. The fungal phosphatidylserine synthase, Cho1, from Candida albicans is a logical antifungal drug target due to its importance in virulence, absence in the host, and conservation among fungal pathogens. Inhibitors of Cho1 could serve as lead compounds for drug development, so we developed a target-based screen for inhibitors of purified Cho1. This enzyme condenses serine and cytidyldiphosphate-diacylglycerol (CDP-DAG) into phosphatidylserine (PS) and releases cytidylmonophosphate (CMP). Accordingly, we developed an in vitro nucleotidase-coupled malachite-green-based high throughput assay for purified C. albicans Cho1 that monitors CMP production as a proxy for PS synthesis. Over 7,300 molecules curated from repurposing chemical libraries were interrogated in primary and dose-responsivity assays using this platform. The screen had a promising average Z' score of ~0.8, and seven compounds were identified that inhibit Cho1. Three of these, ebselen, LOC14, and CBR-5884, exhibited antifungal effects against C. albicans cells, with fungicidal inhibition by ebselen and fungistatic inhibition by LOC14 and CBR-5884. Only CBR-5884 showed evidence of disrupting in vivo Cho1 function by inducing phenotypes consistent with the cho1∆∆ mutant, including a reduction of cellular PS levels. Kinetics curves and computational docking indicate that CBR-5884 competes with serine for binding to Cho1 with a Ki of 1,550 ± 245.6 nM. Thus, this compound has the potential for development into an antifungal compound. IMPORTANCE Fungal phosphatidylserine synthase (Cho1) is a logical antifungal target due to its crucial role in the virulence and viability of various fungal pathogens, and since it is absent in humans, drugs targeted at Cho1 are less likely to cause toxicity in patients. Using fungal Cho1 as a model, there have been two unsuccessful attempts to discover inhibitors for Cho1 homologs in whole-cell screens prior to this study. The compounds identified in these attempts do not act directly on the protein, resulting in the absence of known Cho1 inhibitors. The significance of our research is that we developed a high-throughput target-based assay and identified the first Cho1 inhibitor, CBR-5884, which acts both on the purified protein and its function in the cell. This molecule acts as a competitive inhibitor with a Ki value of 1,550 ± 245.6 nM and, thus, has the potential for development into a new class of antifungals targeting PS synthase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yue Zhou
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Gregory A. Phelps
- Department of Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Mikayla M. Mangrum
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jemma McLeish
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Elise K. Phillips
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jinchao Lou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | | | - Jeffrey M. Rybak
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Peter M. Oelkers
- Department of Natural Sciences, University of Michigan-Dearborn, Dearborn, Michigan, USA
| | - Richard E. Lee
- Department of Chemical Biology & Therapeutics, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael D. Best
- Department of Chemistry, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Todd B. Reynolds
- Department of Microbiology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, USA
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Visca A, Di Gregorio L, Clagnan E, Bevivino A. Sustainable strategies: Nature-based solutions to tackle antibiotic resistance gene proliferation and improve agricultural productivity and soil quality. Environ Res 2024; 248:118395. [PMID: 38307185 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
The issue of antibiotic resistance is now recognized by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the major problems in human health. Although its effects are evident in the healthcare settings, the root cause should be traced back to the One Health link, extending from animals to the environment. In fact, the use of organic fertilizers in agroecosystems represents one, if not the primary, cause of the introduction of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria into the soil. Since the concentrations of antibiotics introduced into the soil are residual, the agroecosystem has become a perfect environment for the selection and proliferation of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The continuous influx of these emerging contaminants (i.e., antibiotics) into the agroecosystem results in the selection and accumulation of ARGs in soil bacteria, occasionally giving rise to multi-resistant bacteria. These bacteria may harbour ARGs related to various antibiotics on their plasmids. In this context, these bacteria can potentially enter the human sphere when individuals consume food from contaminated agroecosystems, leading to the acquisition of multi-resistant bacteria. Once introduced into the nosocomial environment, these bacteria pose a significant threat to human health. In this review, we analyse how the use of digestate as an organic fertilizer can mitigate the spread of ARGs in agroecosystems. Furthermore, we highlight how, according to European guidelines, digestate can be considered a Nature-Based Solution (NBS). This NBS not only has the ability to mitigate the spread of ARGs in agroecosystems but also offers the opportunity to further improve Microbial-Based Solutions (MBS), with the aim of enhancing soil quality and productivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Visca
- Department for Sustainability, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luciana Di Gregorio
- Department for Sustainability, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Clagnan
- Department for Sustainability, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy
| | - Annamaria Bevivino
- Department for Sustainability, Biotechnologies and Agroindustry Division, ENEA, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development, Casaccia Research Center, Via Anguillarese 301, 00123, Rome, Italy
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6
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Yang L, Wang X, Ma Z, Sui Y, Liu X. Fangchinoline inhibits growth and biofilm of Candida albicans by inducing ROS overproduction. J Cell Mol Med 2024; 28:e18354. [PMID: 38686557 PMCID: PMC11058694 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.18354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Candida species, especially Candida albicans, threaten the public health and create economic burden. Shortage of antifungals and emergence of drug resistance call for new antifungal therapies while natural products were attractive sources for developing new drugs. In our study, fangchinoline, a bis-benzylisoquinoline alkaloid from Chinese herb Stephania tetrandra S. Moore, exerted antifungal effects on planktonic growth of several Candida species including C. albicans, with MIC no more than 50 μg/mL. In addition, results from microscopic, MTT and XTT reduction assays showed that fangchinoline had inhibitory activities against the multiple virulence factors of C. albicans, such as adhesion, hyphal growth and biofilm formation. Furthermore, this compound could also suppress the metabolic activity of preformed C. albicans biofilms. PI staining, followed by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM) analysis showed that fangchinoline can elevate permeability of cell membrane. DCFH-DA staining suggested its anti-Candida mechanism also involved overproduction of intracellular ROS, which was further confirmed by N-acetyl-cysteine rescue tests. Moreover, fangchinoline showed synergy with three antifungal drugs (amphotericin B, fluconazole and caspofungin), further indicating its potential use in treating C. albicans infections. Therefore, these results indicated that fangchinoline could be a potential candidate for developing anti-Candida therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Yang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical GeneticsThe Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Xiaonan Wang
- Department of OrthopedicsThe Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Zhiming Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia SurgeryThe Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Yujie Sui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical GeneticsThe Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
| | - Xin Liu
- Eye Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin UniversityChangchunChina
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7
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Hoenigl M, Arastehfar A, Arendrup MC, Brüggemann R, Carvalho A, Chiller T, Chen S, Egger M, Feys S, Gangneux JP, Gold JAW, Groll AH, Heylen J, Jenks JD, Krause R, Lagrou K, Lamoth F, Prattes J, Sedik S, Wauters J, Wiederhold NP, Thompson GR. Novel antifungals and treatment approaches to tackle resistance and improve outcomes of invasive fungal disease. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024:e0007423. [PMID: 38602408 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00074-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/12/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYFungal infections are on the rise, driven by a growing population at risk and climate change. Currently available antifungals include only five classes, and their utility and efficacy in antifungal treatment are limited by one or more of innate or acquired resistance in some fungi, poor penetration into "sequestered" sites, and agent-specific side effect which require frequent patient reassessment and monitoring. Agents with novel mechanisms, favorable pharmacokinetic (PK) profiles including good oral bioavailability, and fungicidal mechanism(s) are urgently needed. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of novel antifungal agents, with both improved known mechanisms of actions and new antifungal classes, currently in clinical development for treating invasive yeast, mold (filamentous fungi), Pneumocystis jirovecii infections, and dimorphic fungi (endemic mycoses). We further focus on inhaled antifungals and the role of immunotherapy in tackling fungal infections, and the specific PK/pharmacodynamic profiles, tissue distributions as well as drug-drug interactions of novel antifungals. Finally, we review antifungal resistance mechanisms, the role of use of antifungal pesticides in agriculture as drivers of drug resistance, and detail detection methods for antifungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Hoenigl
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, ECMM Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BiotechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Amir Arastehfar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Maiken Cavling Arendrup
- Unit of Mycology, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Roger Brüggemann
- Department of Pharmacy and Radboudumc Institute for Medical Innovation, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise in Mycology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Agostinho Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Medicine, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B's - PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Tom Chiller
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sharon Chen
- Centre for Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Laboratory Services, Institute of Clinical Pathology and Medical Research, NSW South Wales Health Pathology, Westmead Hospital, Westmead, Australia
- The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Matthias Egger
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, ECMM Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Simon Feys
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jean-Pierre Gangneux
- Centre National de Référence des Mycoses et Antifongiques LA-AspC Aspergilloses chroniques, European Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM EC), Centre hospitalier Universitaire de Rennes, Rennes, France
- Univ Rennes, CHU Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail) UMR_S 1085, Rennes, France
| | - Jeremy A W Gold
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Andreas H Groll
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Infectious Disease Research Program, Center for Bone Marrow Transplantation, University Children's Hospital, Muenster, Germany
| | - Jannes Heylen
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jeffrey D Jenks
- Department of Public Health, Durham County, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Robert Krause
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, ECMM Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BiotechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and National Reference Center for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Lamoth
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Institute of Microbiology, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Department of Medicine, Infectious Diseases Service, Lausanne University Hospital and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Juergen Prattes
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, ECMM Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
- BiotechMed-Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Sarah Sedik
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, ECMM Excellence Center for Medical Mycology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria
| | - Joost Wauters
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Medical Intensive Care Unit, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nathan P Wiederhold
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - George R Thompson
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases University of California-Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of California-Davis, Davis, California, USA
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Arastehfar A, Daneshnia F, Floyd DJ, Jeffries NE, Salehi M, Perlin DS, Ilkit M, Lass-Flöerl C, Mansour MK. Echinocandin persistence directly impacts the evolution of resistance and survival of the pathogenic fungus Candida glabrata. mBio 2024; 15:e0007224. [PMID: 38501869 PMCID: PMC11005346 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00072-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Recent epidemiological studies documented an alarming increase in the prevalence of echinocandin-resistant (ECR) Candida glabrata blood isolates. ECR isolates are known to arise from a minor subpopulation of a clonal population, termed echinocandin persisters. Although it is believed that isolates with a higher echinocandin persistence (ECP) are more likely to develop ECR, the implication of ECP needs to be better understood. Moreover, replacing laborious and time-consuming traditional approaches to determine ECP levels with rapid, convenient, and reliable tools is imperative to advance our understanding of this emerging concept in clinical practice. Herein, using extensive ex vivo and in vivo systemic infection models, we showed that high ECP isolates are less effectively cleared by micafungin treatment and exclusively give rise to ECR colonies. Additionally, we developed a flow cytometry-based tool that takes advantage of a SYTOX-based assay for the stratification of ECP levels. Once challenged with various collections of echinocandin-susceptible blood isolates, our assay reliably differentiated ECP levels in vitro and predicted ECP levels in real time under ex vivo and in vivo conditions when compared to traditional methods relying on colony-forming unit counting. Given the high and low ECP predictive values of 92.3% and 82.3%, respectively, our assay showed a high agreement with traditional approach. Collectively, our study supports the concept of ECP level determination in clinical settings and provides a robust tool scalable for high-throughput settings. Application of this tool facilitates the interrogation of mutant and drug libraries to further our understanding of persister biology and designing anti-persister therapeutics. IMPORTANCE Candida glabrata is a prevalent fungal pathogen able to replicate inside macrophages and rapidly develop resistance against frontline antifungal echinocandins. Multiple studies have shown that echinocandin resistance is fueled by the survival of a small subpopulation of susceptible cells surviving lethal concentrations of echinocandins. Importantly, bacterial pathogens that exhibit high antibiotic persistence also impose a high burden and generate more antibiotic-resistant colonies. Nonetheless, the implications of echinocandin persistence (ECP) among the clinical isolates of C. glabrata have not been defined. Additionally, ECP level determination relies on a laborious and time-consuming method, which is prone to high variation. By exploiting in vivo systemic infection and ex vivo models, we showed that C. glabrata isolates with a higher ECP are associated with a higher burden and more likely develop echinocandin resistance upon micafungin treatment. Additionally, we developed an assay that reliably determines ECP levels in real time. Therefore, our study identified C. glabrata isolates displaying high ECP levels as important entities and provided a reliable and convenient tool for measuring echinocandin persistence, which is extendable to other fungal and bacterial pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amir Arastehfar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Farnaz Daneshnia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Daniel J. Floyd
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Mostafa Salehi
- Department Industrial Engineering Faculty of K.N., Toosi University of Technology, Tehran, Iran
| | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
- Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
- Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Türkiye
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flöerl
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael K. Mansour
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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9
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Pajić T, Stevanović K, Todorović NV, Krmpot AJ, Živić M, Savić-Šević S, Lević SM, Stanić M, Pantelić D, Jelenković B, Rabasović MD. In vivo femtosecond laser nanosurgery of the cell wall enabling patch-clamp measurements on filamentous fungi. Microsyst Nanoeng 2024; 10:47. [PMID: 38590818 PMCID: PMC10999429 DOI: 10.1038/s41378-024-00664-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/19/2023] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Studying the membrane physiology of filamentous fungi is key to understanding their interactions with the environment and crucial for developing new therapeutic strategies for disease-causing pathogens. However, their plasma membrane has been inaccessible for a micron-sized patch-clamp pipette for pA current recordings due to the rigid chitinous cell wall. Here, we report the first femtosecond IR laser nanosurgery of the cell wall of the filamentous fungi, which enabled patch-clamp measurements on protoplasts released from hyphae. A reproducible and highly precise (diffraction-limited, submicron resolution) method for obtaining viable released protoplasts was developed. Protoplast release from the nanosurgery-generated incisions in the cell wall was achieved from different regions of the hyphae. The plasma membrane of the obtained protoplasts formed tight and high-resistance (GΩ) contacts with the recording pipette. The entire nanosurgical procedure followed by the patch-clamp technique could be completed in less than 1 hour. Compared to previous studies using heterologously expressed channels, this technique provides the opportunity to identify new ionic currents and to study the properties of the ion channels in the protoplasts of filamentous fungi in their native environment.
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Grants
- Ministarstvo Prosvete, Nauke i Tehnološkog Razvoja (Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia)
- This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations, Republic of Serbia [contract number: 451-03-47/2023-01/200178]; The Project Advanced Biophysical Methods for Soil Targeted Fungi-Based Biocontrol Agents - BioPhysFUN [Grant number 4545] from Program DEVELOPMENT – Green program of cooperation between science and industry, Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
- This work was supported by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations, Republic of Serbia [contract number: 451-03-47/2023-01/200007]; The Project Advanced Biophysical Methods for Soil Targeted Fungi-Based Biocontrol Agents - BioPhysFUN [Grant number 4545] from Program DEVELOPMENT – Green program of cooperation between science and industry, Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia
- The Project Advanced Biophysical Methods for Soil Targeted Fungi-Based Biocontrol Agents - BioPhysFUN [Grant number 4545] from Program DEVELOPMENT – Green program of cooperation between science and industry, Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia; the Project HEMMAGINERO [Grant number 6066079] from Program PROMIS, Science Fund of the Republic of Serbia; and the Institute of Physics Belgrade, through the grant by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations of the Republic of Serbia.
- The Institute of Physics Belgrade, through the grant by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovations of the Republic of Serbia
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Pajić
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Katarina Stevanović
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Nataša V. Todorović
- Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”, University of Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Aleksandar J. Krmpot
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Miroslav Živić
- Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry “Ivan Djaja”, Faculty of Biology, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Svetlana Savić-Šević
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Steva M. Lević
- University of Belgrade, Faculty of Agriculture, Nemanjina Street 6, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Marina Stanić
- Institute for Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, 11030 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Dejan Pantelić
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Brana Jelenković
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Mihailo D. Rabasović
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, University of Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Pregrevica 118, 11080 Belgrade, Serbia
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10
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Cavassin FB, Magri MMC, Vidal JE, de Moraes Costa Carlesse FA, Falci DR, Baú-Carneiro JL, Breda GL, de Araújo Motta F, de Miranda Godoy CS, de Bastos Ascenço Soares R, De Oliveira CS, Mendes AVA, Morales HP, Montes PS, Taborda M, Rego CM, Félix MA, Katopodis PP, da Silva do Ó JR, Abrão MPL, Pereira TTT, Queiroz-Telles F. Effectiveness, Tolerability, and Safety of Different Amphotericin B Formulations in Invasive Fungal Infections: A Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study. Clin Ther 2024; 46:322-337. [PMID: 38403508 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2024.01.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE Data on the real-life use of amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC) compared with other available formulations are limited. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness, tolerability, and safety of different amphotericin B (AMB) intravenously administered in the context of hospital practice for the treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFI) and to provide new insights into the profile of ABLC. METHODS This is a multicenter, retrospective, observational study conducted at 10 tertiary Brazilian hospitals. Patients first exposed to any formulation of AMB for treating endemic and opportunistic IFI who had received at least 2 intravenous doses were screened. Retrospective data (from January 2014 to December 2019) were extracted from the patients' medical records. Clinical parameters were examined pre- and post-treatment to determine effectiveness; acute infusion-related side effects (IRSE) and drug interruption to determine tolerability; and adverse events, toxicity, and treatment interruption were stated to analyze safety. FINDINGS Overall, 1879 medical records of patients were identified. The median (interquartile rate) duration of treatment was 14 (7-21) days. The overall success rate (95% confidence interval [CI]) was 65% (95% CI 60-65). ABLC proved to be effective among AMB formulations with 59% (95% CI 55.6-62.5) within complete response. This was significantly higher in patients who received the drug for a longer period, ≥4 weeks compared to <1 week treatment (P < 0.001). IRSE was observed in 446 (23.7%) patients. Eight cases (1.4%) of severe IRSE in pediatrics and 14 (1.1%) in adults resulted in treatment discontinuation. Regarding safety, 637 (33.9%) patients presented some alteration in creatinine levels during AMB exposure, and 89 (4.74%) had to interrupt or discontinue the drug within the first 14 days of therapy because of renal dysfunction. Overall mortality was 34%. IMPLICATIONS ABLC is an effective formulation for the treatment of invasive fungal infections, with few adverse events leading to drug discontinuation or lethal outcomes. Furthermore, this real-life study confirmed the comparative safety of AMB lipid formulations versus AMB deoxycholate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Giovanni Luís Breda
- Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (HC/UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Patrícia Silva Montes
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC/FAMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariane Taborda
- Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HC/FAMUSP), São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Flávio Queiroz-Telles
- Universidade Federal do Paraná (UFPR), Hospital de Clínicas da Universidade Federal do Paraná (HC/UFPR), Curitiba, Brazil
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11
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Jeong GJ, Khan F, Tabassum N, Cho KJ, Kim YM. Bacterial extracellular vesicles: Modulation of biofilm and virulence properties. Acta Biomater 2024; 178:13-23. [PMID: 38417645 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2024.02.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/01/2024]
Abstract
Microbial pathogens cause persistent infections by forming biofilms and producing numerous virulence factors. Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are nanostructures produced by various bacterial species vital for molecular transport. BEVs include various components, including lipids (glycolipids, LPS, and phospholipids), nucleic acids (genomic DNA, plasmids, and short RNA), proteins (membrane proteins, enzymes, and toxins), and quorum-sensing signaling molecules. BEVs play a major role in forming extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in biofilms by transporting EPS components such as extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA. BEVs have been observed to carry various secretory virulence factors. Thus, BEVs play critical roles in cell-to-cell communication, biofilm formation, virulence, disease progression, and resistance to antimicrobial treatment. In contrast, BEVs have been shown to impede early-stage biofilm formation, disseminate mature biofilms, and reduce virulence. This review summarizes the current status in the literature regarding the composition and role of BEVs in microbial infections. Furthermore, the dual functions of BEVs in eliciting and suppressing biofilm formation and virulence in various microbial pathogens are thoroughly discussed. This review is expected to improve our understanding of the use of BEVs in determining the mechanism of biofilm development in pathogenic bacteria and in developing drugs to inhibit biofilm formation by microbial pathogens. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Bacterial extracellular vesicles (BEVs) are nanostructures formed by membrane blebbing and explosive cell lysis. It is essential for transporting lipids, nucleic acids, proteins, and quorum-sensing signaling molecules. BEVs play an important role in the formation of the biofilm's extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by transporting its components, such as extracellular polysaccharides, proteins, and extracellular DNA. Furthermore, BEVs shield genetic material from nucleases and thermodegradation by packaging it during horizontal gene transfer, contributing to the transmission of bacterial adaptation determinants like antibiotic resistance. Thus, BEVs play a critical role in cell-to-cell communication, biofilm formation, virulence enhancement, disease progression, and drug resistance. In contrast, BEVs have been shown to prevent early-stage biofilm, disperse mature biofilm, and reduce virulence characteristics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geum-Jae Jeong
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Fazlurrahman Khan
- Institute of Fisheries Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea.
| | - Nazia Tabassum
- Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyung-Jin Cho
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
| | - Young-Mog Kim
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea; Marine Integrated Biomedical Technology Center, The National Key Research Institutes in Universities, Pukyong National University, Busan, 48513, Republic of Korea; Research Center for Marine Integrated Bionics Technology, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Republic of Korea
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12
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Zhang Q, Zhang J, Zhang Y, Sui Y, Du Y, Yang L, Yin Y. Antifungal and anti-biofilm activities of patchouli alcohol against Candida albicans. Int J Med Microbiol 2024; 314:151596. [PMID: 38128407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2023.151596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans could cause severe clinical outcomes which could be exacerbated by the scarcity of antifungals. The capacity of C. albicans to form biofilms on medical devices that are hard to eradicate, further deepen the need to develop antifungal agents. In this study, we, for the first time, showed that patchouli alcohol (PA) can inhibit the growth of multiple C. albicans strains, as well as four other Candida species, with MICs of 64 μg/mL and MFCs from 64 to 128 μg/mL. The biofilm formation and development, adhesion, yeast-to-hyphal transition and extracellular polysaccharide of C. albicans can be inhibited by PA in a concentration-dependent manner. Confocal microscopy analyses of cells treated with PA showed that PA can increase the membrane permeability and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. In C. elegans, PA did not influence the survival below 64 μg/mL. In this study PA demonstrated antifungal and antibiofilm activity against C. albicans and our results showed the potential of developing PA to fight Candida infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiulei Zhang
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Jingxiao Zhang
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 218# Ziqiang Street, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Yujie Sui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 265# Ziqiang Street, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Yang Du
- Eye Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, #4026 Yatai Street, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Longfei Yang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, 265# Ziqiang Street, Changchun 130041, China.
| | - Yongjie Yin
- Department of Emergency and Critical Care Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China.
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13
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Marchand G, Wingert L, Viegas C, Caetano L, Viegas S, Twaruzek M, Lacombe N, Lanoie D, Valois I, Gouin F, Soszczyńska E, Kosicki R, Dias M, Debia M. Assessment of waste workers occupational risk to microbial agents and cytotoxic effects of mixed contaminants present in the air of waste truck cabin and ventilation filters. J Air Waste Manag Assoc 2024; 74:145-162. [PMID: 38166349 DOI: 10.1080/10962247.2023.2299424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/20/2023] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Workers in the waste-processing industry are potentially exposed to high concentrations of biological contaminants, leading to respiratory and digestive problems and skin irritations. However, few data on the exposure of waste collection truck (WCT) drivers are available. The goal was to document the microbial risk of the waste collection truck (WCT) workers while in the vehicle cab. Long-period sampling using the truck air filters (CAF) and short time ambient air sampling in the cab were used. The potential release of microbial particles from CAFs was also investigated since it could contribute to the microbial load of the cabin air. A combination of analytical methods also helped assess the complex mixture of the biological agents. Aspergillus sections Fumigati and Flavi, E. coli, Enterobacter spp. and Legionella spp. were detected in the CAF of trucks collecting three types of waste. The highest levels of bacteria and fungi were found in the CAF from organic WCT. The highest endotoxin concentrations in CAF were 300 EU/cm2. Most of the CAF showed cytotoxic effects on both lung cells and hepatocytes. Only one mycotoxin was detected in a CAF. The maximal concentrations in the ambient WCT air varied according to the type of waste collected. The highest proportion (84%) of the air samples without cytotoxic effects on the lungs cells was for the recyclable material WCTs. The results revealed the potential microbial risk to workers from a complex mixture of bio-contaminants in the cabs of vehicles collecting all types of waste. The sustained cytotoxic effect indicates the potential adverse health-related impact of mixed contaminants (biological and non-biological) for the workers. Overall, this study highlights the benefits of using complementary sampling strategy and combined analytical methods for a the assessment of the microbial risk in work environments and the need to implement protective measures for the workers.Implications: Exposure to microbial agents is a well-known occupational hazard in the waste management sector. No previous study had evaluated the cytotoxicity of ambient air and ventilation filters to document worker exposure to a combination of contaminants during waste collection. This research confirms the usefulness of ventilation filters for long-term characterization of exposure to infectious agents, azole-resistant fungi, coliform bacteria and mycotoxin. Overall, this study highlights the importance of using several sampling and analysis methods for a comprehensive assessment of microbial risk in work environments, as well as the need to implement appropriate protective measures for collection workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Genevieve Marchand
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montreal, Canada
| | - Loïc Wingert
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montreal, Canada
| | - Carla Viegas
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, In-stituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Liliana Caetano
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, In-stituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed. ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Susana Viegas
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Comprehensive Health Research Center, CHRC, NOVA University Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Magdalena Twaruzek
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Nancy Lacombe
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montreal, Canada
| | - Delphine Lanoie
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montreal, Canada
| | - Isabelle Valois
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Francois Gouin
- Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail, Montreal, Canada
| | - Ewelina Soszczyńska
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Robert Kosicki
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Kazimierz Wielki University, Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Marta Dias
- H&TRC - Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL - Escola Superior de Tecnologia e Saúde, In-stituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed. ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maximilien Debia
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Canada
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Huang Y, Guo X, Wu Y, Chen X, Feng L, Xie N, Shen G. Nanotechnology's frontier in combatting infectious and inflammatory diseases: prevention and treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:34. [PMID: 38378653 PMCID: PMC10879169 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01745-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Inflammation-associated diseases encompass a range of infectious diseases and non-infectious inflammatory diseases, which continuously pose one of the most serious threats to human health, attributed to factors such as the emergence of new pathogens, increasing drug resistance, changes in living environments and lifestyles, and the aging population. Despite rapid advancements in mechanistic research and drug development for these diseases, current treatments often have limited efficacy and notable side effects, necessitating the development of more effective and targeted anti-inflammatory therapies. In recent years, the rapid development of nanotechnology has provided crucial technological support for the prevention, treatment, and detection of inflammation-associated diseases. Various types of nanoparticles (NPs) play significant roles, serving as vaccine vehicles to enhance immunogenicity and as drug carriers to improve targeting and bioavailability. NPs can also directly combat pathogens and inflammation. In addition, nanotechnology has facilitated the development of biosensors for pathogen detection and imaging techniques for inflammatory diseases. This review categorizes and characterizes different types of NPs, summarizes their applications in the prevention, treatment, and detection of infectious and inflammatory diseases. It also discusses the challenges associated with clinical translation in this field and explores the latest developments and prospects. In conclusion, nanotechnology opens up new possibilities for the comprehensive management of infectious and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing Huang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaohan Guo
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yi Wu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xingyu Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Lixiang Feng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Na Xie
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China.
| | - Guobo Shen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University, and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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15
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Pfaller MA, Carvalhaes CG, Rhomberg PR, Desphande LM, Castanheira M. Trends in the activity of mold-active azole agents against Aspergillus fumigatus clinical isolates with and without cyp51 alterations from Europe and North America (2017-2021). J Clin Microbiol 2024; 62:e0114123. [PMID: 38193696 PMCID: PMC10865804 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01141-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus (AFM) is increasing and often associated with cyp51 alterations. We evaluated the activity of isavuconazole and other mold-active azoles against 731 AFM isolates causing invasive aspergillosis collected in Europe (EU; n = 449) and North America (NA; n = 282). Isolates were submitted to CLSI susceptibility testing and epidemiological cutoff value (ECV) criteria. A posaconazole ECV of 0.5 mg/L was used as no CLSI ECV was determined. Azole non-wild-type (NWT) isolates were submitted for cyp51 sequencing by whole genome sequencing. Overall, isavuconazole activity (92.7%/94.0% WT in EU/NA) was comparable to other azoles (WT rate range, 90.9%-96.4%/91.8%-98.6%, respectively), regardless of the region. A total of 79 (10.8%) azole NWT isolates were detected, and similar rates of these isolates were noted in EU (10.7%) and NA (11.0%). Although most AFM were WT to azoles, increasing azole NWT rates were observed in NA (from 6.0% in 2017 to 29.3% in 2021). Azole NWT rates varied from 4.9% (2019) to 20.6% (2018) in EU without an observed trend. cyp51 alterations occurred in 56.3%/54.8% of azole NWT from EU/NA, respectively. The cyp51A TR34/L98H alteration was observed only in EU isolates (72.0% of EU isolates), while cyp51A I242V occurred only in NA isolates (58.3%). Isavuconazole remained active (MIC, ≤1 mg/L) against 18.5/47.1% of azole NWT AFM exhibiting cyp51 alterations in EU/NA, along with voriconazole (29.6/82.4%; MIC, ≤1 mg/L) and posaconazole (48.1/88.2%; MIC, ≤0.5 mg/L). Fourteen different cyp51 alterations were detected in 44 of 79 NWT isolates. The in vitro activity of the azoles varied in AFM that displayed cyp51 alterations. IMPORTANCE A few microbiology laboratories perform antifungal susceptibility testing locally for systemically active antifungal agents. The identification of emerging azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus is worrisome. As such, there is a critical role for antifungal surveillance in tracking emerging resistance among both common and uncommon opportunistic fungi. Differences in the regional prevalence and antifungal resistance of these fungi render local epidemiological knowledge essential for the care of patients with a suspected invasive fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M. A. Pfaller
- JMI Laboratories, North Liberty, Iowa, USA
- University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
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16
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Noser AA, El-Barbary AA, Salem MM, El Salam HAA, Shahien M. Synthesis and molecular docking simulations of novel azepines based on quinazolinone moiety as prospective antimicrobial and antitumor hedgehog signaling inhibitors. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3530. [PMID: 38347004 PMCID: PMC10861550 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53517-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024] Open
Abstract
A series of novel azepine derivatives based on quinazolinone moiety was synthesized through the reaction of quinazolinone chalcones (2a-d) either with 2-amino aniline in acidic medium to give diazepines (3a-d) or with 2-aminophenol to offer oxazepine (4a-d). The structure of the synthesized compounds was confirmed via melting points, elemental analyses, and different spectroscopic techniques. Moreover, these newly compounds mode of action was investigated in-silico using molecular docking against the outer membrane protein A (OMPA), exo-1,3-beta-glucanase for their antimicrobial activity, and against Smoothened (SMO), transcription factor glioma-associated homology (SUFU/GLI-1), the main proteins of Hedgehog signaling pathway to inspect their anticancer potential. Our results showed that, diazepine (3a) and oxazepine (4a) offered the highest binding energy against the target OMPA/ exo-1,3-beta-glucanase proteins and exhibited the potent antimicrobial activities against E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, B. subtilis, C. Albicans and A. flavus. As well, diazepine (3a) and oxazepine (4a) achieved the best results among the other compounds, in their binding energy against the target SMO, SUFU/GLI-1 proteins. The in-vitro cytotoxic study was done for them on panel of cancer cell lines HCT-116, HepG2, and MCF-7 and normal cell line WI-38. Conclusively, it was revealed that molecular docking in-silico simulations and the in-vitro experiments were agreed. As a result, our findings elucidated that diazepine (3a) and oxazepine (4a), have the potential to be used as antimicrobial agents and as possible cancer treatment medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Noser
- Organic Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt.
| | - A A El-Barbary
- Organic Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Maha M Salem
- Biochemistry Division, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Hayam A Abd El Salam
- Green Chemistry Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, GizaCairo, 12622, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Shahien
- Organic Chemistry, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
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17
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Schaefer S, Melodia D, Pracey C, Corrigan N, Lenardon MD, Boyer C. Mimicking Charged Host-Defense Peptides to Tune the Antifungal Activity and Biocompatibility of Amphiphilic Polymers. Biomacromolecules 2024; 25:871-889. [PMID: 38165721 DOI: 10.1021/acs.biomac.3c01038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2024]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections impose a substantial global health burden. They cause more than 1.5 million deaths annually and are insufficiently met by the currently approved antifungal drugs. Antifungal peptides are a promising alternative to existing antifungal drugs; however, they can be challenging to synthesize, and are often susceptible to proteases in vivo. Synthetic polymers which mimic the properties of natural antifungal peptides can circumvent these limitations. In this study, we developed a library of 29 amphiphilic polyacrylamides with different charged units, namely, amines, guanidinium, imidazole, and carboxylic acid groups, representative of the natural amino acids lysine, arginine, histidine, and glutamic acid. Ternary polymers incorporating primary ammonium (lysine-like) or imidazole (histidine-like) groups demonstrated superior activity against Candida albicans and biocompatibility with mammalian cells compared to the polymers containing the other charged groups. Furthermore, a combination of primary ammonium, imidazole, and guanidinium (arginine-like) within the same polymer outperformed the antifungal drug amphotericin B in terms of therapeutic index and exhibited fast C. albicans-killing activity. The most promising polymer compositions showed synergistic effects in combination with caspofungin and fluconazole against C. albicans and additionally demonstrated activity against other clinically relevant fungi. Collectively, these results indicate the strong potential of these easily producible polymers to be used as antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Schaefer
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Daniele Melodia
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Christopher Pracey
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, Mark Wainwright Analytical Centre, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Nathaniel Corrigan
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Megan D Lenardon
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - Cyrille Boyer
- School of Chemical Engineering, University of New South Wales (UNSW), Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
- Australian Centre for NanoMedicine, UNSW, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
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18
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Pfaller M, Huband M, Bien PA, Carvalhaes CG, Klauer A, Castanheira M. In vitro activity of manogepix and comparators against infrequently encountered yeast and mold isolates from the SENTRY Surveillance Program (2017-2022). Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0113223. [PMID: 38205999 PMCID: PMC10848754 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01132-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Manogepix is a potent new antifungal agent targeting the fungal Gwt1 enzyme. Manogepix has previously demonstrated potent in vitro activity against clinical isolates of both Candida (except Candida krusei) and Aspergillus species. This study determined the in vitro activity of manogepix and comparators against a large collection of infrequently encountered yeast and molds. Manogepix demonstrated potent in vitro activity against infrequently encountered yeasts exhibiting elevated MIC values to other drug classes, including Candida spp. (MIC50/90, 0.008/0.12 mg/L), Saprochaete clavata (Magnusiomyces clavatus) (MIC50/90, 0.03/0.06 mg/L), Magnusiomyces capitatus (MICrange, 0.016-0.06 mg/L), Rhodotorula minuta (MIC, 0.016 mg/L), and Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (MIC50/90, 0.03/0.12 mg/L). Similarly, manogepix was active against infrequently encountered mold isolates and strains exhibiting elevated MIC/MEC values to echinocandins, azoles, and amphotericin B, including Coprinopsis cinerea (MEC, 0.004 mg/L), Fusarium spp. (MEC50/90, 0.016/0.06 mg/L), Fusarium (Gibberella) fujikuroi species complex (MEC50/90, 0.016/0.03 mg/L), Lomentospora prolificans (MEC50/90, 0.03/0.06 mg/L), Microascus cirrosus (MEC, 0.008 mg/L), Paecilomyces spp. (MEC50/90, ≤0.008/0.016 mg/L), Pleurostomophora richardsiae (MEC, 0.06 mg/L), Sarocladium kiliense (MEC range, 0.016-0.12 mg/L), and Scedosporium spp. (MEC50/90, 0.03/0.06 mg/L). Manogepix demonstrated potent activity against a majority of the infrequently encountered yeast and mold isolates tested including strains with elevated MIC/MEC values to other drug classes. Additional clinical development of manogepix (fosmanogepix) in difficult-to-treat, resistant fungal infections is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Pfaller
- JMI Laboratories, North Liberty, lowa, USA
- University of Iowa, Iowa City, lowa, USA
| | | | - Paul A. Bien
- PAB Pharma Consulting LLC, San Diego, California, USA
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19
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Viveiro LRDG, Rehem AR, Santos ELDS, do Carmo PHF, Junqueira JC, Scorzoni L. In vitro effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on Cryptococcus gattii capsule and biofilm. Pathog Dis 2024; 82:ftae001. [PMID: 38204138 PMCID: PMC10849314 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Cryptococcus gattii mainly affect immunocompetent individuals and the treatment presents important limitations. This study aimed to validate the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLH), and paroxetine hydrochloride (PAH) in vitro against C. gattii. The antifungal activity of SSRI using the microdilution method revealed a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.25 µg/ml. The combination of FLH or PAH with amphotericin B (AmB) was analyzed using the checkerboard assay and the synergistic effect of SSRI in combination with AmB was able to reduce the SSRI or AmB MIC values 4-8-fold. When examining the effect of SSRI on the induced capsules, we observed that FLH and PAH significantly decreased the size of C. gattii capsules. In addition, the effects of FLH and PAH were evaluated in biofilm biomass and viability. The SSRI were able to reduce biofilm biomass and biofilm viability. In conclusion, our results indicate the use of FLH and PAH exhibited in vitro anticryptococcal activity, representing a possible future alternative for the cryptococcosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia Rampazzo da Gama Viveiro
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Amanda Rodrigues Rehem
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Evelyn Luzia De Souza Santos
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Paulo Henrique Fonseca do Carmo
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Juliana Campos Junqueira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Liliana Scorzoni
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade de Guarulhos, Guarulhos, São Paulo 07023-070, Brazil
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20
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Verweij PE, Song Y, Buil JB, Zhang J, Melchers WJG. Antifungal Resistance in Pulmonary Aspergillosis. Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2024; 45:32-40. [PMID: 38196063 DOI: 10.1055/s-0043-1776997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Aspergilli may cause various pulmonary diseases in humans, including allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA), chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA), and acute invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA). In addition, chronic colonization may occur in cystic fibrosis (CF). Aspergillus fumigatus represents the main pathogen, which may employ different morphotypes, for example, conidia, hyphal growth, and asexual sporulation, in the various Aspergillus diseases. These morphotypes determine the ease by which A. fumigatus can adapt to stress by antifungal drug exposure, usually resulting in one or more resistance mutations. Key factors that enable the emergence of resistance include genetic variation and selection. The ability to create genetic variation depends on the reproduction mode, including, sexual, parasexual, and asexual, and the population size. These reproduction cycles may take place in the host and/or in the environment, usually when specific conditions are present. Environmental resistance is commonly characterized by tandem repeat (TR)-mediated mutations, while in-host resistance selection results in single-resistance mutations. Reported cases from the literature indicate that environmental resistance mutations are almost exclusively present in patients with IA indicating that the risk for in-host resistance selection is very low. In aspergilloma, single-point mutations are the dominant resistance genotype, while in other chronic Aspergillus diseases, for example, ABPA, CPA, and CF, both TR-mediated and single-resistance mutations are reported. Insights into the pathogenesis of resistance selection in various Aspergillus diseases may help to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul E Verweij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Diagnostics and Laboratory Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Yinggai Song
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, 8 Xishiku Street, Xicheng District, Beijing, China
- National Clinical Research Center For Skin and Immune Diseases, Beijing, China
- Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jochem B Buil
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jianhua Zhang
- Center for Infectious Disease Research, Diagnostics and Laboratory Surveillance, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Willem J G Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Radboudumc-CWZ Center of Expertise for Mycology, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
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21
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Heuer C, Jiang X, Ron G, Ternyak O, Scheper T, Bahnemann J, Segal E. Photonic Si microwell architectures for rapid antifungal susceptibility determination of Candida auris. Chem Commun (Camb) 2024; 60:1305-1308. [PMID: 38197155 DOI: 10.1039/d3cc04446g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
We present the application of a photonic silicon chip-based optical sensor system for expeditious and phenotypic antifungal susceptibility testing. This label-free diagnostic assay optically monitors the growth of Candida auris at varying antifungal concentrations on a microwell-structured silicon chip in real-time, and antifungal susceptibility is detected within 6 h, four times faster than in the current gold standard method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Heuer
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel.
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover 30167, Germany
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg 86159, Germany
| | - Xin Jiang
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel.
| | - Gali Ron
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel.
| | - Orna Ternyak
- Micro- and Nanofabrication and Printing Unit, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel
| | - Thomas Scheper
- Institute of Technical Chemistry, Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover 30167, Germany
| | - Janina Bahnemann
- Institute of Physics, University of Augsburg, Augsburg 86159, Germany
| | - Ester Segal
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Engineering, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, 3200003, Israel.
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22
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Kano R, Yamada T, Tamura T, Makimura K. Is milbemycin a game changer against antifungal drug-resistant mycoses? Med Mycol 2024; 62:myae003. [PMID: 38285608 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myae003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 01/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Milbemycin oximes are macrocyclic lactones that have a broad spectrum of activity against nematode infection in animals. They are known to block drug efflux, which increases the susceptibility of fungi to azoles. We investigated the effects of milbemycin on the azole susceptibility of fungi (Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, C. auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Trichophyton rubrum). To screen for changes in azole susceptibility, fungal growth was tested on a culture medium containing 1 μg/ml milbemycin. The results showed that milbemycin increased the azole susceptibility of azole-resistant strains of C. albicans, C. auris, C. neoformans, and T. rubrum. Thus, milbemycin might be useful against antifungal drug-resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Kano
- Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology (TIMM), 359 Otsuka, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0395, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Yamada
- Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology (TIMM), 359 Otsuka, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0395, Japan
| | - Takashi Tamura
- General Medical Education and Research Center, Teikyo University, 2-11-1 Kaga, Itabashi-ku, Tokyo 173-8605, Japan
| | - Koichi Makimura
- Teikyo University Institute of Medical Mycology (TIMM), 359 Otsuka, Hachioji, Tokyo 192-0395, Japan
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Alfalahi AO, Alrawi MS, Theer RM, Dawood KF, Charfi S, Almehemdi AF. Phytochemical analysis and antifungal potential of two Launaea mucronata (Forssk.) Muschl and Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook.fil. wildly growing in Anbar province, Iraq. J Ethnopharmacol 2024; 318:116965. [PMID: 37506779 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Plant fungi are a serious problem in agriculture. Even though synthetic fungicides are an efficient control method, several negative side effects emerge from their extensive use, such as health problems, environmental pollution, and the emergence of resistant microorganisms. Thus, it is becoming more and more urgent to search for alternative control methods. AIM OF THE STUDY The aim of our study was to analyze phytochemical composition and antifungal potential of Launaea mucronata (Forssk.) Muschl. and Launaea nudicaulis (L.) Hook. fil. wildly growing in Anbar province, Iraq. In addition, molecular analysis was used to identify the plants species and molecular docking analysis was investigated between the major phytochemicals present in these plants and three selected fungal proteins, in order to assess the antifungal activity of the selected biochemicals against these proteins. MATERIALS AND METHODS Molecular analysis was performed using ITS sequencing protocol. The phytochemical analysis was done using GC-MS technique, while molecular docking analysis was performed by FRED application between selected compounds from each plant and three enzymes: 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, endochitinase, and 14-α-demethylase. Finally, the antifungal activity was assessed by measuring inhibition percentage of Fusarium solani and Macrophomina phaseolina growth treated with ethanomethanolic extract of each plant. RESULTS Molecular analysis identified the selected plants as L. mucronata and L. nudicaulis, with an ITS region of 600 bp. Phytochemical analysis of Launaea spp. reported the presence of 35 compounds in each ethanomethanolic extract, belonging to different classes. L. mucronata was mainly formed of lupeol (9.33%), whereas L. nudicaulis extract was dominated by the heterocyclic compound 4-(3-methoxyphenoxy)-1,2,5-oxadiazol-3-amine (20.2%). Furthermore, molecular docking analysis showed that 4H-pyran-4-one,2,3-dihydro-3,5-dihydroxy-6-methyl from L. mucronata and gulonic acid Ƴ-lactone from L. nudicaulis possessed the highest affinity score to 17-β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (-4.584 and -7.811 kcal/mol, respectively). Sucrose from L. mucronata and glutaric acid, di(3,4-difluorobenzyl) ester from L. nudicaulis gave the highest affinity to endochitinase (-7.979 and - 8.446 kcal/mol, respectively). In addition, sterol 14-α-demethylase was affinitive to sucrose from L. mucronata and glutaric acid, di(3,4-difluorobenzyl) ester from L. nudicaulis via energetic score of -10.002 and -9.582 kcal/mol, respectively. Both extracts exhibited antifungal activity against F. solani and M. phaseolina in a dose-dependent manner. CONCLUSIONS This study confirms the antifungal potential of both Launaea spp. explained by the presence of phytochemicals with antimicrobial properties. These compounds have potential to be used as new drugs to treat infectious diseases caused by pathogens. Consequently, plants from Launaea genus could be a raw material for many studies such as therapeutic, taxonomical, drug modelling, and antifungal agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayoob Obaid Alfalahi
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, Iraq.
| | - Marwa Shakib Alrawi
- Department of Pharmacology &Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, University of Anbar, Iraq.
| | - Rashid Mushrif Theer
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Anbar, Iraq.
| | - Kutaiba Farhan Dawood
- Department of Scientific Affairs, University Headquarter, University of Anbar, Iraq.
| | - Saoulajan Charfi
- Laboratory of Biology and Health, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Abdelmalek Essaadi University, Tetouan, 93000, Morocco.
| | - Ali F Almehemdi
- Department of Conservation Agriculture, Center of Desert Studies, University of Anbar, Iraq.
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24
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Steyn HF, White LJ, Hilton KLF, Hiscock JR, Pohl CH. Supramolecular Self-Associating Amphiphiles Inhibit Biofilm Formation by the Critical Pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. ACS Omega 2024; 9:1770-1785. [PMID: 38222503 PMCID: PMC10785623 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.3c08425] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
In 2019, 4.95 million deaths were directly attributed to antimicrobial-resistant bacterial infections globally. In addition, the mortality associated with fungal infections is estimated at 1.7 million annually, with many of these deaths attributed to species that are no longer susceptible to traditional therapeutic regimes. Herein, we demonstrate the use of a novel class of supramolecular self-associating amphiphilic (SSA) salts as antimicrobial agents against the critical pathogens Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. We also identify preliminary structure-activity relationships for this class of compound that will aid the development of next-generation SSAs demonstrating enhanced antibiofilm activity. To gain insight into the possible mode of action for these agents, a series of microscopy studies were performed, taking advantage of the intrinsic fluorescent nature of benzothiazole-substituted SSAs. Analysis of these data showed that the SSAs interact with the cell surface and that a benzothiazole-containing SSA inhibits hyphal formation by C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hendrik
J. F. Steyn
- Department
of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University
of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Free State 9301, South Africa
| | - Lisa J. White
- School
of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University
of Kent, Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
| | - Kira L. F. Hilton
- School
of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University
of Kent, Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
| | - Jennifer R. Hiscock
- School
of Chemistry and Forensic Science, University
of Kent, Kent, Canterbury CT2 7NH, United Kingdom
| | - Carolina H. Pohl
- Department
of Microbiology and Biochemistry, University
of the Free State, Bloemfontein, Free State 9301, South Africa
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Ul Haq I, Maryam S, Shyntum DY, Khan TA, Li F. Exploring the frontiers of therapeutic breadth of antifungal peptides: A new avenue in antifungal drugs. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 51:kuae018. [PMID: 38710584 PMCID: PMC11119867 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuae018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
The growing prevalence of fungal infections alongside rising resistance to antifungal drugs poses a significant challenge to public health safety. At the close of the 2000s, major pharmaceutical firms began to scale back on antimicrobial research due to repeated setbacks and diminished economic gains, leaving only smaller companies and research labs to pursue new antifungal solutions. Among various natural sources explored for novel antifungal compounds, antifungal peptides (AFPs) emerge as particularly promising. Despite their potential, AFPs receive less focus than their antibacterial counterparts. These peptides have been sourced extensively from nature, including plants, animals, insects, and especially bacteria and fungi. Furthermore, with advancements in recombinant biotechnology and computational biology, AFPs can also be synthesized in lab settings, facilitating peptide production. AFPs are noted for their wide-ranging efficacy, in vitro and in vivo safety, and ability to combat biofilms. They are distinguished by their high specificity, minimal toxicity to cells, and reduced likelihood of resistance development. This review aims to comprehensively cover AFPs, including their sources-both natural and synthetic-their antifungal and biofilm-fighting capabilities in laboratory and real-world settings, their action mechanisms, and the current status of AFP research. ONE-SENTENCE SUMMARY This comprehensive review of AFPs will be helpful for further research in antifungal research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ihtisham Ul Haq
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Inovação Tecnológica, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil
| | - Sajida Maryam
- Department of Physical Chemistry and Technology of Polymers, Silesian University of Technology, M. Strzody 9, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
- Joint Doctoral School, Silesian University of Technology, Akademicka 2A, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Divine Y Shyntum
- Biotechnology Centre, Silesian University of Technology, B. Krzywoustego 8, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
| | - Taj A Khan
- Division of Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Institute of Pathology and Diagnostic Medicine, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Fan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, People's Republic of China
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Ning Y, Dai R, Zhang L, Xu Y, Xiao M. Copy number variants of ERG11: mechanism of azole resistance in Candida parapsilosis. Lancet Microbe 2024; 5:e10. [PMID: 38012895 DOI: 10.1016/s2666-5247(23)00294-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yating Ning
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Rongchen Dai
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Yingchun Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China
| | - Meng Xiao
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Complex, Severe, and Rare Diseases, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100730, China; Beijing Key Laboratory for Mechanisms Research and Precision Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Diseases, Beijing, China.
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Wang M, Zhang C, Li Z, Ji B, Man S, Yi M, Li R, Hao M, Wang S. Epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility of fungal infections from 2018 to 2021 in Shandong, eastern China: A report from the SPARSS program. Indian J Med Microbiol 2024; 47:100518. [PMID: 38016503 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmmb.2023.100518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE We analyzed the pathogenic fungal epidemiology and antifungal susceptibility from 2018 to 2021 in Shandong Province, China, to provide the basis for empiric antifungal therapy. METHODS Fungal isolates were collected from 54 hospitals in Shandong province from 2018 to 2021 through the Shandong Province Pediatric bacterial & fungal Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance System (SPARSS), WHONET v5.6 and SPSS software v20.0 were used for statistical analysis. RESULTS A total of 15,348 strains of fungi were collected, with Candida accounting for 78.25 %, followed by Aspergillus at 15.45 %, and other species at 6.27 %. Candida albicans was the predominant Candida species, but more than half of the Candida isolates were non-albicans species, with C. tropicalis being the most dominant (22.74 %), followed by C. glabrata (17.50 %) and C. parapsilosis (11.02 %). The composition of fungi varied significantly among different age groups. Children had a higher proportion of C. albicans (47.30 %) compared to non-children (32.06 %). The non-wild-type phenotype rate of Candida for Amphotericin B was less than 3 %, while Cryptococcus neoformans was 16.67 %. In addition, less than 6 % of C. albicans and C. parapsilosis were resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole, and 96.30 % of C. glabrata were SDD to fluconazole. We also found that 80.56 % of C. glabrata and 83.70 % of C. krusei were voriconazole WT/susceptibility phenotype. However, the susceptibility rates of C. tropicalis to fluconazole/voriconazole decreased from 70.40 %/46.40 % in 2018 to 62.30 %/35.20 % in 2021. The comprehensive susceptibility rate to fluconazole of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata isolated from the blood has decreased from 69.36 % to 56.62 %. CONCLUSIONS The study reveals that the composition and antifungal susceptibility of pathogenic fungi in Shandong Province differ from other regions. Moreover, the resistance to azoles is more severe, especially in C. tropicalis. These findings indicate the need for region-specific antifungal treatment strategies to combat fungal infections effectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyuan Wang
- Clinical Microbiology Department, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Children's Health and Disease, Jinan, China.
| | - Chunyan Zhang
- Clinical Microbiology Department, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Children's Health and Disease, Jinan, China.
| | - Zheng Li
- Clinical Microbiology Department, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Children's Health and Disease, Jinan, China.
| | - Bing Ji
- Laboratory Medicine, Hospital Affiliated to Binzhou Medical University, Binzhou, 256603, China.
| | - Sijin Man
- Laboratory Medicine, Central People's Hospital of Tengzhou, Tengzhou, 277500, China.
| | - Maoli Yi
- Laboratory Medicine, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, YanTai, 264000, China.
| | - Renzhe Li
- Laboratory Medicine, Jining First People's Hospital, Jining, 272111, China.
| | - Mingju Hao
- Laboratory Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, 250014, China.
| | - Shifu Wang
- Clinical Microbiology Department, Children's Hospital Affiliated to Shandong University, Jinan, 250022, China; Shandong Provincial Clinical Research Center for Children's Health and Disease, Jinan, China.
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Chen SY, Chang CK, Lan CY. Antimicrobial peptide LL-37 disrupts plasma membrane and calcium homeostasis in Candida albicans via the Rim101 pathway. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0255123. [PMID: 37888991 PMCID: PMC10715129 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02551-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is a major human fungal pathogen, and antimicrobial peptides are key components of innate immunity. Studying the interplay between C. albicans and human antimicrobial peptides would enhance a better understanding of pathogen-host interactions. Moreover, potential applications of antimicrobial peptides in antifungal therapy have aroused great interest. This work explores new mechanisms of LL-37 against C. albicans and reveals the complex connection among calcium homeostasis, oxidative stress, signaling, and possibly organelle interaction. Notably, these findings support the possible use of antimicrobial peptides to prevent and treat fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheng-Yuan Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Che-Kang Chang
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yu Lan
- Institute of Molecular and Cellular Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Life Science, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
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Tenderenda A, Łysakowska ME, Gawron-Skarbek A. The Prevalence of Alert Pathogens and Microbial Resistance Mechanisms: A Three-Year Retrospective Study in a General Hospital in Poland. Pathogens 2023; 12:1401. [PMID: 38133286 PMCID: PMC10746124 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12121401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of antibiotic resistance mechanisms hinders the treatment process. So far, there is limited data on the problem of bacterial resistance in hospitals in Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence of resistance mechanisms and alert pathogens based on reports regarding cultures of samples collected from general hospital patients in Poland in the period 2019-2021. This study examined the prevalence of resistance mechanisms and alert pathogens and the structure of microorganisms, including the type of diagnostic material in the hospital department. The frequency of occurrence and the trends were analysed based on Cochran's Q-test, relative change and the average annual rate of change (AARC). Of all 14,471 cultures, 3875 were positive for bacteria, and 737 were characterised by resistance mechanisms (19.0%). Alert pathogens were identified in 983 cases (24.6%), including pathogens isolated from blood samples. The most commonlyisolated bacteria were Escherichia coli (>20% of positive cultures), Enterococcus faecalis (7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (6%) increasing over time; Staphylococcus aureus (13%) was also found, but its proportion was decreasing over time. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) was the most frequent resistance mechanism in Internal Medicine (IM) (p < 0.001) and the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) (p < 0.01), as well as in ICU-COVID; this increased over the study period (AARC ↑34.9%). Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (AARC ↓50.82%) and AmpC beta-lactamase (AARC ↓24.77%) prevalence fell over time. Also, the number of alert pathogens was dominant in the IM (p < 0.01) and ICU (p < 0.001). The most common alert pathogen was ESBL-positive E. coli. Gram-negative rods constitute a significant epidemiological problem in hospitals, especially the growing trend of ESBL in IM and ICU, which calls for increased control of sanitary procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Tenderenda
- Department of Geriatrics, Medical University of Lodz, 90-647 Lodz, Poland;
| | - Monika Eliza Łysakowska
- Department of Microbiology and Medical Laboratory Immunology, Medical University of Lodz, 90-213 Lodz, Poland
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Klugherz I, Basch M, Ng N, Zhu Z, Wagener N, Wagener J. Only One of Three Bcs1 Homologs in Aspergillus fumigatus Confers Respiratory Growth. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1074. [PMID: 37998879 PMCID: PMC10672213 DOI: 10.3390/jof9111074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The mitochondrial translocase Bcs1 is required for the correct assembly of complex III of the mitochondrial respiratory chain. Because of its importance, Bcs1 was recently proposed as a target for antifungal agents. The function of this AAA (ATPase Associated with diverse cellular Activities) protein has been extensively characterized in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This yeast as well as previously studied mammals each encode only one homolog. In contrast, the pathogenic mold Aspergillus fumigatus encodes three putative Bcs1 homologs, none of which have been characterized to date. To study the role of these three homologs in A. fumigatus, conditional and deletion mutants of the respective genes AFUA_3G13000 (bcs1A), AFUA_4G01260 (bcs1B), and AFUA_2G14760 (bcs1C) were generated. A deletion or downregulation of bcs1A resulted in drastically reduced growth and sporulation rates and in a significantly altered susceptibility to azole antifungals. In contrast, mutants lacking Bcs1B or Bcs1C did not show any phenotypes differing from the wild type. Salicylhydroxamic acid-an inhibitor of the alternative oxidase that allows the respiratory chain to bypass complex III in some species-caused a complete growth arrest of the bcs1A deletion mutant. In a Galleria mellonella infection model, the deletion of bcs1A resulted in significantly decreased virulence. Only Bcs1A was able to partially complement a deletion of BCS1 in S. cerevisiae. The subcellular localization of Bcs1B and Bcs1C outside of mitochondria suggests that these Bcs1 homologs exert cellular functions different from that of Bcs1. Our data demonstrate that Bcs1A is the sole Bcs1 ortholog in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isabel Klugherz
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336 Munich, Germany; (I.K.)
- Diagnostic and Research Institute of Hygiene, Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, 8010 Graz, Austria
| | - Marion Basch
- Zell- und Entwicklungsbiologie, Department Biologie II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Munich, Germany
| | - Natanya Ng
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, St James’s Hospital Campus, D08 RX0X Dublin, Ireland
| | - Zhaojun Zhu
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336 Munich, Germany; (I.K.)
| | - Nikola Wagener
- Zell- und Entwicklungsbiologie, Department Biologie II, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Planegg-Martinsried, 82152 Munich, Germany
| | - Johannes Wagener
- Max von Pettenkofer-Institut für Hygiene und Medizinische Mikrobiologie, Medizinische Fakultät, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, 80336 Munich, Germany; (I.K.)
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, The University of Dublin, St James’s Hospital Campus, D08 RX0X Dublin, Ireland
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Álvarez-Pérez S, García ME, Martínez-Nevado E, Blanco JL. Presence of Aspergillus fumigatus with the TR 34/L98H Cyp51A mutation and other azole-resistant aspergilli in the air of a zoological park. Res Vet Sci 2023; 164:104993. [PMID: 37657393 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2023.104993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/03/2023]
Abstract
Antifungal-resistant fungi, including Aspergillus fumigatus and other Aspergillus species, pose an urgent threat to human and animal health. Furthermore, the environmental route of azole resistance selection due to the widespread use of azole fungicides in crop protection and other applications is a major public health issue. Although environmental surveillance of fungi is frequently performed in many zoological parks and wildlife rehabilitation centers, the antifungal susceptibility of recovered isolates is only rarely analyzed, which precludes a clear assessment of the threat posed by these fungi to captive animals. In this study, we assessed the presence of airborne azole-resistant Aspergillus spp., including the so-called 'cryptic species' (i.e., species which are phenotypically similar to more well-known aspergilli but clearly constitute different phylogenetic lineages) in a zoological park located in the city of Madrid, Spain. In general, our results revealed a low prevalence A. fumigatus and cryptic aspergilli with decreased susceptibility to azoles. However, we detected an A. fumigatus isolate with the TR34/L98H mutation in the gene encoding the lanosterol 14α-demethylase (Cyp51A), consisting of a tandem repeat of 34 base pairs in the promoter region and a lysine to histidine substitution at codon 98. Notably, this TR34/L98H mutation has been linked to the environmental route of azole resistance selection, thus highlighting the 'One Health' dimension of the emerging problem of antifungal resistance. In this context, continuous environmental surveillance of azole-resistant aspergilli in zoological parks and other similar animal facilities is recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergio Álvarez-Pérez
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, Madrid 28040, Spain.
| | - Marta E García
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, Madrid 28040, Spain
| | | | - José L Blanco
- Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Complutense University of Madrid, Avenida Puerta de Hierro s/n, Madrid 28040, Spain
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Gonzalez-Jimenez I, Perlin DS, Shor E. Reactive oxidant species induced by antifungal drugs: identity, origins, functions, and connection to stress-induced cell death. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1276406. [PMID: 37900311 PMCID: PMC10602735 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1276406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxidant species (ROS) are unstable, highly reactive molecules that are produced by cells either as byproducts of metabolism or synthesized by specialized enzymes. ROS can be detrimental, e.g., by damaging cellular macromolecules, or beneficial, e.g., by participating in signaling. An increasing body of evidence shows that various fungal species, including both yeasts and molds, increase ROS production upon exposure to the antifungal drugs currently used in the clinic: azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. However, the implications of these findings are still largely unclear due to gaps in knowledge regarding the chemical nature, molecular origins, and functional consequences of these ROS. Because the detection of ROS in fungal cells has largely relied on fluorescent probes that lack specificity, the chemical nature of the ROS is not known, and it may vary depending on the specific fungus-drug combination. In several instances, the origin of antifungal drug-induced ROS has been identified as the mitochondria, but further experiments are necessary to strengthen this conclusion and to investigate other potential cellular ROS sources, such as the ER, peroxisomes, and ROS-producing enzymes. With respect to the function of the ROS, several studies have shown that they contribute to the drugs' fungicidal activities and may be part of drug-induced programmed cell death (PCD). However, whether these "pro-death" ROS are a primary consequence of the antifungal mechanism of action or a secondary consequence of drug-induced PCD remains unclear. Finally, several recent studies have raised the possibility that ROS induction can serve an adaptive role, promoting antifungal drug tolerance and the evolution of drug resistance. Filling these gaps in knowledge will reveal a new aspect of fungal biology and may identify new ways to potentiate antifungal drug activity or prevent the evolution of antifungal drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Gonzalez-Jimenez
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, United States
| | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, United States
- Medical Sciences, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, United States
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Erika Shor
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, United States
- Medical Sciences, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, United States
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Brzychczy- Sroka B, Talaga-Ćwiertnia K, Sroka-Oleksiak A, Gurgul A, Zarzecka-Francica E, Ostrowski W, Kąkol J, Zarzecka J, Brzychczy-Włoch M. Oral microbiota study of the patients after hospitalisation for COVID-19, considering selected dental indices and antibiotic therapy using the next generation sequencing method (NGS). J Oral Microbiol 2023; 15:2264591. [PMID: 37840855 PMCID: PMC10569355 DOI: 10.1080/20002297.2023.2264591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Poor oral hygiene and the increased incidence and severity of periodontitis may exacerbate SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim was to evaluate the oral microbiota of 60 participants divided into groups: COVID-19 convalescents who received antibiotics during hospitalization (I), COVID-19 convalescents without antibiotic therapy (II) and healthy individuals (III). Materials and Methods Dental examination was conducted, and oral health status was evaluated using selected dental indexes. Clinical samples (saliva, dorsal swabs, supragingival and subgingival plaque) were collected and used for metagenomic library to the next-generation sequencing (NGS) preparation. Results Each of the clinical materials in particular groups of patients showed a statistically significant and quantitatively different bacterial composition. Patients from group I showed significantly worse oral health, reflected by higher average values of dental indexes and also a higher percentage of Veillonella, Tannerella, Capnocytophaga and Selenomonas genera in comparison to other groups. Additionally, a statistically significant decrease in the amount of Akkermansia type in both groups with COVID-19 was observed for all materials. Conclusions The primary factor affecting the composition of oral microbiota was not the SARS-CoV-2 infection itself, but the use of antibiotic therapy. The increased percentage of pro-inflammatory pathogens observed in COVID-19 patients underscores the importance of preventing periodontal disease and improving oral hygiene in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Brzychczy- Sroka
- Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Talaga-Ćwiertnia
- Department of Molecular Medical Microbiology, Chair of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Sroka-Oleksiak
- Department of Molecular Medical Microbiology, Chair of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Artur Gurgul
- Center for Experimental and Innovative Medicine, The University of Agriculture in Kraków, Kraków, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Zarzecka-Francica
- Department of Prosthodontics and Orthodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Wojciech Ostrowski
- Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Joanna Zarzecka
- Department of Conservative Dentistry with Endodontics, Institute of Dentistry, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
| | - Monika Brzychczy-Włoch
- Department of Molecular Medical Microbiology, Chair of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland
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Paiva JA, Pereira JM. Treatment of invasive candidiasis in the era of Candida resistance. Curr Opin Crit Care 2023; 29:457-462. [PMID: 37641511 DOI: 10.1097/mcc.0000000000001077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The increasing incidence of drug-resistant Candida brings a new challenge to the treatment of invasive candidiasis. Although cross-resistance among azoles and echinocandins was generally uncommon, reports of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Candida markedly increased in the last decade. The purpose of this review is to understand mechanisms and risk factors for resistance and how to tackle antifungal resistance. RECENT FINDINGS The paper describes the action of the three main classes of antifungals - azoles, echinocandins and polyenes - and Candida's mechanisms of resistance. The current evolution from cross-resistance to multiresistance among Candida explains the modern glossary - multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pandrug-resistant (PDR) - imported from bacteria. MDR Candida most commonly involves acquired resistance in species with intrinsic resistance, therefore it mostly involves C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei, C guilliermondii or C. auris , which is intrinsically multidrug resistant. Finally, strategies to tackle antifungal resistance became clearer, ideally implemented through antifungal stewardship. SUMMARY Avoiding antifungal's overuse and selecting the best drug, dose and duration, when they are needed, is fundamental. Knowledge of risk factors for resistance, microbiological diagnosis to the species, use of susceptibility test supported by antifungal stewardship programs help attaining effective therapy and sustaining the effectiveness of the current antifungal armamentarium.
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Affiliation(s)
- José-Artur Paiva
- Intensive Care Medicine Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário S. João, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Grupo de Infeção e Sepsis, Porto, Portugal
| | - José Manuel Pereira
- Intensive Care Medicine Department, Centro Hospitalar Universitário S. João, Porto, Portugal
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine of University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
- Grupo de Infeção e Sepsis, Porto, Portugal
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35
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Dracatos PM, Lu J, Sánchez‐Martín J, Wulff BB. Resistance that stacks up: engineering rust and mildew disease control in the cereal crops wheat and barley. Plant Biotechnol J 2023; 21:1938-1951. [PMID: 37494504 PMCID: PMC10502761 DOI: 10.1111/pbi.14106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
Staying ahead of the arms race against rust and mildew diseases in cereal crops is essential to maintain and preserve food security. The methodological challenges associated with conventional resistance breeding are major bottlenecks for deploying resistance (R) genes in high-yielding crop varieties. Advancements in our knowledge of plant genomes, structural mechanisms, innovations in bioinformatics, and improved plant transformation techniques have alleviated this bottleneck by permitting rapid gene isolation, functional studies, directed engineering of synthetic resistance and precise genome manipulation in elite crop cultivars. Most cloned cereal R genes encode canonical immune receptors which, on their own, are prone to being overcome through selection for resistance-evading pathogenic strains. However, the increasingly large repertoire of cloned R genes permits multi-gene stacking that, in principle, should provide longer-lasting resistance. This review discusses how these genomics-enabled developments are leading to new breeding and biotechnological opportunities to achieve durable rust and powdery mildew control in cereals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter M. Dracatos
- La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture & Food (LISAF)Department of Animal, Plant and Soil SciencesLa Trobe UniversityVIC 3086Australia
| | - Jing Lu
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Center for Desert AgricultureKAUSTThuwalSaudi Arabia
- College of Life SciencesSichuan UniversityChengduChina
- Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of SciencesChengduChina
| | - Javier Sánchez‐Martín
- Department of Microbiology and Genetics, Spanish‐Portuguese Agricultural Research Center (CIALE)University of SalamancaSalamancaSpain
| | - Brande B.H. Wulff
- Plant Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division (BESE)King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST)ThuwalSaudi Arabia
- Center for Desert AgricultureKAUSTThuwalSaudi Arabia
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Hassoun N, Kassem II, Hamze M, El Tom J, Papon N, Osman M. Antifungal Use and Resistance in a Lower-Middle-Income Country: The Case of Lebanon. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1413. [PMID: 37760710 PMCID: PMC10525119 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12091413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2023] [Revised: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a serious threat, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Antifungal resistance is often underestimated in both healthcare and non-clinical settings. In LMICs, it is believed that the inappropriate use of antifungals, limited surveillance systems, and low diagnostic capacities are significant drivers of resistance. Like other LMICs, Lebanon lacks antifungal use and resistance surveillance programs, and the impact of antifungal resistance in the country remains unclear, especially during the unfolding economic crisis that has severely affected medical care and access to safe food and water. Interestingly, the widespread use of antifungals in medicine and agriculture has raised concerns about the development of antifungal resistance in Lebanon. In this light, we aimed to survey available antifungal drugs in the country and evaluate susceptibility patterns of prevalent fungal species to guide empiric treatments and develop antifungal stewardship programs in Lebanon. We noted that the economic crisis resulted in significant increases in antifungal drug prices. Additionally, a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar databases identified 15 studies on fungal infections and antifungal resistance conducted from 1998 to 2023 in Lebanon. While data on antifungal resistance are limited, 87% of available studies in Lebanon focused on candidiasis, while the remaining 13% were on aspergillosis. Overall, we observed a marked antimicrobial resistance among Candida and Aspergillus species. Additionally, incidences of Candida auris infections have increased in Lebanese hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a uniform resistance to fluconazole and amphotericin-B. Taken together, a One Health approach, reliable diagnostics, and prudent antifungal use are required to control the spread of resistant fungal pathogens in healthcare and agricultural settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nesrine Hassoun
- Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon;
| | - Issmat I. Kassem
- Center for Food Safety, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Georgia, 1109 Experiment Street, Griffin, GA 30223, USA;
| | - Monzer Hamze
- Laboratoire Microbiologie Santé et Environnement (LMSE), Doctoral School of Sciences and Technology, Faculty of Public Health, Lebanese University, Tripoli 1300, Lebanon;
| | - Jad El Tom
- School of Pharmacy, Lebanese American University, Byblos 1401, Lebanon;
| | - Nicolas Papon
- University of Angers, University of Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France;
| | - Marwan Osman
- Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
- Department of Public and Ecosystem Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Wu L, Li S, Gao W, Zhu X, Luo P, Xu D, Liu D, He Y. Real-World, Multicenter Case Series of Patients Treated with Isavuconazole for Invasive Fungal Disease in China. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2229. [PMID: 37764073 PMCID: PMC10535861 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11092229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The incidence of invasive fungal disease (IFD) has increased significantly, and IFD is a major cause of mortality among those with hematological malignancies. As a novel second-generation triazole antifungal drug offering both efficacy and safety, isavuconazole (ISA) is recommended by various guidelines internationally for the first-line treatment of invasive aspergillosis (IA) and invasive mucormycosis (IM) infecting adults. Given that it was only approved in China at the end of 2021, there is currently a lack of statistical data regarding its usage in the Chinese population. The primary objective of this report is to describe early experiences with ISA for the treatment of IFD. METHODS This was a real-world, multicenter, observational case series study conducted in China. It included patients from three centers who received ISA treatment from January 2022 to April 2023. A retrospective assessment on patient characteristics, variables related to ISA administration, the treatment response of IFD to ISA, and potential adverse events attributed to ISA was conducted. RESULTS A total of 40 patients met the inclusion criteria. Among them, 12 (30%) were diagnosed with aspergillosis, 2 (5%) were diagnosed with candidiasis, 12 (30%) were diagnosed with mucormycosis, and 14 cases did not present mycological evidence. The predominant site of infection was the lungs (36), followed by the blood stream (8), sinuses (4), and respiratory tract (2). The overall response rate was 75% (30 patients), with male patients having a higher clinical response than female patients (24/24 versus 6/16, p = 0.000) and autologous stem cell transplant patients having a higher clinical response than allogeneic stem cell transplant patients (6/6 versus 4/10, p = 0.027). During the observation period, four patients experienced adverse effects associated with ISA, but none of them discontinued the treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that ISA, a novel first-line treatment for IA and IM, is associated with a high clinical response rate, low incidence, and a low grade of adverse effects. Given the short time that ISA has been available in China, further research is needed to identify its efficacy and safety in the real world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisha Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (L.W.); (P.L.)
- Department of Pharmacy, Huangjiahu Hospital, Hubei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, China
| | - Shougang Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, General Hospital of Central Theater Command of Chinese People’s Liberation Army, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Weixi Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, Hubei General Hospital, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430060, China;
| | - Xiaojian Zhu
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Pan Luo
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (L.W.); (P.L.)
| | - Dong Xu
- Department of Infection Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China;
| | - Dong Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (L.W.); (P.L.)
| | - Yan He
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (L.W.); (P.L.)
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Singh A, Singh K, Sharma A, Kaur K, Chadha R, Bedi PMS. Recent advances in antifungal drug development targeting lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51): A comprehensive review with structural and molecular insights. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 102:606-639. [PMID: 37220949 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Fungal infections are posing serious threat to healthcare system due to emerging resistance among available antifungal agents. Among available antifungal agents in clinical practice, azoles (diazole, 1,2,4-triazole and tetrazole) remained most effective and widely prescribed antifungal agents. Now their associated side effects and emerging resistance pattern raised a need of new and potent antifungal agents. Lanosterol 14α-demethylase (CYP51) is responsible for the oxidative removal of 14α-methyl group of sterol precursors lanosterol and 24(28)-methylene-24,25-dihydrolanosterol in ergosterol biosynthesis hence an essential component of fungal life cycle and prominent target for antifungal drug development. This review will shed light on various azole- as well as non-azoles-based derivatives as potential antifungal agents that target fungal CYP51. Review will provide deep insight about structure activity relationship, pharmacological outcomes, and interactions of derivatives with CYP51 at molecular level. It will help medicinal chemists working on antifungal development in designing more rational, potent, and safer antifungal agents by targeting fungal CYP51 for tackling emerging antifungal drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atamjit Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Karanvir Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Aman Sharma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Kirandeep Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Renu Chadha
- University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Panjab University, Chandigarh, India
| | - Preet Mohinder Singh Bedi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
- Drug and Pollution testing Laboratory, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
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Rizzo J, Trottier A, Moyrand F, Coppée JY, Maufrais C, Zimbres ACG, Dang TTV, Alanio A, Desnos-Ollivier M, Mouyna I, Péhau-Arnaude G, Commere PH, Novault S, Ene IV, Nimrichter L, Rodrigues ML, Janbon G. Coregulation of extracellular vesicle production and fluconazole susceptibility in Cryptococcus neoformans. mBio 2023; 14:e0087023. [PMID: 37310732 PMCID: PMC10470540 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00870-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Resistance to fluconazole (FLC), the most widely used antifungal drug, is typically achieved by altering the azole drug target and/or drug efflux pumps. Recent reports have suggested a link between vesicular trafficking and antifungal resistance. Here, we identified novel Cryptococcus neoformans regulators of extracellular vesicle (EV) biogenesis that impact FLC resistance. In particular, the transcription factor Hap2 does not affect the expression of the drug target or efflux pumps, yet it impacts the cellular sterol profile. Subinhibitory FLC concentrations also downregulate EV production. Moreover, in vitro spontaneous FLC-resistant colonies showed altered EV production, and the acquisition of FLC resistance was associated with decreased EV production in clinical isolates. Finally, the reversion of FLC resistance was associated with increased EV production. These data suggest a model in which fungal cells can regulate EV production in place of regulating the drug target gene expression as a first line of defense against antifungal assault in this fungal pathogen. IMPORTANCE Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-enveloped particles that are released by cells into the extracellular space. Fungal EVs can mediate community interactions and biofilm formation, but their functions remain poorly understood. Here, we report the identification of the first regulators of EV production in the major fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans. Surprisingly, we uncover a novel role of EVs in modulating antifungal drug resistance. Disruption of EV production was associated with altered lipid composition and changes in fluconazole susceptibility. Spontaneous azole-resistant mutants were deficient in EV production, while loss of resistance restored initial EV production levels. These findings were recapitulated in C. neoformans clinical isolates, indicating that azole resistance and EV production are coregulated in diverse strains. Our study reveals a new mechanism of drug resistance in which cells adapt to azole stress by modulating EV production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Rizzo
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Adèle Trottier
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Frédérique Moyrand
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Jean-Yves Coppée
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Corinne Maufrais
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, USR 3756 IP CNRS, HUB Bioinformatique et Biostatistique, Paris, France
| | - Ana Claudia G. Zimbres
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thi Tuong Vi Dang
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Alexandre Alanio
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Centre National de Référence Mycoses Invasives et Antifongiques, Groupe de recherche Mycologie Translationnelle, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
- Laboratoire de parasitologie-mycologie, AP-HP, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Paris, France
| | - Marie Desnos-Ollivier
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Centre National de Référence Mycoses Invasives et Antifongiques, Groupe de recherche Mycologie Translationnelle, Département de Mycologie, Paris, France
| | - Isabelle Mouyna
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Gérard Péhau-Arnaude
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Plateforme de Bio-Imagerie Ultrastructurale, Paris, France
| | - Pierre-Henri Commere
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Cytometry and Biomarkers, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Novault
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Cytometry and Biomarkers, Paris, France
| | - Iuliana V. Ene
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Fungal Heterogeneity Group, Paris, France
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Guilhem Janbon
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Unité Biologie des ARN des Pathogènes Fongiques, Paris, France
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Gómez BL, Escandón P. Fungal infections: A growing threat. Biomedica 2023; 43:11-16. [PMID: 37721896 PMCID: PMC10581601 DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.7214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz L Gómez
- Grupo de Estudios en Microbiología Translacional y Enfermedades Emergentes (MICROS), Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
| | - Patricia Escandón
- Grupo de Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia.
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Cetin E, Guclu TF, Kantarcioglu I, Gaszek IK, Toprak E, Atilgan AR, Dedeoglu B, Atilgan C. Kinetic Barrier to Enzyme Inhibition Is Manipulated by Dynamical Local Interactions in E. coli DHFR. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:4839-4849. [PMID: 37491825 PMCID: PMC10428214 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c00818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) is an important drug target and a highly studied model protein for understanding enzyme dynamics. DHFR's crucial role in folate synthesis renders it an ideal candidate to understand protein function and protein evolution mechanisms. In this study, to understand how a newly proposed DHFR inhibitor, 4'-deoxy methyl trimethoprim (4'-DTMP), alters evolutionary trajectories, we studied interactions that lead to its superior performance over that of trimethoprim (TMP). To elucidate the inhibition mechanism of 4'-DTMP, we first confirmed, both computationally and experimentally, that the relative binding free energy cost for the mutation of TMP and 4'-DTMP is the same, pointing the origin of the characteristic differences to be kinetic rather than thermodynamic. We then employed an interaction-based analysis by focusing first on the active site and then on the whole enzyme. We confirmed that the polar modification in 4'-DTMP induces additional local interactions with the enzyme, particularly, the M20 loop. These changes are propagated to the whole enzyme as shifts in the hydrogen bond networks. To shed light on the allosteric interactions, we support our analysis with network-based community analysis and show that segmentation of the loop domain of inhibitor-bound DHFR must be avoided by a successful inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebru Cetin
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci
University, Tuzla 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Tandac F. Guclu
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci
University, Tuzla 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Isik Kantarcioglu
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci
University, Tuzla 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Ilona K. Gaszek
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Erdal Toprak
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern
Medical Center, Dallas 75390, Texas, United States
| | - Ali Rana Atilgan
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci
University, Tuzla 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Burcu Dedeoglu
- Department
of Chemistry, Gebze Technical University, Gebze 41400, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Canan Atilgan
- Faculty
of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Sabanci
University, Tuzla 34956, Istanbul, Turkey
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Smith DJ, Gold JAW, Benedict K, Wu K, Lyman M, Jordan A, Medina N, Lockhart SR, Sexton DJ, Chow NA, Jackson BR, Litvintseva AP, Toda M, Chiller T. Public Health Research Priorities for Fungal Diseases: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Save Lives. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:820. [PMID: 37623591 PMCID: PMC10455901 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections can cause severe disease and death and impose a substantial economic burden on healthcare systems. Public health research requires a multidisciplinary approach and is essential to help save lives and prevent disability from fungal diseases. In this manuscript, we outline the main public health research priorities for fungal diseases, including the measurement of the fungal disease burden and distribution and the need for improved diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Characterizing the public health, economic, health system, and individual burden caused by fungal diseases can provide critical insights to promote better prevention and treatment. The development and validation of fungal diagnostic tests that are rapid, accurate, and cost-effective can improve testing practices. Understanding best practices for antifungal prophylaxis can optimize prevention in at-risk populations, while research on antifungal resistance can improve patient outcomes. Investment in vaccines may eliminate certain fungal diseases or lower incidence and mortality. Public health research priorities and approaches may vary by fungal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dallas J. Smith
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (J.A.W.G.); (K.B.); (K.W.); (M.L.); (A.J.); (N.M.); (S.R.L.); (D.J.S.); (N.A.C.); (B.R.J.); (A.P.L.); (M.T.)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tom Chiller
- Mycotic Diseases Branch, Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA; (J.A.W.G.); (K.B.); (K.W.); (M.L.); (A.J.); (N.M.); (S.R.L.); (D.J.S.); (N.A.C.); (B.R.J.); (A.P.L.); (M.T.)
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Pinder C, Lebedinec R, Levine TP, Birch M, Oliver JD. Characterisation of putative class 1A DHODH-like proteins from Mucorales and dematiaceous mould species. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0289441. [PMID: 37531380 PMCID: PMC10395836 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0289441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Olorofim is a new antifungal in clinical development which has a novel mechanism of action against dihydroorotate dehydrogenase (DHODH). DHODH form a ubiquitous family of enzymes in the de novo pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway and are split into class 1A, class 1B and class 2. Olorofim specifically targets the fungal class 2 DHODH present in a range of pathogenic moulds. The nature and number of DHODH present in many fungal species have not been addressed for large clades of this kingdom. Mucorales species do not respond to olorofim; previous work suggests they have only class 1A DHODH and so lack the class 2 target that olorofim inhibits. The dematiaceous moulds have mixed susceptibility to olorofim, yet previous analyses imply that they have class 2 DHODH. As this is at odds with their intermediate susceptibility to olorofim, we hypothesised that these pathogens may maintain a second class of DHODH, facilitating pyrimidine biosynthesis in the presence of olorofim. The aim of this study was to investigate the DHODH repertoire of clinically relevant species of Mucorales and dematiaceous moulds to further characterise these pathogens and understand variations in olorofim susceptibility. Using bioinformatic analysis, S. cerevisiae complementation and biochemical assays of recombinant protein, we provide the first evidence that two representative members of the Mucorales have only class 1A DHODH, substantiating a lack of olorofim susceptibility. In contrast, bioinformatic analyses initially suggested that seven dematiaceous species appeared to harbour both class 1A-like and class 2-like DHODH genes. However, further experimental investigation of the putative class 1A-like genes through yeast complementation and biochemical assays characterised them as dihydrouracil oxidases rather than DHODHs. These data demonstrate variation in dematiaceous mould olorofim susceptibility is not due to a secondary DHODH and builds on the growing picture of fungal dihydrouracil oxidases as an example of horizontal gene transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Tim P Levine
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, United Kingdom
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Abstract
Fungal infections are rising, with over 1.5 billion cases and more than 1 million deaths recorded each year. Among these, Candida infections are frequent in at-risk populations and the rapid development of drug resistance and tolerance contributes to their clinical persistence. Few antifungal drugs are available, and their efficacy is declining due to the environmental overuse and the expansion of multidrug-resistant species. One way to prolong their utility is by applying them in combination therapy. Here, we highlight recently described azole potentiators belonging to different categories: natural, repurposed, or novel compounds. We showcase examples of molecules and discuss their identified or proposed mode of action. We also emphasise the challenges in azole potentiator development, compounded by the lack of animal testing, the overreliance on Candida albicans and Candida auris, as well as the limited understanding of compound efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Iuliana V. Ene
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Fungal Heterogeneity Group, Paris, France
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45
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Ladner JT, Sahl JW. Towards a post-pandemic future for global pathogen genome sequencing. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002225. [PMID: 37527248 PMCID: PMC10393143 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pathogen genome sequencing has become a routine part of our response to active outbreaks of infectious disease and should be an important part of our preparations for future epidemics. In this Essay, we discuss the innovations that have enabled routine pathogen genome sequencing, as well as how genome sequences can be used to understand and control the spread of infectious disease. We also explore the impact of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic on the field of pathogen genomics and outline the challenges we must address to further improve the utility of pathogen genome sequencing in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason T Ladner
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
| | - Jason W Sahl
- The Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
- Department of Biological Sciences, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona, United States of America
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Franconi I, Rizzato C, Poma N, Tavanti A, Lupetti A. Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto Antifungal Resistance Mechanisms and Associated Epidemiology. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:798. [PMID: 37623569 PMCID: PMC10456088 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases cause millions of deaths per year worldwide. Antifungal resistance has become a matter of great concern in public health. In recent years rates of non-albicans species have risen dramatically. Candida parapsilosis is now reported to be the second most frequent species causing candidemia in several countries in Europe, Latin America, South Africa and Asia. Rates of acquired azole resistance are reaching a worrisome threshold from multiple reports as in vitro susceptibility testing is now starting also to explore tolerance and heteroresistance to antifungal compounds. With this review, the authors seek to evaluate known antifungal resistance mechanisms and their worldwide distribution in Candida species infections with a specific focus on C. parapsilosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iacopo Franconi
- Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (I.F.); (C.R.)
| | - Cosmeri Rizzato
- Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (I.F.); (C.R.)
| | - Noemi Poma
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Arianna Tavanti
- Department of Biology, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (N.P.); (A.T.)
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research on New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Via San Zeno, 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy; (I.F.); (C.R.)
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Stevanović KS, Čepkenović B, Križak S, Pajić T, Todorović NV, Živić MŽ. ATP modulation of osmotically activated anionic current in the membrane of Phycomyces blakesleeanus sporangiophore. Sci Rep 2023; 13:11897. [PMID: 37488205 PMCID: PMC10366193 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39021-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 07/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Ion channels are vital components of filamentous fungi signaling in communication with their environment. We exploited the ability of the apical region of growing sporangiophores of Phycomyces blakesleeanus to form membrane-enveloped cytoplasmic droplets (CDs), to examine ion currents in the filamentous fungi native plasma membrane. In hypoosmotic conditions, the dominant current in the CDs is ORIC, an osmotically activated, anionic, outwardly rectified, fast inactivating instantaneous current that we have previously characterized. Here, we examined the effect of ATP on ORIC. We show that CDs contain active mitochondria, and that respiration inhibition by azide accelerates ORIC inactivation. ATP, added intracellularly, reduced ORIC run-down and shifted the voltage dependence of inactivation toward depolarized potentials, in a manner that did not require hydrolysis. Notably, ATP led to slowing down of ORIC inactivation, as evidenced by an increased time constant of inactivation, τin, and slower decline of τin during prolonged recordings. Flavonoids (genistein and quercetin) had the effect on ORIC opposite to ATP, acting as current inhibitors, possibly by disrupting the stabilizing effect of ATP on ORIC. The integration of osmotic sensing with ATP dependence of the anionic current, typical of vertebrate cells, is described here for the first time in filamentous fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katarina S Stevanović
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 16, Belgrade, 11158, Serbia
| | - Bogdana Čepkenović
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 16, Belgrade, 11158, Serbia
| | - Strahinja Križak
- Institute of Multidisciplinary Research, University of Belgrade, Kneza Višeslava 1, Belgrade, 11030, Serbia
| | - Tanja Pajić
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 16, Belgrade, 11158, Serbia
| | - Nataša V Todorović
- Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", University of Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia.
| | - Miroslav Ž Živić
- Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski Trg 16, Belgrade, 11158, Serbia
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Abstract
Fungal pathogens are a severe public health problem. The leading causative agents of systemic fungal infections include species from the Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus genera. As opportunistic pathogens, these fungi are generally harmless in healthy hosts; however, they can cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Despite the profound impact of pathogenic fungi on global human health, the current antifungal armamentarium is limited to only three major classes of drugs, all of which face complications, including host toxicity, unfavourable pharmacokinetics, or limited spectrum of activity. Further exacerbating this issue is the growing prevalence of antifungal-resistant infections and the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. In this review, we discuss the diverse strategies employed by leading fungal pathogens to evolve antifungal resistance, including drug target alterations, enhanced drug efflux, and induction of cellular stress response pathways. Such mechanisms of resistance occur through diverse genetic alterations, including point mutations, aneuploidy formation, and epigenetic changes given the significant plasticity observed in many fungal genomes. Additionally, we highlight recent literature surrounding the mechanisms governing resistance in emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens including Candida auris and Candida glabrata. Advancing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms by which fungi adapt to the challenge of antifungal exposure is imperative for designing therapeutic strategies to tackle the emerging threat of antifungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjin Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
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Daneshnia F, Arastehfar A, Lombardi L, Binder U, Scheler J, Vahedi Shahandashti R, Hagen F, Lass-Flörl C, Mansour MK, Butler G, Perlin DS. Candida parapsilosis isolates carrying mutations outside FKS1 hotspot regions confer high echinocandin tolerance and facilitate the development of echinocandin resistance. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2023; 62:106831. [PMID: 37121442 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Candida parapsilosis is a significant cause of candidemia worldwide. Echinocandin-resistant (ECR) and echinocandin-tolerant (ECT) C. parapsilosis isolates have been reported in various countries but are rare. Resistance and tolerance are predominantly caused by mutations related to the hotspot (HS) regions of the FKS1 gene. A relatively high proportion of clinical C. parapsilosis isolates carrying mutations outside the HS regions has been noted in some studies, but an association with echinocandin (EC) resistance or tolerance was not explored. Herein, CRISPR-Cas9 was used and the association between amino acid substitution in FKS1 outside HS 1/2 (V595I, S745L, M1328I, F1386S, and A1422G) with EC susceptibility profile was delineated. None of the mutations conferred EC resistance, but they resulted in a significantly higher level of EC tolerance than the parental isolate, ATCC 22019. When incubated on agar plates containing ECs, specifically caspofungin and micafungin, ECR colonies were exclusively observed among ECT isolates, particularly mutants carrying V595I, S745L, and F1386S. Additionally, mutants had significantly better growth rates in yeast extract peptone dextrose (YPD) and YPD containing agents inducing membrane and oxidative stresses. The mutants had a trivial fitness cost in the Galleria mellonella model relative to ATCC 22019. Collectively, this study supports epidemiological studies to catalog mutations occurring outside the HS regions of FKS1, even if they do not confer EC resistance. These mutations are important as they potentially confer a higher level of EC tolerance and a higher propensity to develop EC resistance, therefore unveiling a novel mechanism of EC tolerance in C. parapsilosis. The identification of EC tolerance in C. parapsilosis may have direct clinical benefit in patient management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farnaz Daneshnia
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands
| | - Amir Arastehfar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA; Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Lisa Lombardi
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Ulrike Binder
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Jakob Scheler
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Roya Vahedi Shahandashti
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ferry Hagen
- Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands; Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Utrecht, 3584CT, The Netherlands; Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, 3584CX, The Netherlands
| | - Cornelia Lass-Flörl
- Medical University Innsbruck, Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Schöpfstrasse 41, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Michael K Mansour
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114 USA; Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, 1012 WX, The Netherlands
| | - Geraldine Butler
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin, Ireland
| | - David S Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA; Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ 07710, USA; Georgetown University Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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Du L, Shi W, Hao X, Luan L, Wang S, Lu J, Zhang Q. Synergistic Photodynamic/Antibiotic Therapy with Photosensitive MOF-Based Nanoparticles to Eradicate Bacterial Biofilms. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1826. [PMID: 37514013 PMCID: PMC10385796 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial biofilms pose a serious threat to human health, as they prevent the penetration of antimicrobial agents. Developing nanocarriers that can simultaneously permeate biofilms and deliver antibacterial agents is an attractive means of treating bacterial biofilm infections. Herein, photosensitive metal-organic framework (MOF) nanoparticles were developed to promote the penetration of antibiotics into biofilms, thereby achieving the goal of eradicating bacterial biofilms through synergistic photodynamic and antibiotic therapy. First, a ligand containing benzoselenadiazole was synthesized and incorporated into MOF skeletons to construct benzoselenadiazole-doped MOFs (Se-MOFs). The growth of the Se-MOFs could be regulated to obtain nanoparticles (Se-NPs) in the presence of benzoic acid. The singlet oxygen (1O2) generation efficiencies of the Se-MOFs and Se-NPs were evaluated. The results show that the Se-NPs exhibited a higher 1O2 generation efficacy than the Se-MOF under visible-light irradiation because the small size of the Se-NPs was conducive to the diffusion of 1O2. Afterward, an antibiotic drug, polymyxin B (PMB), was conjugated onto the surface of the Se-NPs via amidation to yield PMB-modified Se-NPs (PMB-Se-NPs). PMB-Se-NPs exhibit a synergistic antibacterial effect by specifically targeting the lipopolysaccharides present in the outer membranes of Gram-negative bacteria through surface-modified PMB. Benefiting from the synergistic therapeutic effects of antibiotic and photodynamic therapy, PMB-Se-NPs can efficiently eradicate bacterial biofilms at relatively low antibiotic doses and light intensities, providing a promising nanocomposite for combating biofilm infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lehan Du
- Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Wenjun Shi
- Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Xin Hao
- Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Liang Luan
- Department of Laboratory Medical Center, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, No. 83, Wenhua Road, Shenhe District, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Shibo Wang
- Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Jiaju Lu
- Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Quan Zhang
- Institute of Smart Biomedical Materials, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou 310018, China
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