1
|
Navarro-Mendoza MI, Pérez-Arques C, Parker J, Xu Z, Kelly S, Heitman J. Alternative ergosterol biosynthetic pathways confer antifungal drug resistance in the human pathogens within the Mucor species complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.12.01.569667. [PMID: 38076934 PMCID: PMC10705545 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.01.569667] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Mucormycoses are emerging fungal infections caused by a variety of heterogeneous species within the Mucorales order. Among the Mucor species complex, Mucor circinelloides is the most frequently isolated pathogen in mucormycosis patients and despite its clinical significance, there is an absence of established genome manipulation techniques to conduct molecular pathogenesis studies. In this study, we generated a spontaneous uracil auxotrophic strain and developed a genetic transformation procedure to analyze molecular mechanisms conferring antifungal drug resistance. With this new model, phenotypic analyses of gene deletion mutants were conducted to define Erg3 and Erg6a as key biosynthetic enzymes in the M. circinelloides ergosterol pathway. Erg3 is a C-5 sterol desaturase involved in growth, sporulation, virulence, and azole susceptibility. In other fungal pathogens, erg3 mutations confer azole resistance because Erg3 catalyzes the production of a toxic diol upon azole exposure. Surprisingly, M. circinelloides produces only trace amounts of this toxic diol and yet, it is still susceptible to posaconazole and isavuconazole due to alterations in membrane sterol composition. These alterations are severely aggravated by erg3Δ mutations, resulting in ergosterol depletion and consequently, hypersusceptibility to azoles. We also identified Erg6a as the main C-24 sterol methyltransferase, whose activity may be partially rescued by the paralogs Erg6b and Erg6c. Loss of Erg6a function diverts ergosterol synthesis to the production of cholesta-type sterols, resulting in resistance to amphotericin B. Our findings suggest that mutations or epimutations causing loss of Erg6 function may arise during human infections, resulting in antifungal drug resistance to first-line treatments against mucormycosis.
Collapse
|
2
|
Yiu B, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Interdisciplinary approaches for the discovery of novel antifungals. Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00121-7. [PMID: 38777733 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Pathogenic fungi are an increasing public health concern. The emergence of antifungal resistance coupled with the scarce antifungal arsenal highlights the need for novel therapeutics. Fortunately, the past few years have witnessed breakthroughs in antifungal development. Here, we discuss pivotal interdisciplinary approaches for the discovery of novel compounds with efficacy against diverse fungal pathogens. We highlight breakthroughs in improving current antifungal scaffolds, as well as the utility of compound combinations to extend the lifespan of antifungals. Finally, we describe efforts to refine candidate chemical scaffolds by leveraging structure-guided approaches, and the use of functional genomics to expand our knowledge of druggable antifungal targets. Overall, we emphasize the importance of interdisciplinary collaborations in the endeavor to develop innovative antifungal strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie Yiu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Rabaan AA, Alfouzan WA, Garout M, Halwani MA, Alotaibi N, Alfaresi M, Al Kaabi NA, Almansour ZH, Bueid AS, Yousuf AA, Eid HMA, Alissa M. Antifungal drug discovery for targeting Candida albicans morphogenesis through structural dynamics study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2024:1-17. [PMID: 38634700 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2024.2332507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
In response to the escalating threat of drug-resistant fungi to human health, there is an urgent need for innovative strategies. Our focus is on addressing this challenge by exploring a previously untapped target, yeast casein kinase (Yck2), as a potential space for antifungal development. To identify promising antifungal candidates, we conducted a thorough screening of the diverse-lib drug-like molecule library, comprising 99,288 molecules. Five notable drug-like compounds with diverse-lib IDs 24334243, 24342416, 17516746, 17407455, and 24360740 were selected based on their binding energy scores surpassing 11 Kcal/mol. Our investigation delved into the interaction studies and dynamic stability of these compounds. Remarkably, all selected molecules demonstrated acceptable RMSD values during the 200 ns simulation, indicating their stable nature. Further analysis through Principal Component Analysis (PCA)-based Free Energy Landscape (FEL) revealed minimal energy transitions for most compounds, signifying dynamic stability. Notably, the two compounds exhibited slightly different behaviour in terms of energy transitions. These findings mark a significant breakthrough in the realm of antifungal drugs against C. albicans by targeting the Yck2 protein. However, it is crucial to note that additional experimental validation is imperative to assess the efficacy of these molecules as potential antifungal candidates. This study serves as a promising starting point for further exploration and development in the quest for effective antifungal solutions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur, Pakistan
| | - Wadha A Alfouzan
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait
- Microbiology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Farwania Hospital, Farwania, Kuwait
| | - Mohammed Garout
- Department of Community Medicine and Health Care for Pilgrims, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad A Halwani
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Al Baha University, Al Baha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nouf Alotaibi
- Clinical pharmacy Department, College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mubarak Alfaresi
- Department of Microbiology, National Reference laboratory, Cleveland clinic Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nawal A Al Kaabi
- College of Medicine and Health Science, Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
- Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - Zainab H Almansour
- Biological Science Department, College of Science, King Faisal University, Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed S Bueid
- Microbiology Laboratory, King Faisal General Hospital, Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amjad A Yousuf
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamza M A Eid
- Department of Medical Laboratories Technology, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taibah University, Madinah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Alissa
- Department of Medical Laboratory, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hang S, Lu H, Jiang Y. Marine-Derived Metabolites Act as Promising Antifungal Agents. Mar Drugs 2024; 22:180. [PMID: 38667797 PMCID: PMC11051449 DOI: 10.3390/md22040180] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The incidence of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) is on the rise globally, particularly among immunocompromised patients, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Current clinical antifungal agents, such as polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins, face increasing resistance from pathogenic fungi. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of novel antifungal drugs. Marine-derived secondary metabolites represent valuable resources that are characterized by varied chemical structures and pharmacological activities. While numerous compounds exhibiting promising antifungal activity have been identified, a comprehensive review elucidating their specific underlying mechanisms remains lacking. In this review, we have compiled a summary of antifungal compounds derived from marine organisms, highlighting their diverse mechanisms of action targeting various fungal cellular components, including the cell wall, cell membrane, mitochondria, chromosomes, drug efflux pumps, and several biological processes, including vesicular trafficking and the growth of hyphae and biofilms. This review is helpful for the subsequent development of antifungal drugs due to its summary of the antifungal mechanisms of secondary metabolites from marine organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Hui Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 200092 Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanying Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People’s Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, 200092 Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Zhuo Q, Shi C, Geng Q, Wang S, Wang B, Zhang N, Yang K, Tian J. Role of mitochondrial farnesyltransferase gene in the prevention of the food spoilage fungi Aspergillus flavus by the antimicrobial natural preservative perillaldehyde. Food Microbiol 2024; 118:104422. [PMID: 38049276 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2023.104422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus, one of the most widely distributed and abundant genus of Aspergillus worldwide, poses an evident threat as a source of food contamination in grains and cereals. Perillaldehyde (PAE), a volatile essential oil extracted from the stem and leaves of Perilla frutescens L., exhibits potent antifungal activity. In our study, we investigated the role of Cox10, a key enzyme in the heme A synthesis pathway crucial for maintaining mitochondrial function. We found that cox10 is a sensitive gene of A. flavus in response to PAE by gene expression assay and GFP fluorescent localization tagging, and then we found that the deletion of this gene affects the growth and development of A. flavus, but the drug resistance is elevated. Through transcriptome sequencing and its experimental validation, the molecular mechanisms of stress triggered by the deletion of cox10 were further clarified, such as the decrease in intracellular drug content due to the increase in the expression of drug efflux proteins, and the increase in the thickness of cell wall due to the increase in the content of cell wall chitin. Clearly, cox10 plays a critical role in regulating various cellular processes of A. flavus, including growth, reproduction, development, as well as pathogenicity and drug resistance. These significant findings establish a solid theoretical foundation for the development of environmentally friendly, safe, and effective antifungal agents to combat A. flavus contamination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiuhan Zhuo
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Chenchen Shi
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Qingru Geng
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Shan Wang
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Bo Wang
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Ninghui Zhang
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Kunlong Yang
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Jun Tian
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu Province, China.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Puumala E, Fallah S, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Advancements and challenges in antifungal therapeutic development. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0014223. [PMID: 38294218 PMCID: PMC10938895 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00142-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Over recent decades, the global burden of fungal disease has expanded dramatically. It is estimated that fungal disease kills approximately 1.5 million individuals annually; however, the true worldwide burden of fungal infection is thought to be higher due to existing gaps in diagnostics and clinical understanding of mycotic disease. The development of resistance to antifungals across diverse pathogenic fungal genera is an increasingly common and devastating phenomenon due to the dearth of available antifungal classes. These factors necessitate a coordinated response by researchers, clinicians, public health agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry to develop new antifungal strategies, as the burden of fungal disease continues to grow. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the new antifungal therapeutics currently in clinical trials, highlighting their spectra of activity and progress toward clinical implementation. We also profile up-and-coming intracellular proteins and pathways primed for the development of novel antifungals targeting their activity. Ultimately, we aim to emphasize the importance of increased investment into antifungal therapeutics in the current continually evolving landscape of infectious disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Emily Puumala
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Fallah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Zhou X, Hilk A, Solis NV, Hogan BM, Bierbaum TA, Filler SG, Burrack LS, Selmecki A. Erg251 has complex and pleiotropic effects on azole susceptibility, filamentation, and stress response phenotypes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.03.06.583770. [PMID: 38496635 PMCID: PMC10942443 DOI: 10.1101/2024.03.06.583770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Ergosterol is essential for fungal cell membrane integrity and growth, and numerous antifungal drugs target ergosterol. Inactivation or modification of ergosterol biosynthetic genes can lead to changes in antifungal drug susceptibility, filamentation and stress response. Here, we found that the ergosterol biosynthesis gene ERG251 is a hotspot for point mutations during adaptation to antifungal drug stress within two distinct genetic backgrounds of Candida albicans. Heterozygous point mutations led to single allele dysfunction of ERG251 and resulted in azole tolerance in both genetic backgrounds. This is the first known example of point mutations causing azole tolerance in C. albicans. Importantly, single allele dysfunction of ERG251 in combination with recurrent chromosome aneuploidies resulted in bona fide azole resistance. Homozygous deletions of ERG251 caused increased fitness in low concentrations of fluconazole and decreased fitness in rich medium, especially at low initial cell density. Dysfunction of ERG251 resulted in transcriptional upregulation of the alternate sterol biosynthesis pathway and ZRT2, a Zinc transporter. Notably, we determined that overexpression of ZRT2 is sufficient to increase azole tolerance in C. albicans. Our combined transcriptional and phenotypic analyses revealed the pleiotropic effects of ERG251 on stress responses including cell wall, osmotic and oxidative stress. Interestingly, while loss of either allele of ERG251 resulted in similar antifungal drug responses, we observed functional divergence in filamentation regulation between the two alleles of ERG251 (ERG251-A and ERG251-B) with ERG251-A exhibiting a dominant role in the SC5314 genetic background. Finally, in a murine model of systemic infection, homozygous deletion of ERG251 resulted in decreased virulence while the heterozygous deletion mutants maintain their pathogenicity. Overall, this study provides extensive genetic, transcriptional and phenotypic analysis for the effects of ERG251 on drug susceptibility, fitness, filamentation and stress responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xin Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Audrey Hilk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Norma V. Solis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - Bode M. Hogan
- Gustavus Adolphus College, Department of Biology, Saint Peter, MN, USA
| | - Tessa A. Bierbaum
- Gustavus Adolphus College, Department of Biology, Saint Peter, MN, USA
| | - Scott G. Filler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Laura S. Burrack
- Gustavus Adolphus College, Department of Biology, Saint Peter, MN, USA
| | - Anna Selmecki
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Chorostecki U, Saus E, Gabaldón T. Probing RNA structural landscapes across Candida yeast genomes. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1362067. [PMID: 38468856 PMCID: PMC10926079 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1362067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the intricate roles of RNA molecules in virulence and host-pathogen interactions can provide valuable insights into combatting infections and improving human health. Although much progress has been achieved in understanding transcriptional regulation during host-pathogen interactions in diverse species, more is needed to know about the structure of pathogen RNAs. This is particularly true for fungal pathogens, including pathogenic yeasts of the Candida genus, which are the leading cause of hospital-acquired fungal infections. Our work addresses the gap between RNA structure and their biology by employing genome-wide structure probing to comprehensively explore the structural landscape of mRNAs and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the four major Candida pathogens. Specifically focusing on mRNA, we observe a robust correlation between sequence conservation and structural characteristics in orthologous transcripts, significantly when sequence identity exceeds 50%, highlighting structural feature conservation among closely related species. We investigate the impact of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on mRNA secondary structure. SNPs within 5' untranslated regions (UTRs) tend to occur in less structured positions, suggesting structural constraints influencing transcript regulation. Furthermore, we compare the structural properties of coding regions and UTRs, noting that coding regions are generally more structured than UTRs, consistent with similar trends in other species. Additionally, we provide the first experimental characterization of lncRNA structures in Candida species. Most lncRNAs form independent subdomains, similar to human lncRNAs. Notably, we identify hairpin-like structures in lncRNAs, a feature known to be functionally significant. Comparing hairpin prevalence between lncRNAs and protein-coding genes, we find enrichment in lncRNAs across Candida species, humans, and Arabidopsis thaliana, suggesting a conserved role for these structures. In summary, our study offers valuable insights into the interplay between RNA sequence, structure, and function in Candida pathogens, with implications for gene expression regulation and potential therapeutic strategies against Candida infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Uciel Chorostecki
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitat Internacional de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ester Saus
- Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Toni Gabaldón
- Barcelona Supercomputing Centre (BSC-CNS), Barcelona, Spain
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica En Red de Enfermedades Infecciosas (CIBERINFEC), Barcelona, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Gomaa SE, Abbas HA, Mohamed FA, Ali MAM, Ibrahim TM, Abdel Halim AS, Alghamdi MA, Mansour B, Chaudhary AA, Elkelish A, Boufahja F, Hegazy WAH, Yehia FAZA. The anti-staphylococcal fusidic acid as an efflux pump inhibitor combined with fluconazole against vaginal candidiasis in mouse model. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:54. [PMID: 38341568 PMCID: PMC10858509 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03181-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida albicans is the most common fungus that causes vaginal candidiasis in immunocompetent women and catastrophic infections in immunocompromised patients. The treatment of such infections is hindered due to the increasing emergence of resistance to azoles in C. albicans. New treatment approaches are needed to combat candidiasis especially in the dwindled supply of new effective and safe antifungals. The resistance to azoles is mainly attributed to export of azoles outside the cells by means of the efflux pump that confers cross resistance to all azoles including fluconazole (FLC). OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the possible efflux pump inhibiting activity of fusidic acid (FA) in C. albicans resistant isolates and the potential use of Fusidic acid in combination with fluconazole to potentiate the antifungal activity of fluconazole to restore its activity in the resistant C. albicans isolates. METHODS The resistance of C. albicans isolates was assessed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration. The effect of Fusidic acid at sub-inhibitory concentration on efflux activity was assayed by rhodamine 6G efflux assay and intracellular accumulation. Mice model studies were conducted to evaluate the anti-efflux activity of Fusidic acid and its synergistic effects in combination with fluconazole. Impact of Fusidic acid on ergosterol biosynthesis was quantified. The synergy of fluconazole when combined with Fusidic acid was investigated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration. The cytotoxicity of Fusidic acid was tested against erythrocytes. The effect of Fusidic acid on efflux pumps was tested at the molecular level by real-time PCR and in silico study. In vivo vulvovaginitis mice model was used to confirm the activity of the combination in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis. RESULTS Fusidic acid showed efflux inhibiting activity as it increased the accumulation of rhodamine 6G, a substrate for ABC-efflux transporter, and decreased its efflux in C. albicans cells. The antifungal activity of fluconazole was synergized when combined with Fusidic acid. Fusidic acid exerted only minimal cytotoxicity on human erythrocytes indicating its safety. The FA efflux inhibitory activity could be owed to its ability to interfere with efflux protein transporters as revealed by docking studies and downregulation of the efflux-encoding genes of both ABC transporters and MFS superfamily. Moreover, in vivo mice model showed that using fluconazole-fusidic acid combination by vaginal route enhanced fluconazole antifungal activity as shown by lowered fungal burden and a negligible histopathological change in vaginal tissue. CONCLUSION The current findings highlight FA's potential as a potential adjuvant to FLC in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salwa E Gomaa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Hisham A Abbas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Fatma A Mohamed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology-Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti Út 12, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Mohamed A M Ali
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Tarek M Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Alyaa S Abdel Halim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Mashael A Alghamdi
- Department of Chemistry, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basem Mansour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, Belqas, 11152, Egypt
| | - Anis Ahmad Chaudhary
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amr Elkelish
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | - Fehmi Boufahja
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wael A H Hegazy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
- Pharmacy Program, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oman College of Health Sciences, Muscat, 113, Oman.
| | - Fatma Al-Zahraa A Yehia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Chen T, Yao J, Quan K, Xu J, Hang X, Tong Q, Liu G, Luo P, Zeng L, Feng G, Bi H. Repurposing a human acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor firsocostat to treat fungal candidiasis alone and in combination. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0113123. [PMID: 38018962 PMCID: PMC10777831 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01131-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Opportunistic fungal infections, particularly caused by Candida albicans, remain a common cause of high morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. The escalating prevalence of antifungal drug resistance necessitates the immediate exploration of alternative treatment strategies to combat these life-threatening fungal diseases. In this study, we investigated the antifungal efficacy of firsocostat, a human acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) inhibitor, against C. albicans. Firsocostat alone displayed moderate antifungal activity, while combining it with voriconazole, itraconazole, or amphotericin B exhibited synergistic effects across almost all drug-sensitive and drug-resistant C. albicans strains tested. These observed synergies were further validated in two mouse models of oropharyngeal and systemic candidiasis, where the combination therapies demonstrated superior fungicidal effects compared to monotherapy. Moreover, firsocostat was shown to directly bind to C. albicans ACC and inhibit its enzymatic activity. Sequencing spontaneous firsocostat-resistant mutants revealed mutations mapping to C. albicans ACC, confirming that firsocostat has retained its target in C. albicans. Overall, our findings suggest that repurposing firsocostat, either alone or in combination with other antifungal agents, holds promising potential in the development of antifungal drugs and the treatment of candidiasis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, Taizhou People’s Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jing Yao
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Keao Quan
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jingchen Xu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xudong Hang
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qian Tong
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Genyan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Peipei Luo
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wujin People’s Hospital Affiliated to Jiangsu University, Changzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Liping Zeng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ganzhu Feng
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongkai Bi
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Pathogen Biology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Kumar S, Arora A, Sapra S, Kumar R, Singh BK, Singh SK. Recent advances in the synthesis and utility of thiazoline and its derivatives. RSC Adv 2024; 14:902-953. [PMID: 38174252 PMCID: PMC10759189 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra06444a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Thiazolines and their derivatives hold significant importance in the field of medicinal chemistry due to their promising potential as pharmaceutical agents. These molecular entities serve as critical scaffolds within numerous natural products, including curacin A, thiangazole, and mirabazole, and play a vital role in a wide array of physiological reactions. Their pharmacological versatility encompasses anti-HIV, neurological, anti-cancer, and antibiotic activities. Over the course of recent decades, researchers have extensively explored and developed analogs of these compounds, uncovering compelling therapeutic properties such as antioxidant, anti-tumor, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory effects. Consequently, thiazoline-based compounds have emerged as noteworthy targets for synthetic endeavors. In this review, we provide a comprehensive summary of recent advancements in the synthesis of thiazolines and thiazoline-based derivatives, along with an exploration of their diverse potential applications across various scientific domains.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sumit Kumar
- Bioorganic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi-110007 India
| | - Aditi Arora
- Bioorganic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi-110007 India
| | - Shivani Sapra
- Bioorganic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi-110007 India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Department of Chemistry, R. D. S College, B. R. A. Bihar University Muzaffarpur 842002 India
| | - Brajendra K Singh
- Bioorganic Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, University of Delhi Delhi-110007 India
| | - Sunil K Singh
- Department of Chemistry, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi Delhi-110007 India
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Zhu X, Chen Y, Yu D, Fang W, Liao W, Pan W. Progress in the application of nanoparticles for the treatment of fungal infections: A review. Mycology 2023; 15:1-16. [PMID: 38558835 PMCID: PMC10977003 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2285764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The burden of fungal infections on human health is increasing worldwide. Aspergillus, Candida, and Cryptococcus are the top three human pathogenic fungi that are responsible for over 90% of infection-related deaths. Moreover, effective antifungal therapeutics are lacking, primarily due to host toxicity, pathogen resistance, and immunodeficiency. In recent years, nanomaterials have proved not only to be more efficient antifungal therapeutic agents but also to overcome resistance against fungal medication. This review will examine the limitations of standard antifungal therapy as well as focus on the development of nanomaterials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xinlin Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youming Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of General Practice, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Fang
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanqing Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihua Pan
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
MacAlpine J, Liu Z, Hossain S, Whitesell L, Robbins N, Cowen LE. DYRK-family kinases regulate Candida albicans morphogenesis and virulence through the Ras1/PKA pathway. mBio 2023; 14:e0218323. [PMID: 38015416 PMCID: PMC10746247 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02183-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that frequently causes life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. To cause disease, the fungus employs several virulence traits, including its ability to transition between yeast and filamentous states. Previous work identified a role for the kinase Yak1 in regulating C. albicans filamentation. Here, we demonstrate that Yak1 regulates morphogenesis through the canonical cAMP/PKA pathway and that this regulation is environmentally contingent, as host-relevant concentrations of CO2 bypass the requirement of Yak1 for C. albicans morphogenesis. We show a related kinase, Pom1, is important for filamentation in the absence of Yak1 under these host-relevant conditions, as deletion of both genes blocked filamentous growth under all conditions tested. Finally, we demonstrate that Yak1 is required for filamentation in a mouse model of C. albicans dermatitis using genetic and pharmacological approaches. Overall, our results expand our understanding of how Yak1 regulates an important virulence trait in C. albicans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessie MacAlpine
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Zhongle Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Saif Hossain
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Stover KR, Hawkins BK, Keck JM, Barber KE, Cretella DA. Antifungal resistance, combinations and pipeline: oh my! Drugs Context 2023; 12:2023-7-1. [PMID: 38021410 PMCID: PMC10653594 DOI: 10.7573/dic.2023-7-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are a strong contributor to healthcare costs, morbidity and mortality, especially amongst hospitalized patients. Historically, Candida was responsible for approximately 15% of all nosocomial bloodstream infections. In the past 10 years, the epidemiology of Candida species has altered, with increasing prevalence of resistant species. With rising fungal resistance, especially in Candida spp., the demand for novel antifungal therapies has exponentially increased over the last decade. Newer antifungal agents have become an attractive option for patients needing long-term therapy for infections or those requiring antifungal prophylaxis. Despite advances in coverage of non-Candida pathogens with newer agents, clinical scenarios involving multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens continue to arise in practice. Combination antifungal therapy can lead to a host of side-effects, some of which can be drug limiting. Additional antifungal therapies with enhanced fungal spectrum of activity and decreased rates of adverse effects are warranted. Fosmanogepix, ibrexafungerp, olorofim and rezafungin may help fill some of these gaps in the antifungal armamentarium. This article is part of the Challenges and strategies in the management of invasive fungal infections Special Issue: https://www.drugsincontext.com/special_issues/challenges-and-strategies-in-the-management-of-invasive-fungal-infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kayla R Stover
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - Brandon K Hawkins
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, The University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - J Myles Keck
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Katie E Barber
- Department of Pharmacy Practice, University of Mississippi School of Pharmacy, Jackson, MS, USA
| | - David A Cretella
- Division of Infectious Diseases, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, USA
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Robbins N, Cowen LE. Roles of Hsp90 in Candida albicans morphogenesis and virulence. Curr Opin Microbiol 2023; 75:102351. [PMID: 37399670 PMCID: PMC11016340 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2023.102351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Hsp90 is a conserved molecular chaperone that facilitates the folding and function of hundreds of client proteins, many of which serve as core hubs of signal transduction networks. Hsp90 has a critical role in virulence of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans, which exists as a natural commensal of the human microbiota and is a leading cause of invasive fungal infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. The ability of C. albicans to cause disease is tightly coupled to its capacity to undergo a morphogenetic transition between yeast and filamentous forms. Here, we describe the complex mechanisms by which Hsp90 regulates C. albicans morphogenesis and virulence, and explore the potential of targeting fungal Hsp90 as a therapeutic strategy to combat fungal infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Shapiro RS, Gerstein AC. Powering up antifungal treatment: using small molecules to unlock the potential of existing therapies. mBio 2023; 14:e0107323. [PMID: 37530533 PMCID: PMC10470729 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01073-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogens are increasingly appreciated as a significant infectious disease challenge. Compared to bacteria, fungal cells are more closely related to human cells, and few classes of antifungal drugs are available. Combination therapy offers a potential solution to reduce the likelihood of resistance acquisition and extend the lifespan of existing antifungals. There has been recent interest in combining first-line drugs with small-molecule adjuvants. In a recent article, Alabi et al. identified 1,4-benzodiazepines as promising molecules to enhance azole activity in pathogenic Candida spp. (P. E. Alabi, C. Gautier, T. P. Murphy, X. Gu, M. Lepas, V. Aimanianda, J. K. Sello, I. V. Ene, 2023, mBio https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.00479-23). These molecules have no antifungal activity on their own but exhibited significant potentiation of fluconazole in azole-susceptible and -resistant isolates. Additionally, the 1,4-benzodiazepines increased the fungicidal activity of azoles that are typically fungistatic to Candida spp., inhibited filamentation (a virulence-associated trait), and accordingly increased host survival in Galleria mellonella. This research thus provides another encouraging step on the critical pathway toward reducing mortality due to antimicrobial resistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca S. Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aleeza C. Gerstein
- Department of Microbiology, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Statistics, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Choudhary S, Mundodi V, Smith AD, Kadosh D. Genome-wide translational response of Candida albicans to fluconazole treatment. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0257223. [PMID: 37610232 PMCID: PMC10580883 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02572-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Azoles are commonly used for the treatment of fungal infections, and the ability of human fungal pathogens to rapidly respond to azole treatment is critical for the development of antifungal resistance. While the roles of genetic mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, and transcriptional mechanisms in azole resistance have been well-characterized, very little is known about post-transcriptional and translational mechanisms that drive this process. In addition, most previous genome-wide studies have focused on transcriptional responses to azole treatment and likely serve as inaccurate proxies for changes in protein expression due to extensive post-transcriptional and translational regulation. In this study, we use ribosome profiling to provide the first picture of the global translational response of a major human fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, to treatment with fluconazole (Flu), one of the most widely used azole drugs. We identify sets of genes showing significantly altered translational efficiency, including genes associated with a variety of biological processes such as the cell cycle, DNA repair, cell wall/cell membrane biosynthesis, transport, signaling, DNA- and RNA-binding activities, and protein synthesis. We observe both similarities and differences among the most highly represented gene categories (as defined by gene ontology) that are regulated by fluconazole at the translational vs transcriptional levels. Importantly, however, very few genes that are translationally regulated by fluconazole are also controlled transcriptionally under this condition. Our findings suggest that C. albicans possesses distinct translational mechanisms that are important for the response to antifungal treatment, which could eventually be targeted by novel antifungal therapies. IMPORTANCE Azoles are one of the most commonly used drug classes to treat human fungal pathogens. While point mutations, chromosomal rearrangements, and transcriptional mechanisms that drive azole resistance have been well-characterized, we know very little about the role of translational mechanisms. In this study, we determined the global translational profile of genes that are expressed in the major human fungal pathogen Candida albicans in response to fluconazole, one of the most widely used azole drugs. We find both similarities and differences among the most highly represented categories of genes regulated by fluconazole at the transcriptional and translational levels. Interestingly, however, many of the specific genes that are regulated by fluconazole at the translational level do not appear to be controlled by transcriptional mechanisms under this condition. Our results suggest that distinct C. albicans translational mechanisms control the response to antifungals and could eventually be targeted in the development of new therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saket Choudhary
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Vasanthakrishna Mundodi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Andrew D. Smith
- Quantitative and Computational Biology, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - David Kadosh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Li Y, Dai M, Lu L, Zhang Y. The C 2H 2-Type Transcription Factor ZfpA, Coordinately with CrzA, Affects Azole Susceptibility by Regulating the Multidrug Transporter Gene atrF in Aspergillus fumigatus. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0032523. [PMID: 37318356 PMCID: PMC10434176 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00325-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The incidence of invasive aspergillosis caused by Aspergillus fumigatus has risen steadily over the past few decades due to the limited effective treatment options and the emergence of antifungal-resistant isolates. In clinic-isolated A. fumigatus, the azole resistance mechanism is primarily caused by mutations of the drug target and/or overexpression of drug efflux pumps. However, knowledge about how drug efflux pumps are transcriptionally regulated is limited. In this study, we found that loss of a C2H2 transcription factor ZfpA (zinc finger protein) results in the marked upregulation of a series of drug efflux pump-encoding genes, especially atrF, which contributes to azole drug resistance in A. fumigatus. CrzA is a previously identified positive transcription factor for genes of drug efflux pumps, and ZfpA transcriptionally inhibits expressions of drug efflux pumps in a CrzA-dependent way. Under the treatment of azoles, both ZfpA and CrzA transfer to nuclei and coregulate the expression of multidrug transporters and then keep normal drug susceptibility in fungal cells. Findings in this study demonstrated that ZfpA is not only involved in fungal growth and virulence potential but also negatively regulates antifungal drug susceptibility. IMPORTANCE Conserved across all kingdoms of life, ABC transporters comprise one of the largest protein families. They are associated with multidrug resistance, affecting aspects such as resistance to antimicrobials or anticancer drugs. Despite the importance of ABC transporters in multidrug resistance, the understanding of their regulatory network is still limited in A. fumigatus. Here, we found that the loss of the transcription factor ZfpA induces the expression of the ABC transporter gene atrF, altering azole susceptibility in A. fumigatus. ZfpA, coordinately with CrzA, affects the azole susceptibility by regulating the expression of the ABC transporter gene atrF. These findings reveal the regulatory mechanism of the ABC transporter gene atrF in A. fumigatus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeqi Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengyao Dai
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Centre for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Iyer KR, Li SC, Revie NM, Lou JW, Duncan D, Fallah S, Sanchez H, Skulska I, Ušaj MM, Safizadeh H, Larsen B, Wong C, Aman A, Kiyota T, Yoshimura M, Kimura H, Hirano H, Yoshida M, Osada H, Gingras AC, Andes DR, Shapiro RS, Robbins N, Mazhab-Jafari MT, Whitesell L, Yashiroda Y, Boone C, Cowen LE. Identification of triazenyl indoles as inhibitors of fungal fatty acid biosynthesis with broad-spectrum activity. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:795-810.e8. [PMID: 37369212 PMCID: PMC11016341 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Rising drug resistance among pathogenic fungi, paired with a limited antifungal arsenal, poses an increasing threat to human health. To identify antifungal compounds, we screened the RIKEN natural product depository against representative isolates of four major human fungal pathogens. This screen identified NPD6433, a triazenyl indole with broad-spectrum activity against all screening strains, as well as the filamentous mold Aspergillus fumigatus. Mechanistic studies indicated that NPD6433 targets the enoyl reductase domain of fatty acid synthase 1 (Fas1), covalently inhibiting its flavin mononucleotide-dependent NADPH-oxidation activity and arresting essential fatty acid biosynthesis. Robust Fas1 inhibition kills Candida albicans, while sublethal inhibition impairs diverse virulence traits. At well-tolerated exposures, NPD6433 extended the lifespan of nematodes infected with azole-resistant C. albicans. Overall, identification of NPD6433 provides a tool with which to explore lipid homeostasis as a therapeutic target in pathogenic fungi and reveals a mechanism by which Fas1 function can be inhibited.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kali R Iyer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheena C Li
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Nicole M Revie
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer W Lou
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dustin Duncan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Fallah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hiram Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Iwona Skulska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Mojca Mattiazzi Ušaj
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hamid Safizadeh
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Brett Larsen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cassandra Wong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmed Aman
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Taira Kiyota
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mami Yoshimura
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Hiromi Kimura
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | | | - Minoru Yoshida
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Osada
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David R Andes
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rebecca S Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammad T Mazhab-Jafari
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yoko Yashiroda
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan.
| | - Charles Boone
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan.
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Metzner K, O’Meara MJ, Halligan B, Wotring JW, Sexton JZ, O’Meara TR. Imaging-Based Screening Identifies Modulators of the eIF3 Translation Initiation Factor Complex in Candida albicans. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0050323. [PMID: 37382550 PMCID: PMC10353439 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00503-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogens like Candida albicans can cause devastating human disease. Treatment of candidemia is complicated by the high rate of resistance to common antifungal therapies. Additionally, there is host toxicity associated with many antifungal compounds due to the conservation between essential mammalian and fungal proteins. An attractive new approach for antimicrobial development is to target virulence factors: non-essential processes that are required for the organism to cause disease in human hosts. This approach expands the potential target space while reducing the selective pressure toward resistance, as these targets are not essential for viability. In C. albicans, a key virulence factor is the ability to transition to hyphal morphology. We developed a high-throughput image analysis pipeline to distinguish between yeast and filamentous growth in C. albicans at the single cell level. Based on this phenotypic assay, we screened the FDA drug repurposing library of 2,017 compounds for their ability to inhibit filamentation and identified 33 compounds that block the hyphal transition in C. albicans with IC50 values ranging from 0.2 to 150 μM. Multiple compounds showed a phenyl sulfone chemotype, prompting further analysis. Of these phenyl sulfones, NSC 697923 displayed the most efficacy, and by selecting for resistant mutants, we identified eIF3 as the target of NSC 697923 in C. albicans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katura Metzner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Matthew J. O’Meara
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Benjamin Halligan
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jesse W. Wotring
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonathan Z. Sexton
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Teresa R. O’Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Lee Y, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Molecular mechanisms governing antifungal drug resistance. NPJ ANTIMICROBIALS AND RESISTANCE 2023; 1:5. [PMID: 38686214 PMCID: PMC11057204 DOI: 10.1038/s44259-023-00007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
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.
Collapse
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
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
MacAlpine J, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Bacterial-fungal interactions and their impact on microbial pathogenesis. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:2565-2581. [PMID: 35231147 PMCID: PMC11032213 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities of the human microbiota exhibit diverse effects on human health and disease. Microbial homeostasis is important for normal physiological functions and changes to the microbiota are associated with many human diseases including diabetes, cancer, and colitis. In addition, there are many microorganisms that are either commensal or acquired from environmental reservoirs that can cause diverse pathologies. Importantly, the balance between health and disease is intricately connected to how members of the microbiota interact and affect one another's growth and pathogenicity. However, the mechanisms that govern these interactions are only beginning to be understood. In this review, we outline bacterial-fungal interactions in the human body, including examining the mechanisms by which bacteria govern fungal growth and virulence, as well as how fungi regulate bacterial pathogenesis. We summarize advances in the understanding of chemical, physical, and protein-based interactions, and their role in exacerbating or impeding human disease. We focus on the three fungal species responsible for the majority of systemic fungal infections in humans: Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus. We conclude by summarizing recent studies that have mined microbes for novel antimicrobials and antivirulence factors, highlighting the potential of the human microbiota as a rich resource for small molecule discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jessie MacAlpine
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Metzner K, O’Meara MJ, Halligan B, Wotring JW, Sexton JZ, O’Meara TR. Imaging-based screening identifies modulators of the eIF3 translation initiation factor complex in Candida albicans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.19.537517. [PMID: 37131825 PMCID: PMC10153179 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens like Candida albicans can cause devastating human disease. Treatment of candidemia is complicated by the high rate of resistance to common antifungal therapies. Additionally, there is host toxicity associated with many antifungal compounds due to the conservation between essential mammalian and fungal proteins. An attractive new approach for antimicrobial development is to target virulence factors: non-essential processes that are required for the organism to cause disease in human hosts. This approach expands the potential target space while reducing the selective pressure towards resistance, as these targets are not essential for viability. In C. albicans, a key virulence factor is the ability to transition to hyphal morphology. We developed a high-throughput image analysis pipeline to distinguish between yeast and filamentous growth in C. albicans at the single cell level. Based on this phenotypic assay, we screened the FDA drug repurposing library of 2,017 compounds for their ability to inhibit filamentation and identified 33 compounds that block the hyphal transition in C. albicans with IC 50 values ranging from 0.2 to 150 µM. Multiple compounds showed a phenyl vinyl sulfone chemotype, prompting further analysis. Of these phenyl vinyl sulfones, NSC 697923 displayed the most efficacy, and by selecting for resistant mutants, we identified eIF3 as the target of NSC 697923 in C. albicans .
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katura Metzner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matthew J O’Meara
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Benjamin Halligan
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jesse W. Wotring
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, USA
| | - Jonathan Z Sexton
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Teresa R O’Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Dos Reis TF, de Castro PA, Bastos RW, Pinzan CF, Souza PFN, Ackloo S, Hossain MA, Drewry DH, Alkhazraji S, Ibrahim AS, Jo H, Lightfoot JD, Adams EM, Fuller KK, deGrado WF, Goldman GH. A host defense peptide mimetic, brilacidin, potentiates caspofungin antifungal activity against human pathogenic fungi. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2052. [PMID: 37045836 PMCID: PMC10090755 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause more than 1.5 million deaths a year. Due to emerging antifungal drug resistance, novel strategies are urgently needed to combat life-threatening fungal diseases. Here, we identify the host defense peptide mimetic, brilacidin (BRI) as a synergizer with caspofungin (CAS) against CAS-sensitive and CAS-resistant isolates of Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans, C. auris, and CAS-intrinsically resistant Cryptococcus neoformans. BRI also potentiates azoles against A. fumigatus and several Mucorales fungi. BRI acts in A. fumigatus by affecting cell wall integrity pathway and cell membrane potential. BRI combined with CAS significantly clears A. fumigatus lung infection in an immunosuppressed murine model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. BRI alone also decreases A. fumigatus fungal burden and ablates disease development in a murine model of fungal keratitis. Our results indicate that combinations of BRI and antifungal drugs in clinical use are likely to improve the treatment outcome of aspergillosis and other fungal infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thaila Fernanda Dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Rafael Wesley Bastos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Camila Figueiredo Pinzan
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Pedro F N Souza
- Visiting professor at Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Ceará, 60451, Brazil
| | - Suzanne Ackloo
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Toronto, 101 College Street, MaRS South Tower, Suite 700, Toronto, ON, M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Mohammad Anwar Hossain
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - David Harold Drewry
- Structural Genomics Consortium, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, 27599, USA
| | - Sondus Alkhazraji
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, 90502, USA
| | - Ashraf S Ibrahim
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, 90502, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Hyunil Jo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Jorge D Lightfoot
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Emily M Adams
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - Kevin K Fuller
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, Oklahoma City, OK, 73104, USA
| | - William F deGrado
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
da Silva SP, da Silva JDF, da Costa CBL, da Silva PM, de Freitas AFS, da Silva CES, da Silva AR, de Oliveira AM, Sá RA, Peixoto AR, de Oliveira APS, Paiva PMG, Napoleão TH. Purification, Characterization, and Assessment of Antimicrobial Activity and Toxicity of Portulaca elatior Leaf Lectin (PeLL). Probiotics Antimicrob Proteins 2023; 15:287-299. [PMID: 34420188 DOI: 10.1007/s12602-021-09837-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Lectins are carbohydrate-binding proteins with several bioactivities, including antimicrobial properties. Portulaca elatior is a species found at Brazilian Caatinga and data on the biochemical composition of this plant are scarce. The present work describes the purification of P. elatior leaf lectin (PeLL) as well as the assessment of its antimicrobial activity and toxicity. PeLL, isolated by chromatography on a chitin column, had native liquid charge and subunit composition evaluated by electrophoresis. Hemagglutinating activity (HA) of PeLL was determined in the presence of carbohydrates or divalent cations, as well as after heating and incubation at different pH values. Changes in the lectin conformation were monitored by evaluating intrinsic tryptophan fluorescence and using the extrinsic probe bis-ANS. Antimicrobial activity was evaluated against Pectobacterium strains and Candida species. The minimal inhibitory (MIC), bactericidal (MBC), and fungicidal (MFC) concentrations were determined. Finally, PeLL was evaluated for in vitro hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes and in vivo acute toxicity in mice (5 and 10 mg/kg b.w. per os). PeLL (pI 5.4; 20 kDa) had its HA was inhibited by mannose, galactose, Ca2+, Mg2+, and Mn2+. PeLL HA was resistant to heating at 100 °C, although conformational changes were detected. PeLL was more active in the acidic pH range, in which no conformational changes were observed. The lectin presented MIC and MBC of 0.185 and 0.74 μg/mL for all Pectobacterium strains, respectively; MIC of 1.48 μg/mL for C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei; MIC and MFC of 0.74 and 2.96 μg/mL for C. parapsilosis. No hemolytic activity or signs of acute toxicity were observed in the mice. In conclusion, a new, low-toxic, and thermostable lectin was isolated from P. elatior leaves, being the first plant compound to show antibacterial activity against Pectobacterium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suéllen Pedrosa da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Pollyanna Michelle da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | | | | | - Abdênego Rodrigues da Silva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Alisson Macário de Oliveira
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Roberto Araújo Sá
- Centro Acadêmico Do Agreste, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Caruaru, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Ana Rosa Peixoto
- Departamento de Tecnologia E Ciências Sociais, Universidade Do Estado da Bahia, Juazeiro, Bahia, Brazil
| | | | - Patrícia Maria Guedes Paiva
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - Thiago Henrique Napoleão
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Rabaan AA, Sulaiman T, Al-Ahmed SH, Buhaliqah ZA, Buhaliqah AA, AlYuosof B, Alfaresi M, Al Fares MA, Alwarthan S, Alkathlan MS, Almaghrabi RS, Abuzaid AA, Altowaileb JA, Al Ibrahim M, AlSalman EM, Alsalman F, Alghounaim M, Bueid AS, Al-Omari A, Mohapatra RK. Potential Strategies to Control the Risk of Antifungal Resistance in Humans: A Comprehensive Review. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12030608. [PMID: 36978475 PMCID: PMC10045400 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12030608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are becoming one of the main causes of morbidity and mortality in people with weakened immune systems. Mycoses are becoming more common, despite greater knowledge and better treatment methods, due to the regular emergence of resistance to the antifungal medications used in clinical settings. Antifungal therapy is the mainstay of patient management for acute and chronic mycoses. However, the limited availability of antifungal drug classes limits the range of available treatments. Additionally, several drawbacks to treating mycoses include unfavourable side effects, a limited activity spectrum, a paucity of targets, and fungal resistance, all of which continue to be significant issues in developing antifungal drugs. The emergence of antifungal drug resistance has eliminated accessible drug classes as treatment choices, which significantly compromises the clinical management of fungal illnesses. In some situations, the emergence of strains resistant to many antifungal medications is a major concern. Although new medications have been developed to address this issue, antifungal drug resistance has grown more pronounced, particularly in patients who need long-term care or are undergoing antifungal prophylaxis. Moreover, the mechanisms that cause resistance must be well understood, including modifications in drug target affinities and abundances, along with biofilms and efflux pumps that diminish intracellular drug levels, to find novel antifungal drugs and drug targets. In this review, different classes of antifungal agents, and their resistance mechanisms, have been discussed. The latter part of the review focuses on the strategies by which we can overcome this serious issue of antifungal resistance in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ali A Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health and Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22610, Pakistan
| | - Tarek Sulaiman
- Infectious Diseases Section, Medical Specialties Department, King Fahad Medical City, Riyadh 12231, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shamsah H Al-Ahmed
- Specialty Paediatric Medicine, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif 32654, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zainab A Buhaliqah
- Department of Family Medicine, Primary Healthcare Center, Dammam 32433, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali A Buhaliqah
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
| | - Buthina AlYuosof
- Directorate of Public Health, Dammam Network, Eastern Health Cluster, Dammam 31444, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mubarak Alfaresi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Zayed Military Hospital, Abu Dhabi 3740, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Mohammed Bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Dubai 505055, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mona A Al Fares
- Department of Internal Medicine, King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sara Alwarthan
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed S Alkathlan
- Infectious Diseases Department, King Fahad Specialist Hospital, Buraydah 52382, Saudi Arabia
| | - Reem S Almaghrabi
- Organ Transplant Center of Excellence, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, Riyadh 11211, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmonem A Abuzaid
- Medical Microbiology Department, Security Forces Hospital Programme, Dammam 32314, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jaffar A Altowaileb
- Microbiology Laboratory, Laboratory Department, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif 32654, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Al Ibrahim
- Microbiology Laboratory, Laboratory Department, Qatif Central Hospital, Qatif 32654, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman M AlSalman
- Department of Family Medicine, Primary Health Care Centers, Qatif Health Network, Qatif 31911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatimah Alsalman
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Oyun City Hospital, Al-Ahsa 36312, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Ahmed S Bueid
- Microbiology Laboratory, King Faisal General Hospital, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Awad Al-Omari
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Research Center, Dr. Sulaiman Al Habib Medical Group, Riyadh 11372, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ranjan K Mohapatra
- Department of Chemistry, Government College of Engineering, Keonjhar 758002, India
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Lee Y, Hossain S, MacAlpine J, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Functional genomic analysis of Candida albicans protein kinases reveals modulators of morphogenesis in diverse environments. iScience 2023; 26:106145. [PMID: 36879823 PMCID: PMC9984565 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a leading cause of mycotic infection. The ability to transition between yeast and filamentous forms is critical to C. albicans virulence and complex signaling pathways regulate this process. Here, we screened a C. albicans protein kinase mutant library in six environmental conditions to identify regulators of morphogenesis. We identified the uncharacterized gene orf19.3751 as a negative regulator of filamentation and follow-up investigations implicated a role for orf19.3751 in cell cycle regulation. We also uncovered a dual role for the kinases Ire1 and protein kinase A (Tpk1 and Tpk2) in C. albicans morphogenesis, specifically as negative regulators of wrinkly colony formation on solid medium but positive regulators of filamentation in liquid medium. Further analyses suggested Ire1 modulates morphogenesis in both media states in part through the transcription factor Hac1 and in part through independent mechanisms. Overall, this work provides insights into the signaling governing morphogenesis in C. albicans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yunjin Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Saif Hossain
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jessie MacAlpine
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Wang H, Zhang Y, Wang J, Chen Y, Hou T, Zhao Y, Ma Z. The sphinganine C4-hydroxylase FgSur2 regulates sensitivity to azole antifungal agents and virulence of Fusarium graminearum. Microbiol Res 2023; 271:127347. [PMID: 36907072 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Lipid rafts consisting of ergosterol and sphingolipids in the lipid membrane of cells play important roles in various cellular processes. However, the functions of sphingolipids and their synthetic genes in phytopathogenic fungi have not been well understood yet. In this study, we conducted genome-wide searches and carried out systematic gene deletion analysis of the sphingolipid synthesis pathway in Fusarium graminearum, a causal agent of Fusarium head blight of wheat and other cereal crops worldwide. Mycelial growth assays showed that deletion of FgBAR1, FgLAC1, FgSUR2 or FgSCS7 resulted in markedly reduced hyphal growth. Fungicide sensitivity tests showed that the sphinganine C4-hydroxylase gene FgSUR2 deletion mutant (ΔFgSUR2) exhibited significantly increased susceptibility to azole fungicides. In addition, this mutant displayed a remarkable increase in cell membrane permeability. Importantly, ΔFgSUR2 was defective in deoxynivalenol (DON) toxisome formation, leading to dramatically decreased DON biosynthesis. Moreover, the deletion of FgSUR2 resulted in dramatically decreased virulence of the pathogen on host plants. Taken together, these results indicate that FgSUR2 plays an important role in regulating the susceptibility to azoles and virulence of F. graminearum.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yueqi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jingrui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Tingjun Hou
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Youfu Zhao
- Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, Department of Plant Pathology, Washington State University, Prosser, WA 99350, USA
| | - Zhonghua Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Crop Pathogens and Insects, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Topical hydrophilic gel with itraconazole-loaded polymeric nanomicelles improves wound healing in the treatment of feline sporotrichosis. Int J Pharm 2023; 634:122619. [PMID: 36682505 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2023.122619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is a superficial fungal disease that can affect animals and humans. The high number of infected cats has been associated with zoonotic transmission and contributed to sporotrichosis being considered by the World Health Organization as one of the main neglected tropical fungal diseases for 2021-2030. Oral administration of itraconazole (ITZ) is the first choice for treatment, but it is expensive, time-consuming, and often related to serious adverse effects. As a strategy to optimize the treatment, we proposed the development of a hydrophilic gel with nanomicelles loaded with ITZ (HGN-ITZ). The HGN-ITZ was developed using an I-optimal design and characterized for particle size, Zeta potential, drug content, microscopic aspects, viscosity, spreadability, in vitro drug release, in vitro antifungal activity, and clinical evaluation in cats. The HGN-ITZ showed a high content of ITZ (97.3 ± 2.1 mg/g); and characteristics suitable for topical application (viscosity, spreadability, globules size, Zeta potential, controlled drug release). In a pilot clinical study, cats with disseminated sporotrichosis were treated with oral ITZ or HGN-ITZ + oral ITZ. A mortality rate of 21.3% was observed for the oral ITZ group compared to 5.3% for the HGN-ITZ + oral ITZ group. In a cat with a single lesion, topical treatment alone (HGN-ITZ) provided complete healing of the lesion in 45 days. No signs of topical irritation were observed during the treatments, suggesting that HGN-ITZ can be a promising strategy in the treatment of sporotrichosis.
Collapse
|
30
|
Ent2 Governs Morphogenesis and Virulence in Part through Regulation of the Cdc42 Signaling Cascade in the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans. mBio 2023; 14:e0343422. [PMID: 36809010 PMCID: PMC10128014 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.03434-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability to transition between yeast and filamentous growth states is critical for virulence of the leading human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Large-scale genetic screens have identified hundreds of genes required for this morphological switch, but the mechanisms by which many of these genes orchestrate this developmental transition remain largely elusive. In this study, we characterized the role of Ent2 in governing morphogenesis in C. albicans. We showed that Ent2 is required for filamentous growth under a wide range of inducing conditions and is also required for virulence in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. We found that the epsin N-terminal homology (ENTH) domain of Ent2 enables morphogenesis and virulence and does so via a physical interaction with the Cdc42 GTPase-activating protein (GAP) Rga2 and regulation of its localization. Further analyses revealed that overexpression of the Cdc42 effector protein Cla4 can overcome the requirement for the ENTH-Rga2 physical interaction, indicating that Ent2 functions, at least in part, to enable proper activation of the Cdc42-Cla4 signaling pathway in the presence of a filament-inducing cue. Overall, this work characterizes the mechanism by which Ent2 regulates hyphal morphogenesis in C. albicans, unveils the importance of this factor in enabling virulence in an in vivo model of systemic candidiasis and adds to the growing understanding of the genetic control of a key virulence trait. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is a leading human fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals, with mortality rates of ~40%. The ability of this organism to grow in both yeast and filamentous forms is critical for the establishment of systemic infection. Genomic screens have identified many genes required for this morphological transition, yet our understanding of the mechanisms that regulate this key virulence trait remains incomplete. In this study, we characterized Ent2 as a core regulator of C. albicans morphogenesis. We show that Ent2 regulates hyphal morphogenesis through an interaction between its ENTH domain and the Cdc42 GAP, Rga2, which signals through the Cdc42-Cla4 signaling pathway. Finally, we show that the Ent2 protein, and specifically its ENTH domain, is required for virulence in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. Overall, this work identifies Ent2 as a key regulator of filamentation and virulence in C. albicans.
Collapse
|
31
|
Al-Ghamdi ARS, Khanam HK, Qamar Z, Abdul NS, Reddy N, Vempalli S, Noushad M, Alqahtani WMS. Therapeutic efficacy of adjunctive photodynamic therapy in the treatment of denture stomatitis. Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2023; 42:103326. [PMID: 36773753 DOI: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2023.103326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The present report assessed the efficacy of curcumin-mediated photodynamic therapy (CUR-mediated PDT) as an adjunct to antifungal gel treatment by evaluating the salivary interleukin-6 (IL-6) and matrix metalloproteinases-8 (MMP-8) levels together with Candida species counts in denture stomatitis (DS) patients. METHODS In total, 50 DS subjects were randomly categorized into 2 groups: Group-1: subjects who received the antifungal gel treatment and Group-2: participants who received CUR-mediated PDT. The Sabourad Dextrose Agar and CHROMAgar were utilized for evaluating Candida species counts, while the Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay was employed to estimate the salivary levels of IL-6 and MMP-8. All clinical evaluations were performed at the baseline, 1 month, and 2 months. RESULTS In total, group-2 subjects showed a significant decrease in Candida albicans (C. albicans) counts on both follow-ups (i.e., 1-month and 2-month) than group-1 participants. C. krusei count also reduced in group-2 subejcts than group-1 participants at the 2nd follow-up as compared to the baseline, nevertheless, a slight increase in C. krusei count was noticed in group-2 subjects at the 2nd follow-up than the 1st follow-up. The salivary IL-6 and MMP-8 levels in both groups reduced significantly at both follow-ups than the baseline. According to the stepwise logistic regression analysis, no statistically significant correlation was observed between Candida species count and other parameters such as age and gender of the patient, duration of DS, and frequency of treatment(s). CONCLUSION CUR-mediated PDT is an efficaciousness therapeutic modality for alleviating Candida species counts on the surface of denture and the palatal mucosa, as well as improving the salivary IL-6 and MMP-8 levels in DS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdul Rahman Saeed Al-Ghamdi
- Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hm Khuthija Khanam
- Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Zeeshan Qamar
- Department of O&MFS and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nishath Sayed Abdul
- Department of OMFS and Diagnostic Sciences (Oral Pathology), Faculty of Dentistry, Riyadh Elm University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Naveen Reddy
- Department of Prosthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Swetha Vempalli
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed Noushad
- Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry, Dar Al Uloom University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Universiti Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, Malaysia
| | - Waleed M S Alqahtani
- Department of Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Wijnants S, Vreys J, Nysten J, Van Dijck P. The Cdc25 and Ras1 Proteins of Candida albicans Influence Epithelial Toxicity in a Niche-Specific Way. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020201. [PMID: 36836315 PMCID: PMC9959987 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The PKA pathway is a signaling pathway involved in virulence in Candida albicans. This mechanism can be activated via addition of glucose and activation involves at least two proteins, namely Cdc25 and Ras1. Both proteins are involved in specific virulence traits. However, it is not clear if Cdc25 and Ras1 also affect virulence independently of PKA. C. albicans holds a second, atypical, Ras protein, Ras2, but its function in PKA activation is still unclear. We investigated the role of Cdc25, Ras1, and Ras2 for different in vitro and ex vivo virulence characteristics. We show that deletion of CDC25 and RAS1 result in less toxicity towards oral epithelial cells, while deletion of RAS2 has no effect. However, toxicity towards cervical cells increases in both the ras2 and the cdc25 mutants while it decreases in a ras1 mutant compared to the WT. Toxicity assays using mutants of the transcription factors downstream of the PKA pathway (Efg1) or the MAPK pathway (Cph1) show that the ras1 mutant shows similar phenotypes as the efg1 mutant, whereas the ras2 mutant shows similar phenotypes as the cph1 mutant. These data show niche-specific roles for different upstream components in regulating virulence through both signal transduction pathways.
Collapse
|
33
|
Secretions from Serratia marcescens Inhibit the Growth and Biofilm Formation of Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans. J Microbiol 2023; 61:221-232. [PMID: 36809632 DOI: 10.1007/s12275-022-00007-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/23/2023]
Abstract
Candida spp. and Cryptococcus are conditional pathogenic fungi that commonly infect immunocompromised patients. Over the past few decades, the increase in antifungal resistance has prompted the development of new antifungal agents. In this study, we explored the potential antifungal effects of secretions from Serratia marcescens on Candida spp. and Cryptococcus neoformans. We confirmed that the supernatant of S. marcescens inhibited fungal growth, suppressed hyphal and biofilm formation, and downregulated the expression of hyphae-specific genes and virulence-related genes in Candida spp. and C. neoformans. Furthermore, the S. marcescens supernatant retained biological stability after heat, pH, and protease K treatment. The chemical profile of the S. marcescens supernatant was characterized by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-linear ion trap/orbitrap high resolution mass spectrometry analysis and a total of 61 compounds with an mzCloud best match of greater than 70 were identified. In vivo, treatment with the S. marcescens supernatant reduced the mortality of fungi-infected Galleria mellonella. Taken together, our results revealed that the stable antifungal substances in the supernatant of S. marcescens have promising potential applications in the development of new antifungal agents.
Collapse
|
34
|
Ceballos-Garzon A, Peñuela A, Valderrama-Beltrán S, Vargas-Casanova Y, Ariza B, Parra-Giraldo CM. Emergence and circulation of azole-resistant C. albicans, C. auris and C. parapsilosis bloodstream isolates carrying Y132F, K143R or T220L Erg11p substitutions in Colombia. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1136217. [PMID: 37026059 PMCID: PMC10070958 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1136217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Methods Over a four-year period, 123 Candida bloodstream isolates were collected at a quaternary care hospital. The isolates were identified by MALDI-TOF MS and their fluconazole (FLC) susceptibility patterns were assessed according to CLSI guidelines. Subsequently, sequencing of ERG11, TAC1 or MRR1, and efflux pump activity were performed for resistant isolates. Results Out of 123 clinical strains,C. albicans accounted for 37.4%, followed by C. tropicalis 26.8%, C. parapsilosis 19.5%, C. auris 8.1%, C. glabrata 4.1%, C. krusei 2.4% and C. lusitaniae 1.6%. Resistance to FLC reached 18%; in addition, a high proportion of isolates were cross-resistant to voriconazole. Erg11 amino acid substitutions associated with FLC-resistance (Y132F, K143R, or T220L) were found in 11/19 (58%) of FLCresistant isolates. Furthermore, novel mutations were found in all genes evaluated. Regarding efflux pumps, 8/19 (42%) of FLC-resistant Candida spp strains showed significant efflux activity. Finally, 6/19 (31%) of FLC-resistant isolates neither harbored resistance-associated mutations nor showed efflux pump activity. Among FLC-resistant species, C. auris 7/10 (70%) and C. parapsilosis 6/24 (25%) displayed the highest percentages of resistance (C. albicans 6/46, 13%). Discussion Overall, 68% of FLC-resistant isolates exhibited a mechanism that could explain their phenotype (e.g. mutations, efflux pump activity, or both). We provide evidence that isolates from patients admitted to a Colombian hospital harbor amino acid substitutions related to resistance to one of the most commonly used molecules in the hospital setting, with Y132F being the most frequently detected.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Andres Ceballos-Garzon
- Unidad de Proteomica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ana Peñuela
- Unidad de Proteomica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- Laboratorio Clínico, Área de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Sandra Valderrama-Beltrán
- Unidad de Infectología, Departamento de Medicina Interna, Facultad de Medicina, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Yerly Vargas-Casanova
- Unidad de Proteomica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Beatriz Ariza
- Laboratorio Clínico, Área de Microbiología, Hospital Universitario San Ignacio, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Claudia M. Parra-Giraldo
- Unidad de Proteomica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia
- *Correspondence: Claudia M. Parra-Giraldo,
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Sphingosine as a New Antifungal Agent against Candida and Aspergillus spp. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415510. [PMID: 36555152 PMCID: PMC9779773 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated whether sphingosine is effective as prophylaxis against Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. In vitro experiments showed that sphingosine is very efficacious against A. fumigatus and Nakeomyces glabrataa (formerly named C. glabrata). A mouse model of invasive aspergillosis showed that sphingosine exerts a prophylactic effect and that sphingosine-treated animals exhibit a strong survival advantage after infection. Furthermore, mechanistic studies showed that treatment with sphingosine leads to the early depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and to a release of cytochrome C within minutes, thereby presumably initiating apoptosis. Because of its very good tolerability and ease of application, inhaled sphingosine should be further developed as a possible prophylactic agent against pulmonary aspergillosis among severely immunocompromised patients.
Collapse
|
36
|
Hossain S, Robbins N, Cowen LE. The GARP complex is required for filamentation in Candida albicans. Genetics 2022; 222:iyac152. [PMID: 36226807 PMCID: PMC9713427 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyac152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes superficial infections in immunocompetent individuals, as well as life-threatening systemic disease in immunocompromised patients. A key virulence trait of this pathogen is its ability to transition between yeast and filamentous morphologies. A functional genomic screen to identify novel regulators of filamentation previously revealed VPS53 as being important for morphogenesis. Vps53 belongs to the Golgi-associated retrograde protein (GARP) complex, which mediates retrograde trafficking from the endosome to the trans-Golgi network. Here, we explored the role of the entire GARP complex in regulating morphogenesis. Deletion of any of the four genes encoding GARP complex subunits severely impaired filamentation in response to diverse filament-inducing cues, including upon internalization by macrophages. Genetic pathway analysis revealed that while hyperactivation of protein kinase A (PKA) signaling is insufficient to drive filamentation in GARP complex mutants, these strains are capable of filamentation upon overexpression of transcriptional activators or upon deletion of transcriptional repressors of hyphal morphogenesis. Finally, compromise of the GARP complex induced lipotoxicity, and pharmacological inhibition of sphingolipid biosynthesis phenocopied genetic compromise of the GARP complex by impairing filamentation. Together, this work identifies the GARP complex as an important mediator of filamentation in response to multiple inducing cues, maps genetic circuitry important for filamentation upon compromise of GARP function, and supports a model whereby GARP deficiency impairs lipid homeostasis, which is important for supporting filamentous growth in C. albicans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saif Hossain
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Britton SJ, Rogers LJ, White JS, Maskell DL. HYPHAEdelity: a quantitative image analysis tool for assessing peripheral whole colony filamentation. FEMS Yeast Res 2022; 22:6832773. [PMID: 36398755 PMCID: PMC9697609 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foac060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, also known as brewer's yeast, can undergo a reversible stress-responsive transition from individual ellipsoidal cells to chains of elongated cells in response to nitrogen- or carbon starvation. Whole colony morphology is frequently used to evaluate phenotypic switching response; however, quantifying two-dimensional top-down images requires each pixel to be characterized as belonging to the colony or background. While feasible for a small number of colonies, this labor-intensive assessment process is impracticable for larger datasets. The software tool HYPHAEdelity has been developed to semi-automate the assessment of two-dimensional whole colony images and quantify the magnitude of peripheral whole colony yeast filamentation using image analysis tools intrinsic to the OpenCV Python library. The software application functions by determining the total area of filamentous growth, referred to as the f-measure, by subtracting the area of the inner colony boundary from the outer-boundary area associated with hyphal projections. The HYPHAEdelity application was validated against automated and manually pixel-counted two-dimensional top-down images of S. cerevisiae colonies exhibiting varying degrees of filamentation. HYPHAEdelity's f-measure results were comparable to areas determined through a manual pixel enumeration method and found to be more accurate than other whole colony filamentation software solutions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Scott J Britton
- Corresponding author: Institute for Biological Chemistry, Biophysics and Bioengineering, John Muir Building, Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton, Edinburgh, Scotland, United Kingdom, EH14 4AS. Tel: +32470205380; E-mail:
| | | | - Jane S White
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom EH14 4AS
| | - Dawn L Maskell
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Biophysics, and Bioengineering, School of Engineering and Physical Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, United Kingdom EH14 4AS
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Sun C, Li X, Zhang Y, Lu L. Subunit C of V-ATPase-VmaC Is Required for Hyphal Growth and Conidiation in A. fumigatus by Affecting Vacuolar Calcium Homeostasis and Cell Wall Integration. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:1219. [PMID: 36422040 PMCID: PMC9699406 DOI: 10.3390/jof8111219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 08/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a widespread airborne fungal pathogen in humans. However, the functional genes in A. fumigatus that may contribute to its pathogenesis have not yet been fully identified. Vacuolar H+-ATPase is universal in eukaryotic organisms but exhibits specific roles in various species. Here, we identified VmaC as a putative subunit of vacuolar H+-ATPase in A. fumigatus that is widely conserved through evolution. The C-terminal hydrophobic domain of VmaC plays a critical role in its vacuolar localization and growth and conidiation. Deletion or turn-off of VmaC encoding gene-AfvmaC expression is not lethal but leads to a very sick and tiny colony phenotype, which is different from that of yeast with conditional ScvmaC defects. Furthermore, we found that AfvmaC not only participates in maintaining calcium homeostasis and vacuolar acidity but is also involved in cell wall integration pathway regulation, highlighting the importance of the vacuole as a storage organelle associated with many aspects of cellular homeostasis. This study indicates that fungal VmaC is relatively conserved. When compared to that in model yeasts, VmaC in A. fumigatus is required for hyphal growth and conidiation, suggesting that specific motifs in VmaC might be functioned in Aspergilli.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yuanwei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Macias-Paz IU, Pérez-Hernández S, Tavera-Tapia A, Luna-Arias JP, Guerra-Cárdenas JE, Reyna-Beltrán E. Candida albicans the main opportunistic pathogenic fungus in humans. Rev Argent Microbiol 2022:S0325-7541(22)00084-0. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2022] [Revised: 07/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
40
|
Kubiński K, Masłyk M, Janeczko M, Goldeman W, Nasulewicz-Goldeman A, Psurski M, Martyna A, Boguszewska-Czubara A, Cebula J, Goszczyński TM. Metallacarborane Derivatives as Innovative Anti- Candida albicans Agents. J Med Chem 2022; 65:13935-13945. [PMID: 36217958 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c01167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by Candida species have increased significantly in the past decades and are among the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide, resulting in serious public health problems. Currently, conventional antifungals are often ineffective as Candida spp. have developed growing resistance to systemic drugs. Since inorganic metallacarboranes are known to affect cellular events, new derivatives of these abiotic compounds were tested against Candida albicans. Compounds based on cobalt bis-dicarbollide [COSAN] were studied on Candida albicans strains, including a panel of 100 clinical isolates. The presented data prove that metallacarborane derivatives are effective against clinical isolates of Candida albicans, even those resistant to systemic drugs, and show synergistic potential in combination with amphotericin B, and low toxicity against human cells and Danio rerio embryos. This paper is a consequential step in the investigations of the broad spectrum and valuable future medical applications of metallacarboranes, especially in the fight against drug-resistant pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konrad Kubiński
- Department of Molecular Biology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1i, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
| | - Maciej Masłyk
- Department of Molecular Biology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1i, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
| | - Monika Janeczko
- Department of Molecular Biology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1i, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
| | - Waldemar Goldeman
- Department of Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Anna Nasulewicz-Goldeman
- Laboratory of Experimental Anticancer Therapy, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Mateusz Psurski
- Laboratory of Experimental Anticancer Therapy, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Aleksandra Martyna
- Department of Molecular Biology, The John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Konstantynów 1i, 20-708 Lublin, Poland
| | - Anna Boguszewska-Czubara
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Medical University of Lublin, Chodźki 4A Street, 20-093 Lublin, Poland
| | - Jakub Cebula
- Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Tomasz M Goszczyński
- Laboratory of Biomedical Chemistry, Hirszfeld Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Weigla 12, 53-114 Wrocław, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Gong Y, Yin S, Sun S, Li M. Chelerythrine reverses the drug resistance of resistant Candida albicans and the biofilm to fluconazole. Future Microbiol 2022; 17:1325-1333. [DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2021-0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To evaluate the antifungal activity of chelerythrine in combination with fluconazole against planktonic Candida albicans strains and preformed biofilm. Materials & methods: A broth microdilution assay was used to reveal the antifungal activity of chelerythrine combined with fluconazole against C. albicans and the preformed biofilm. A fractional inhibitory concentration index model was used to evaluate the interaction. Results: Chelerythrine strongly synergized with fluconazole against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans and the biofilm preformed for less than 12 h. In addition, chelerythrine combined with fluconazole exhibited a synergistic effect against C. albicans morphogenesis. Conclusion: Chelerythrine could reverse the drug resistance of resistant C. albicans and its biofilm to fluconazole, providing new insights for overcoming the drug resistance of C. albicans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying Gong
- Department of Pharmacy, The Affiliated Wuxi People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, 214023, People's Republic of China
| | - Shulin Yin
- Medical Engineering Section, Weihai Municipal Hosptital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Weihai, 264200, People's Republic of China
| | - Shujuan Sun
- Department of Pharmacy, Shandong Second Provincial General Hospital, Shandong Provincial ENT Hospital, Jinan, 250022, People's Republic of China
| | - Min Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250014, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Ma QZ, Wu HY, Xie SP, Zhao BS, Yin XM, Ding SL, Guo YS, Xu C, Zang R, Geng YH, Zhang M. BsTup1 is required for growth, conidiogenesis, stress response and pathogenicity of Bipolaris sorokiniana. Int J Biol Macromol 2022; 220:721-732. [PMID: 35981683 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Tup1, a conserved transcriptional repressor, plays a critical role in the growth and development of fungi. Here, we identified a BsTup1 gene from the plant pathogenic fungus Bipolaris sorokiniana. The expression of BsTup1 showed a more than three-fold increase during the conidial stage compared with mycelium stage. Deletion of BsTup1 led to decrease hyphal growth and defect in conidia formation. A significant difference was detected in osmotic, oxidative, or cell wall stress responses between the WT and ΔBsTup1 strains. Pathogenicity assays showed that virulence of the ΔBsTup1 mutant was dramatically decreased on wheat and barely leaves. Moreover, it was observed that hyphal tips of the mutants could not form appressorium-like structures on the inner epidermis of onion and barley coleoptile. Yeast two-hybrid assays indicated that BsTup1 could interact with the BsSsn6. RNAseq revealed significant transcriptional changes in the ΔBsTup1 mutant with 2369 genes down-regulated and 2962 genes up-regulated. In these genes, we found that a subset of genes involved in fungal growth, sporulation, cell wall integrity, osmotic stress, oxidation stress, and pathogenicity, which were misregulated in the ΔBsTup1 mutant. These data revealed that BsTup1 has multiple functions in fungal growth, development, stress response and pathogenesis in B. sorokiniana.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Zhou Ma
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Hai-Yan Wu
- Analytical Instrument Center, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Shun-Pei Xie
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Bing-Sen Zhao
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Xin-Ming Yin
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Sheng-Li Ding
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Ya-Shuang Guo
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Chao Xu
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Rui Zang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Yue-Hua Geng
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| | - Meng Zhang
- College of Plant Protection, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Zhou X, Yang G, Li C, Yang F, Chang X. Requirement of a putative mitochondrial GTPase, GemA, for azole susceptibility, virulence, and cell wall integrity in Aspergillus fumigatus. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:957857. [PMID: 36016773 PMCID: PMC9396130 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.957857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Drug resistance in fungal pathogens is a new challenge in clinical aspergillosis treatment. Mitochondria as dynamic organelles are involved in numerous biological processes in fungi, including drug resistance. However, little is known about the mechanism underlying mitochondrial regulation of the response of fungal pathogens to antifungal drugs. Here, we showed that a putative mitochondrial GTPase, GemA, a yeast Gem1 homolog, is crucial for the azole response and cell wall integrity in the opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. The fluorescence observation showed that GFP-labeled GemA is located in mitochondria, and loss of gemA results in aberrant giant mitochondrial morphology and abnormal mitochondrial membrane potential. Moreover, a ΔgemA mutant attenuates fungal virulence in the Galleria mellonella model of aspergillosis. Furthermore, gemA loss increases resistance to azoles and terbinafine but not to amphotericin B. Of note, RNA-seq combined with RT-qPCR showed that a series of drug efflux pumps were upregulated in the gemA deletion mutant. Deleting mdr1 or inhibiting the expression of drug efflux pumps can partially decrease the resistance to azoles resulting from the gemA mutant, implying that GemA influences azole response by affecting the expression of drug efflux pumps. Importantly, the ΔgemA mutant is susceptible to the cell wall-perturbing reagent CR, but not to CFW, and this defect can be partly rescued by hyperosmotic stress. TEM revealed that the cell wall of ΔgemA was thicker than that of the WT strain, demonstrating that GemA plays a role in cell wall composition and integrity. Collectively, we identified a putative mitochondrial GTPase, GemA, which is critical for hyphal growth, virulence, azole susceptibility, and cell wall integrity and acts by affecting mitochondrial function.
Collapse
|
44
|
Holzknecht J, Dubrac S, Hedtrich S, Galgóczy L, Marx F. Small, Cationic Antifungal Proteins from Filamentous Fungi Inhibit Candida albicans Growth in 3D Skin Infection Models. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0029922. [PMID: 35499318 PMCID: PMC9241769 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00299-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The emerging resistance of human-pathogenic fungi to antifungal drugs urges the development of alternative therapeutic strategies. The small, cationic antifungal proteins (AFPs) from filamentous ascomycetes represent promising candidates for next-generation antifungals. These bio-molecules need to be tested for tolerance in the host and efficacy against fungal pathogens before they can be safely applied in humans. Testing of the efficacy and possible adverse effects of new drug candidates in three-dimensional (3D) human-cell based models represents an advantageous alternative to animal experiments. In, this study, as a proof-of-principle, we demonstrate the usefulness of 3D skin infection models for screening new antifungal drug candidates for topical application. We established a cutaneous infection with the opportunistic human-pathogenic yeast Candida albicans in a commercially available 3D full-thickness (FT) skin model to test the curative potential of distinct AFPs from Penicillium chrysogenum (PAFopt, PAFB, and PAFC) and Neosartorya (Aspergillus) fischeri (NFAP2) in vitro. All tested AFPs were comparably well tolerated by the skin models. The infected 3D models exhibited reduced epidermal permeability barriers, allowing C. albicans to colonize the epidermal and dermal layers, and showed increased secretion of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 and the chemokine IL-8. AFP treatment diminished the fungal burden and penetration depth of C. albicans in the infected models. The epidermal permeability barrier was restored and the secretion of IL-8 was decreased following AFP treatment. In summary, our study proves that the tested AFPs exhibit antifungal potential against cutaneous C. albicans infection in a 3D FT skin model. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans represents one of the most prevalent opportunistic fungal pathogens, causing superficial skin and mucosal infections in humans with certain predisposing health conditions and life-threatening systemic infections in immunosuppressed patients. The emerging drug resistance of this human-pathogenic yeast and the limited number of antifungal drugs for prevention and treatment of infections urgently demands the identification of new antifungal compounds with novel mechanisms of action. Small, cationic antifungal proteins (AFPs) from filamentous fungi represent promising candidates for next-generation antifungals for topical application. These bio-molecules need to be tested for tolerance by the host and efficacy in pathogen clearance prior to being involved in clinical trials. In a proof-of-principle study, we provide evidence for the suitability of 3D human-cell based models as advantageous alternatives to animal experiments. We document the tolerance of specific AFPs and their curative efficacy against cutaneous C. albicans infection in a 3D skin model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jeanett Holzknecht
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sandrine Dubrac
- Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Allergology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Sarah Hedtrich
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - László Galgóczy
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
- Institute of Biochemistry, Biological Research Centre, Eötvös Loránd Research Network, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Florentine Marx
- Biocenter, Institute of Molecular Biology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Oliveira NK, Bhattacharya S, Gambhir R, Joshi M, Fries BC. Novel ABC Transporter Associated with Fluconazole Resistance in Aging of Cryptococcus neoformans. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:677. [PMID: 35887434 PMCID: PMC9320417 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 06/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans causes meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals, which is treated with fluconazole (FLC) monotherapy when resources are limited. This can lead to azole resistance, which can be mediated by overexpression of ABC transporters, a class of efflux pumps. ABC pump-mediated efflux of FLC is also augmented in 10-generation old C. neoformans cells. Here, we describe a new ABC transporter Afr3 (CNAG_06909), which is overexpressed in C. neoformans cells of advanced generational age that accumulate during chronic infection. The Δafr3 mutant strain showed higher FLC susceptibility by FLC E-Test strip testing and also by a killing test that measured survival after 3 h FLC exposure. Furthermore, Δafr3 cells exhibited lower Rhodamine 6G efflux compared to the H99 wild-type cells. Afr3 was expressed in the Saccharomyces cerevisiae ADΔ strain, which lacks several drug transporters, thus reducing background transport. The ADΔ + Afr3 strain demonstrated a higher efflux with both Rhodamine 6G and Nile red, and a higher FLC resistance. Afr3-GFP localized in the plasma membrane of the ADΔ + Afr3 strain, further highlighting its importance as an efflux pump. Characterization of the Δafr3 mutant revealed unattenuated growth but a prolongation (29%) of the replicative life span. In addition, Δafr3 exhibited decreased resistance to macrophage killing and attenuated virulence in the Galleria mellonella infection model. In summary, our data indicate that a novel ABC pump Afr3, which is upregulated in C. neoformans cells of advanced age, may contribute to their enhanced FLC tolerance, by promoting drug efflux. Lastly, its role in macrophage resistance may also contribute to the selection of older C. neoformans cells during chronic infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Kronbauer Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
| | - Somanon Bhattacharya
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
| | - Rina Gambhir
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (R.G.); (M.J.)
| | - Manav Joshi
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (R.G.); (M.J.)
| | - Bettina C. Fries
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, USA
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Revie NM, Iyer KR, Maxson ME, Zhang J, Yan S, Fernandes CM, Meyer KJ, Chen X, Skulska I, Fogal M, Sanchez H, Hossain S, Li S, Yashiroda Y, Hirano H, Yoshida M, Osada H, Boone C, Shapiro RS, Andes DR, Wright GD, Nodwell JR, Del Poeta M, Burke MD, Whitesell L, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Targeting fungal membrane homeostasis with imidazopyrazoindoles impairs azole resistance and biofilm formation. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3634. [PMID: 35752611 PMCID: PMC9233667 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31308-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause more than 1.5 million deaths annually. With an increase in immune-deficient susceptible populations and the emergence of antifungal drug resistance, there is an urgent need for novel strategies to combat these life-threatening infections. Here, we use a combinatorial screening approach to identify an imidazopyrazoindole, NPD827, that synergizes with fluconazole against azole-sensitive and -resistant isolates of Candida albicans. NPD827 interacts with sterols, resulting in profound effects on fungal membrane homeostasis and induction of membrane-associated stress responses. The compound impairs virulence in a Caenorhabditis elegans model of candidiasis, blocks C. albicans filamentation in vitro, and prevents biofilm formation in a rat model of catheter infection by C. albicans. Collectively, this work identifies an imidazopyrazoindole scaffold with a non-protein-targeted mode of action that re-sensitizes the leading human fungal pathogen, C. albicans, to azole antifungals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicole M Revie
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kali R Iyer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michelle E Maxson
- Program in Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jiabao Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Roger Adams Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Su Yan
- Department of Chemistry, Roger Adams Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Caroline M Fernandes
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | - Kirsten J Meyer
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xuefei Chen
- David Braley Centre for Antibiotics Discovery, M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Iwona Skulska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Meea Fogal
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Hiram Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Saif Hossain
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheena Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yoko Yashiroda
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Hirano
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Minoru Yoshida
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
- Department of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agricultural Life Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Collaborative Research Institute for Innovative Microbiology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Osada
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Charles Boone
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Saitama, Japan
| | - Rebecca S Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - David R Andes
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Gerard D Wright
- David Braley Centre for Antibiotics Discovery, M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Justin R Nodwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
- Veteran Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA
| | - Martin D Burke
- Department of Chemistry, Roger Adams Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Roger Adams Laboratory, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, USA
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
Wang WY, Cai HQ, Qu SY, Lin WH, Liang CC, Liu H, Xie ZX, Yuan YJ. Genomic Variation-Mediating Fluconazole Resistance in Yeast. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12060845. [PMID: 35740970 PMCID: PMC9221393 DOI: 10.3390/biom12060845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections pose a serious and growing threat to public health. These infections can be treated with antifungal drugs by killing hazardous fungi in the body. However, the resistance can develop over time when fungi are exposed to antifungal drugs by generating genomic variations, including mutation, aneuploidy, and loss of heterozygosity. The variations could reduce the binding affinity of a drug to its target or block the pathway through which drugs exert their activity. Here, we review genomic variation-mediating fluconazole resistance in the yeast Candida, with the hope of highlighting the functional consequences of genomic variations for the antifungal resistance.
Collapse
|
48
|
Li Z, Jing X, Yuan Y, Shui Y, Li S, Zhao Z, Deng B, Zhang W. In vitro and in vivo Activity of Phibilin Against Candida albicans. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:862834. [PMID: 35633688 PMCID: PMC9130856 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.862834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase in the occurrence of antifungal-resistant Candida albicans infections necessitates more research to explore alternative effective and safe agents against this fungus. In this work, Phibilin, a new antimicrobial peptide obtained from Philomycus bilineatus and used in traditional Chinese medicine, effectively inhibits the growth and activities of C. albicans, including the clinical resistant strains. Phibilin is a fungicidal antimicrobial peptide that exhibited its antimicrobial effect against C. albicans mainly by disrupting the membrane and interacting with the DNA of the fungi. In particular, Phibilin induces the necrosis of C. albicans via the ROS-related pathway. Moreover, this antifungal compound inhibited the biofilm formation of C. albicans by preventing the development of hyphae in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, Phibilin and clotrimazole displayed a synergistic effect in inhibiting the growth of the fungi. In the mouse cutaneous infection model, Phibilin significantly inhibited the formation of skin abscesses and decreased the counts of C. albicans cells in the infected area. Overall, Phibilin is potentially an effective agent against skin infections caused by C. albicans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongjie Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Jing
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Yaping Yuan
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Yingbin Shui
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Shasha Li
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Zhuoran Zhao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Bo Deng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| | - Wenlu Zhang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, China
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
High MICs for antifungal agents in yeasts from an anthropized lagoon in South America. Microbiol Res 2022; 262:127083. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2022.127083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
|
50
|
Bohner F, Papp C, Gácser A. The effect of antifungal resistance development on the virulence of Candida species. FEMS Yeast Res 2022; 22:6552956. [PMID: 35325128 PMCID: PMC9466593 DOI: 10.1093/femsyr/foac019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, the relevance of diseases associated with fungal pathogens increased worldwide. Members of the Candida genus are responsible for the greatest number of fungal bloodstream infections every year. Epidemiological data consistently indicate a modest shift toward non-albicans species, albeit Candidaalbicans is still the most recognizable species within the genus. As a result, the number of clinically relevant pathogens has increased, and, despite their distinct pathogenicity features, the applicable antifungal agents remained the same. For bloodstream infections, only three classes of drugs are routinely used, namely polyenes, azoles and echinocandins. Antifungal resistance toward all three antifungal drug classes frequently occurs in clinical settings. Compared with the broad range of literature on virulence and antifungal resistance of Candida species separately, only a small portion of studies examined the effect of resistance on virulence. These studies found that resistance to polyenes and echinocandins concluded in significant decrease in the virulence in different Candida species. Meanwhile, in some cases, resistance to azole type antifungals resulted in increased virulence depending on the species and isolates. These findings underline the importance of studies aiming to dissect the connections of virulence and resistance in Candida species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Flora Bohner
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Csaba Papp
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| | - Attila Gácser
- HCEMM-USZ Fungal Pathogens Research Group, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Informatics, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.,MTA-SZTE "Lendület" Mycobiome Research Group, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|