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de Souza CS, Lopes VRDC, Barcellos G, Alexandrino-Junior F, Neves PCDC, Patricio BFDC, Rocha HVA, Ano Bom APD, Figueiredo ABC. Unleashing Fungicidal Forces: Exploring the Synergistic Power of Amphotericin B-Loaded Nanoparticles and Monoclonal Antibodies. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:344. [PMID: 38786699 PMCID: PMC11122123 DOI: 10.3390/jof10050344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 04/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause 1.7 million deaths annually, which can be attributed not only to fungus-specific factors, such as antifungal resistance and biofilm formation, but also to drug-related challenges. In this study, the potential of Amphotericin (AmB) loaded polymeric nanoparticles (AmB-NPs) combined with murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) (i.e., CC5 and DD11) was investigated as a strategy to overcome these challenges. To achieve this goal, AmB-NPs were prepared by nanoprecipitation using different polymers (polycaprolactone (PCL) and poly(D,L-lactide) (PLA)), followed by comprehensive characterization of their physicochemical properties and in vitro biological performance. The results revealed that AmB-loaded NPs exhibited no cytotoxicity toward mammalian cells (baby hamster kidney cells-BHK and human monocyte cells-THP-1). Conversely, both AmB-NPs demonstrated a cytotoxic effect against C. albicans, C. neoformans, and H. capsulatum throughout the entire evaluated range (from 10 µg/mL to 0.1 µg/mL), with a significant MIC of up to 0.031 µg/mL. Moreover, the combination of AmB-NPs with mAbs markedly intensified antifungal activity, resulting in a synergistic effect that was two to four times greater than that of AmB-NPs alone. These findings suggest that the combination of AmB-NPs with mAbs could be a promising new treatment for fungal infections that is potentially more effective and less toxic than current antifungal treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Soares de Souza
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica (LATIM), Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (C.S.d.S.); (P.C.d.C.N.)
| | - Victor Ropke da Cruz Lopes
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica (LATIM), Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (C.S.d.S.); (P.C.d.C.N.)
| | - Gabriel Barcellos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Pesquisa Translacional em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldro Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil (H.V.A.R.)
| | - Francisco Alexandrino-Junior
- Laboratório de Micro e Nanotecnologia, Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldro Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Cristina da Costa Neves
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica (LATIM), Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (C.S.d.S.); (P.C.d.C.N.)
| | - Beatriz Ferreira de Carvalho Patricio
- Laboratório de Inovação Farmacêutica e Tecnológica, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Unirio), Rio de Janeiro 22290-250, Brazil;
| | - Helvécio Vinícius Antunes Rocha
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Pesquisa Translacional em Fármacos e Medicamentos, Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldro Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil (H.V.A.R.)
- Laboratório de Micro e Nanotecnologia, Farmanguinhos, Fundação Oswaldro Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro 21040-361, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Dinis Ano Bom
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica (LATIM), Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (C.S.d.S.); (P.C.d.C.N.)
| | - Alexandre Bezerra Conde Figueiredo
- Laboratório de Tecnologia Imunológica (LATIM), Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil; (C.S.d.S.); (P.C.d.C.N.)
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2
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de Oliveira HC, Santos MDM, Camillo-Andrade AC, Castelli RF, Dos Reis FCG, Carvalho PC, Rodrigues ML. Proteomics reveals that the antifungal activity of fenbendazole against Cryptococcus neoformans requires protein kinases. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107157. [PMID: 38548248 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107157] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is responsible for over 100 000 deaths annually, and the treatment of this fungal disease is expensive and not consistently effective. Unveiling new therapeutic avenues is crucial. Previous studies have suggested that the anthelmintic drug fenbendazole is an affordable and nontoxic candidate to combat cryptococcosis. However, its mechanism of anticryptococcal activity has been only superficially investigated. In this study, we examined the global cellular response of C. neoformans to fenbendazole using a proteomic approach (data are available via ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD047041). Fenbendazole treatment mostly impacted the abundance of proteins related to metabolic pathways, RNA processing, and intracellular traffic. Protein kinases, in particular, were significantly affected by fenbendazole treatment. Experimental validation of the proteomics data using a collection of C. neoformans mutants led to the identification of critical roles of five protein kinases in fenbendazole's antifungal activity. In fact, mutants lacking the expression of genes encoding Chk1, Tco2, Tco3, Bub1, and Sch9 kinases demonstrated greater resistance to fenbendazole compared to wild-type cells. In combination with the standard antifungal drug amphotericin B, fenbendazole reduced the cryptococcal burden in mice. These findings not only contribute to the elucidation of fenbendazole's mode of action but also support its use in combination therapy with amphotericin B. In conclusion, our data suggest that fenbendazole holds promise for further development as an anticryptococcal agent.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marlon D M Santos
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil; Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit. IIBCE/Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Amanda C Camillo-Andrade
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil; Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit. IIBCE/Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Rafael F Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Flavia C G Dos Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil; Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Paulo C Carvalho
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil; Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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3
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Castelli RF, Pereira A, Honorato L, Valdez A, de Oliveira HC, Bazioli JM, Garcia AWA, Klimeck TDF, Reis FCG, Camillo-Andrade AC, Santos MDM, Carvalho PC, Zaragoza O, Staats CC, Nimrichter L, Fill TP, Rodrigues ML. Corrected and republished from: "Extracellular Vesicle Formation in Cryptococcus deuterogattii Impacts Fungal Virulence". Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0003724. [PMID: 38470135 PMCID: PMC11003230 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00037-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Small molecules are components of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs), but their biological roles are only superficially known. NOP16 is a eukaryotic gene that is required for the activity of benzimidazoles against Cryptococcus deuterogattii. In this study, during the phenotypic characterization of C. deuterogattii mutants expected to lack NOP16 expression, we observed a reduced EV production. Whole-genome sequencing, RNA-Seq, and cellular proteomics revealed that, contrary to our initial findings, these mutants expressed Nop16 but exhibited altered expression of 14 genes potentially involved in sugar transport. Based on this observation, we designated these mutant strains as Past1 and Past2, representing potentially altered sugar transport. Analysis of the small molecule composition of EVs produced by wild-type cells and the Past1 and Past2 mutant strains revealed not only a reduced number of EVs but also an altered small molecule composition. In a Galleria mellonella model of infection, the Past1 and Past2 mutant strains were hypovirulent. The hypovirulent phenotype was reverted when EVs produced by wild-type cells, but not mutant EVs, were co-injected with the mutant cells in G. mellonella. These results connect EV biogenesis, cargo, and cryptococcal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alana Pereira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Valdez
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Jaqueline M. Bazioli
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ane W. A. Garcia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Marlon D. M. Santos
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Analytical Biochemistry and Proteomics Unit. IIBCE/Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Paulo C. Carvalho
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Oscar Zaragoza
- Mycology Reference Laboratory. National Centre for Microbiology. Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Research in Network in Infectious Diseases, CB21/13/00105, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Charley C. Staats
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taícia P. Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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4
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Viveiro LRDG, Rehem AR, Santos ELDS, do Carmo PHF, Junqueira JC, Scorzoni L. In vitro effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors on Cryptococcus gattii capsule and biofilm. Pathog Dis 2024; 82:ftae001. [PMID: 38204138 PMCID: PMC10849314 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftae001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Cryptococcus gattii mainly affect immunocompetent individuals and the treatment presents important limitations. This study aimed to validate the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI), fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLH), and paroxetine hydrochloride (PAH) in vitro against C. gattii. The antifungal activity of SSRI using the microdilution method revealed a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 31.25 µg/ml. The combination of FLH or PAH with amphotericin B (AmB) was analyzed using the checkerboard assay and the synergistic effect of SSRI in combination with AmB was able to reduce the SSRI or AmB MIC values 4-8-fold. When examining the effect of SSRI on the induced capsules, we observed that FLH and PAH significantly decreased the size of C. gattii capsules. In addition, the effects of FLH and PAH were evaluated in biofilm biomass and viability. The SSRI were able to reduce biofilm biomass and biofilm viability. In conclusion, our results indicate the use of FLH and PAH exhibited in vitro anticryptococcal activity, representing a possible future alternative for the cryptococcosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Letícia Rampazzo da Gama Viveiro
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Amanda Rodrigues Rehem
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Evelyn Luzia De Souza Santos
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Paulo Henrique Fonseca do Carmo
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Juliana Campos Junqueira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Liliana Scorzoni
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Universidade de Guarulhos, Guarulhos, São Paulo 07023-070, Brazil
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Pereira TC, do Carmo PHF, de Menezes RT, de Oliveira HC, de Oliveira LD, Junqueira JC, Scorzoni L. Synergistic effect of the verapamil and amphotericin B against Cryptococcus neoformans. Folia Microbiol (Praha) 2023; 68:999-1004. [PMID: 37950840 DOI: 10.1007/s12223-023-01104-5] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/13/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast that can cause cryptococcosis and cryptococcal meningitis, which conventional treatment involves antifungal drugs such as polyenes, flucytosine, azoles, and their combinations. However, the high cost, toxicity, and increase in fungi resistance to antifungal agents stimulate the search for therapeutic strategies such as drug repurposing and combination therapy. This study evaluated the activity of the antihypertensive verapamil (VEH) alone and combined with amphotericin B (AmB) against C. neoformans. VEH exhibited antifungal activity against C. neoformans with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration of 118 µg per mL. The combination of VEH and AmB exhibited synergism, reducing at least eightfold both drugs' concentrations. Moreover, the combination decreased the size and glucuronoxylomannnan content of C. neoformans capsule. However, no difference was observed in ergosterol levels of C. neoformans after treatment with VEH and AmB in combination. Altogether, VEH in combination with AmB exhibits potential as a candidate as for the development of anti-cryptococcal drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís C Pereira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Paulo H F do Carmo
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Raquel T de Menezes
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, 12245-000, Brazil
| | | | - Luciane D de Oliveira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Juliana C Junqueira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Liliana Scorzoni
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), São José dos Campos, SP, 12245-000, Brazil.
- Universidade de Guarulhos (UNG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Enfermagem, Guarulhos, SP, Brazil.
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Almeida-Paes R, Frases S. Repurposing drugs for fungal infections: advantages and limitations. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:1013-1016. [PMID: 37721174 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2023-0108] [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] [Indexed: 09/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Tweetable abstract Repurposing existing drugs for fungal infections has demonstrated potential in both in vitro and animal models, but there are still obstacles to overcome for clinical application. #antifungal #drugrepurposing #fungalinfections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil
- Rede Micologia - FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Rede Micologia - FAPERJ, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-360, Brazil
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Hagras M, Abutaleb NS, Ezzat HG, Salama EA, Seleem MN, Mayhoub AS. Naphthylthiazoles: a class of broad-spectrum antifungals. RSC Med Chem 2023; 14:2089-2099. [PMID: 37859711 PMCID: PMC10583822 DOI: 10.1039/d3md00323j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcal infections remain a major cause of mortality worldwide due to the ability of Cryptococci to pass through the blood-brain barrier (BBB) causing lethal meningitis. The limited number of available therapeutics, which exhibit limited availability, severe toxicity and low tolerability, necessitates the development of new therapeutics. Investigating the antifungal activity of a novel series of naphthylthiazoles provided trans-diaminocyclohexyl derivative 18 with many advantageous attributes as a potential therapeutic for cryptococcal meningitis. Briefly, the antimycotic activity of 18 against cryptococcal strains was highly comparable to that of amphotericin-B and fluconazole with MIC values as low as 1 μg mL-1. Moreover, compound 18 possessed additional advantages over fluconazole; it significantly reduced the intracellular burden of Cryptococci and markedly inhibited cryptococcal biofilm formation. Initial PK assessment of 18 indicated its ability to reach the CNS after oral administration with high permeability, and it maintained therapeutic plasma concentrations for 18 h. Its antifungal activity extended to other clinically relevant strains, such as fluconazole-resistant C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Hagras
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Nader S Abutaleb
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University Zagazig 44519 Egypt
| | - Hany G Ezzat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
| | - Ehab A Salama
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USA
| | - Mohamed N Seleem
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USA
- Center for One Health Research, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia 24061 USA
| | - Abdelrahman S Mayhoub
- Department of Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University Cairo 11884 Egypt
- Nanoscience Program, University of Science and Technology Zewail City of Science and Technology, October Gardens, 6th of October Giza 12578 Egypt
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8
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Sousa NSOD, Almeida JDRD, Frickmann H, Lacerda MVG, Souza JVBD. Searching for new antifungals for the treatment of cryptococcosis. Rev Soc Bras Med Trop 2023; 56:e01212023. [PMID: 37493736 PMCID: PMC10367226 DOI: 10.1590/0037-8682-0121-2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a consensus that the antifungal repertoire for the treatment of cryptococcal infections is limited. Standard treatment involves the administration of an antifungal drug derived from natural sources (i.e., amphotericin B) and two other drugs developed synthetically (i.e., flucytosine and fluconazole). Despite treatment, the mortality rates associated with fungal cryptococcosis are high. Amphotericin B and flucytosine are toxic, require intravenous administration, and are usually unavailable in low-income countries because of their high cost. However, fluconazole is cost-effective, widely available, and harmless with regard to its side effects. However, fluconazole is a fungistatic agent that has contributed considerably to the increase in fungal resistance and frequent relapses in patients with cryptococcal meningitis. Therefore, there is an unquestionable need to identify new alternatives or adjuvants to conventional drugs for the treatment of cryptococcosis. A potential antifungal agent should be able to kill cryptococci and "bypass" the virulence mechanism of the yeast. Furthermore, it should have fungicidal action, low toxicity, high selectivity, easily penetrate the central nervous system, and widely available. In this review, we describe cryptococcosis, its conventional therapy, and failures arising from the use of drugs traditionally considered to be the reference standard. Additionally, we present the approaches used for the discovery of new drugs to counteract cryptococcosis, ranging from the conventional screening of natural products to the inclusion of structural modifications to optimize anticryptococcal activity, as well as drug repositioning and combined therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hagen Frickmann
- Institute for Medical Microbiology, Virology and Hygiene, University Medicine Rostock, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Hospital Hygiene, Bundeswehr Hospital Hamburg, Germany
| | - Marcus Vinícius Guimarães Lacerda
- Fundação de Medicina Tropical Dr. Heitor Vieira Dourado, Manaus, AM, Brasil
- Instituto de Pesquisas Leônidas & Maria Deane, Fiocruz, Manaus, AM, Brasil
- University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, USA
| | - João Vicente Braga de Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Biotecnologia da Rede BIONORTE, Manaus, AM, Brasil
- Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia, Manaus, AM, Brasil
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9
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Coelho RA, Figueiredo-Carvalho MHG, Almeida-Silva F, de Souza Rabello VB, de Souza GR, Sangenito LS, Joffe LS, Santos ALSD, da Silva Lourenço MC, Rodrigues ML, Almeida-Paes R. Repurposing Benzimidazoles against Causative Agents of Chromoblastomycosis: Albendazole Has Superior In Vitro Activity Than Mebendazole and Thiabendazole. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:753. [PMID: 37504741 PMCID: PMC10381309 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM) is a neglected human implantation mycosis caused by several dematiaceous fungal species. Currently available therapy is usually associated with physical methods, especially surgery, and with high refractoriness. Therefore, drug discovery for CBM is essential. Drug repositioning is a strategy used to facilitate the discovery of new treatments for several diseases. The aim of this study was to discover substances with antifungal activity against CBM agents from a collection of drugs previously approved for use in human diseases. A screening was performed with the NIH Clinical Collection against Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Ten substances, with clinical applicability in CBM, inhibited fungal growth by at least 60%. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of these substances was determined against other CBM agents, and the benzimidazoles albendazole, mebendazole and thiabendazole presented the lowest MIC values. The selectivity index, based on MIC and cytotoxicity of these substances, revealed albendazole to be more selective. To investigate a possible synergism of this benzimidazole with itraconazole and terbinafine, the chequerboard method was used. All interactions were classified as indifferent. Our current results suggest that benzimidazoles have repositioning potential against CBM agents. Albendazole seems to be the most promising, since it presented the highest selectivity against all dematiaceous fungi tested.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rowena Alves Coelho
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, INI/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Fernando Almeida-Silva
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, INI/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Vanessa Brito de Souza Rabello
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, INI/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Gabriela Rodrigues de Souza
- Plataforma de Bioensaios RPT 11B, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, INI/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Leandro Stefano Sangenito
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Rio de Janeiro, Nilópolis 26530-060, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luna Sobrino Joffe
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11792, USA
| | - André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina da Silva Lourenço
- Plataforma de Bioensaios RPT 11B, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, INI/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba 81350-010, PR, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, INI/Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, RJ, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, RJ, Brazil
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10
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Siwe GT, Simo MK, Maharjan R, Amang AP, Mezui C, Tan PV. Metabolomic profiling and bactericidal effect of Polyalthia longifolia (Sonn.) Twaites. stem bark against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Access Microbiol 2023; 5:acmi000432. [PMID: 37424570 PMCID: PMC10323783 DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000432] [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: 04/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective. The present study was carried out to establish the chemical profile of the methanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia stem bark and investigate its antibacterial property against some human pathogenic bacteria. Methods. The extract was analysed using liquid and gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Antibacterial activity of P. longifolia extract against some human pathogenic bacteria was screened using the AlamarBlue method, and MIC and MBC were determined. Results and Conclusion. Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) revealed the presence of 21 compounds among which 12 were identified. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) allowed identification of 26 compounds, the three major ones being the following: cis vaccenic acid (17.79 %), 3-ethyl-3-hydroxyandrostan-17-one (13.80 %) and copaiferic acid B (12.82 %). P. longifolia extract was active against Gram-positive bacteria with MIC ranging from 1 to 2 mg ml-1 and MBC from 2 to 6 mg ml-1. This study demonstrated the bactericidal effect of the methanolic extract of Polyalthia longifolia stem bark against some human pathogenic bacteria, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus . This effect could be related to the presence in the extract of a broad diversity of well-known compounds with established pharmacological properties. These results support the ethnomedicinal use of P. longifolia stem bark in Cameroon for the management of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA)-related infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gael Tchokomeni Siwe
- Department of Animal Biology & Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Marguerite Kamdem Simo
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 814, Maroua, Cameroon
| | - Rukesh Maharjan
- H.E.J. Research Institute of Chemistry, International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi, P.O. Box 75270, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Andre Perfusion Amang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Maroua, P.O. Box 814, Maroua, Cameroon
| | - Christophe Mezui
- Department of Animal Biology, Higher Teacher Training College, ENS, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 47, Yaoundé, Cameroon
| | - Paul Vernyuy Tan
- Department of Animal Biology & Physiology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, P.O. Box 812, Yaoundé, Cameroon
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11
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de Oliveira H, Bezerra BT, Rodrigues ML. Antifungal Development and the Urgency of Minimizing the Impact of Fungal Diseases on Public Health. ACS BIO & MED CHEM AU 2023; 3:137-146. [PMID: 37101810 PMCID: PMC10125384 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomedchemau.2c00055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 11/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 04/28/2023]
Abstract
Fungal infections are a major public health problem resulting from the lack of public policies addressing these diseases, toxic and/or expensive therapeutic tools, scarce diagnostic tests, and unavailable vaccines. In this Perspective, we discuss the need for novel antifungal alternatives, highlighting new initiatives based on drug repurposing and the development of novel antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Bárbara T. Bezerra
- Instituto
Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba81310-020, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto
Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba81310-020, Brazil
- Instituto
de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro21941-902, Brazil
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12
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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.
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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.
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13
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Almeida MA, Bernardes-Engemann AR, Coelho RA, Lugones CJG, de Andrade IB, Corrêa-Junior D, de Oliveira SSC, Dos Santos ALS, Frases S, Rodrigues ML, Valente RH, Zancopé-Oliveira RM, Almeida-Paes R. Mebendazole Inhibits Histoplasma capsulatum In Vitro Growth and Decreases Mitochondrion and Cytoskeleton Protein Levels. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030385. [PMID: 36983553 PMCID: PMC10051957 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is a frequent mycosis in people living with HIV/AIDS and other immunocompromised hosts. Histoplasmosis has high rates of mortality in these patients if treatment is unsuccessful. Itraconazole and amphotericin B are used to treat histoplasmosis; however, both antifungals have potentially severe pharmacokinetic drug interactions and toxicity. The present study determined the minimal inhibitory and fungicidal concentrations of mebendazole, a drug present in the NIH Clinical Collection, to establish whether it has fungicidal or fungistatic activity against Histoplasma capsulatum. Protein extracts from H. capsulatum yeasts, treated or not with mebendazole, were analyzed by proteomics to understand the metabolic changes driven by this benzimidazole. Mebendazole inhibited the growth of 10 H. capsulatum strains, presenting minimal inhibitory concentrations ranging from 5.0 to 0.08 µM. Proteomics revealed 30 and 18 proteins exclusively detected in untreated and mebendazole-treated H. capsulatum yeast cells, respectively. Proteins related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle, cytoskeleton, and ribosomes were highly abundant in untreated cells. Proteins related to the nitrogen, sulfur, and pyrimidine metabolisms were enriched in mebendazole-treated cells. Furthermore, mebendazole was able to inhibit the oxidative metabolism, disrupt the cytoskeleton, and decrease ribosomal proteins in H. capsulatum. These results suggest mebendazole as a drug to be repurposed for histoplasmosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Abreu Almeida
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Andrea Reis Bernardes-Engemann
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Rowena Alves Coelho
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Camila Jantoro Guzman Lugones
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Iara Bastos de Andrade
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Dario Corrêa-Junior
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Simone Santiago Carvalho de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goés, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | | | - Richard Hemmi Valente
- Laboratório de Toxinologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Rosely Maria Zancopé-Oliveira
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo Almeida-Paes
- Laboratório de Micologia, Instituto Nacional de Infectologia Evandro Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
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14
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Santos AS, Borges Dos Anjos LR, Costa VAF, Freitas VAQ, Zara ALDSA, Costa CR, Neves BJ, Silva MDRR. In silico-chemogenomic repurposing of new chemical scaffolds for histoplasmosis treatment. J Mycol Med 2023; 33:101363. [PMID: 36842411 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2023.101363] [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: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Histoplasmosis is a systemic form of endemic mycosis to the American continent and may be lethal to people living with HIV/AIDS. The drugs available for treating histoplasmosis are limited, costly, and highly toxic. New drug development is time-consuming and costly; hence, drug repositioning is an advantageous strategy for discovering new therapeutic options. OBJECTIVE This study was conducted to identify drugs that can be repositioned for treating histoplasmosis in immunocompromised patients. METHODS Homologous proteins among Histoplasma capsulatum strains were selected and used to search for homologous targets in the DrugBank and Therapeutic Target Database. Essential genes were selected using Saccharomyces cerevisiae as a model, and functional regions of the therapeutic targets were analyzed. The antifungal activity of the selected drugs was verified, and homology modeling and molecular docking were performed to verify the interactions between the drugs with low inhibitory concentration values and their corresponding targets. RESULTS We selected 149 approved drugs with potential activity against histoplasmosis, among which eight were selected for evaluating their in vitro activity. For drugs with low minimum inhibitory concentration values, such as mebendazole, everolimus, butenafine, and bifonazole, molecular docking studies were performed. A chemogenomic framework revealed lanosterol 14-α-demethylase, squalene monooxygenase, serine/threonine-protein kinase mTOR, and the β-4B tubulin chain of H. capsulatum, respectively, as the protein targets of the drugs. CONCLUSIONS Our strategy can be used to identify promising antifungal targets, and drugs with repositioning potential for treating H. capsulatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andressa Santana Santos
- Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health (IPTSP), Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Carolina Rodrigues Costa
- Institute of Tropical Pathology and Public Health (IPTSP), Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Bruno Junior Neves
- Laboratory of Cheminformatics (LabChem), Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
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15
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Rocha OB, e Silva KSF, Moraes D, Borges CL, Soares CMDA, Pereira M. Exposure of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis to Mebendazole Leads to Inhibition of Fungal Energy Production. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:antibiotics12020206. [PMID: 36830117 PMCID: PMC9951877 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12020206] [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: 12/28/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is a fungal disease caused by organisms of the genus Paracoccidioides spp. The treatment of the disease is lengthy and includes several adverse effects. Various methodologies focus on the search for new treatments against fungal disease, including the repositioning of drugs. Our group showed the fungicidal effect of mebendazole in P. brasiliensis cells. Thus, understanding the effect of exposing fungal cells to mebendazole is significant for further studies in order to demonstrate it as a potential drug for the treatment of PCM. A proteomic analysis of P. brasiliensis exposed to mebendazole was carried out. Analyses showed that exposure strongly affected the pathways related to energy production, such as glycolysis, fermentation, and the electron transport chain. The quantification of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and mitochondrial activity demonstrated that the drug alters the electron chain, resulting in an increase in oxidative stress. Enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD) and cytochrome c oxidase (Cyt C) were repressed in cells exposed to mebendazole. The concentration of ethanol produced by the cells under treatment demonstrated that the attempt to produce energy through fermentation is also arrested. Thus, the drug inhibits fungal growth through changes in energy metabolism, making it a promising compound for use in the treatment of PCM.
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16
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Wu S, Guo W, Li B, Zhou H, Meng H, Sun J, Li R, Guo D, Zhang X, Li R, Qu W. Progress of polymer-based strategies in fungal disease management: Designed for different roles. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1142029. [PMID: 37033476 PMCID: PMC10073610 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1142029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases have posed a great challenge to global health, but have fewer solutions compared to bacterial and viral infections. Development and application of new treatment modalities for fungi are limited by their inherent essential properties as eukaryotes. The microorganism identification and drug sensitivity analyze are limited by their proliferation rates. Moreover, there are currently no vaccines for prevention. Polymer science and related interdisciplinary technologies have revolutionized the field of fungal disease management. To date, numerous advanced polymer-based systems have been developed for management of fungal diseases, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. In this review, we provide an overview of current needs and advances in polymer-based strategies against fungal diseases. We high light various treatment modalities. Delivery systems of antifungal drugs, systems based on polymers' innate antifungal activities, and photodynamic therapies each follow their own mechanisms and unique design clues. We also discuss various prevention strategies including immunization and antifungal medical devices, and further describe point-of-care testing platforms as futuristic diagnostic and monitoring tools. The broad application of polymer-based strategies for both public and personal health management is prospected and integrated systems have become a promising direction. However, there is a gap between experimental studies and clinical translation. In future, well-designed in vivo trials should be conducted to reveal the underlying mechanisms and explore the efficacy as well as biosafety of polymer-based products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Wu
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenlai Guo
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Huidong Zhou
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongqi Meng
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Junyi Sun
- Changchun American International School, Changchun, China
| | - Ruiyan Li
- Orthpoeadic Medical Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Orhtopeadics, Changchun, China
| | - Deming Guo
- Orthpoeadic Medical Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Orhtopeadics, Changchun, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Burn Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Zhang, ; Rui Li, ; Wenrui Qu,
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Zhang, ; Rui Li, ; Wenrui Qu,
| | - Wenrui Qu
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Zhang, ; Rui Li, ; Wenrui Qu,
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17
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Alves V, Araújo GR, Frases S. Off-label treatments as potential accelerators in the search for the ideal antifungal treatment of cryptococcosis. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:127-135. [PMID: 36688321 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic mycosis that mainly affects immunosuppressed patients. The treatment is a combination of three antifungal agents: amphotericin B, 5-flucytosine and fluconazole. However, these drugs have many disadvantages, such as high nephrotoxicity, marketing bans in some countries and fungal resistance. One of the solutions to find possible new drugs is pharmacological repositioning. This work presents repositioned drugs as an alternative for new antifungal therapies for cryptococcosis. All the studies here were performed in vitro or in animal models, except for sertraline, which reached phase III in humans. There is still no pharmacological repositioning approval for cryptococcosis in humans, though this review shows the potential of repurposing as a rapid approach to finding new agents to treat cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Alves
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941902, Brazil
| | - Glauber Rs Araújo
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941902, Brazil
| | - Susana Frases
- Laboratório de Biofísica de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21941902, Brazil
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18
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Castelli RF, Pereira A, Honorato L, Valdez A, de Oliveira HC, Bazioli JM, Garcia AWA, Klimeck TDF, Reis FCG, Staats CC, Nimrichter L, Fill TP, Rodrigues ML. Extracellular Vesicle Formation in Cryptococcus deuterogattii Impacts Fungal Virulence and Requires the NOP16 Gene. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0023222. [PMID: 35862719 PMCID: PMC9387281 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00232-22] [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: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Small molecules are components of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs), but their biological roles are only superficially known. NOP16 is a eukaryotic gene that is required for the activity of benzimidazoles against Cryptococcus deuterogattii. In this study, during the phenotypic characterization of C. deuterogattii mutants lacking NOP16 expression, we observed that this gene was required for EV production. Analysis of the small molecule composition of EVs produced by wild-type cells and two independent nop16Δ mutants revealed that the deletion of NOP16 resulted not only in a reduced number of EVs but also an altered small molecule composition. In a Galleria mellonella model of infection, the nop16Δ mutants were hypovirulent. The hypovirulent phenotype was reverted when EVs produced by wild-type cells, but not mutant EVs, were coinjected with the nop16Δ cells in G. mellonella. These results reveal a role for NOP16 in EV biogenesis and cargo, and also indicate that the composition of EVs is determinant for cryptococcal virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael F. Castelli
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alana Pereira
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leandro Honorato
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Alessandro Valdez
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Jaqueline M. Bazioli
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ane W. A. Garcia
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | | | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde (CDTS), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Charley C. Staats
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular, Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Taícia P. Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade de Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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19
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Jampilek J. Novel avenues for identification of new antifungal drugs and current challenges. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:949-968. [PMID: 35787715 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2097659] [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: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : Some of otherwise useful fungi are pathogenic to humans, and unfortunately, the number of these pathogens is increasing. In addition to common skin infections, these opportunistic pathogens are able to cause severe, often incurable, systemic mycoses. AREAS COVERED : The number of antifungal drugs is limited, especially drugs that can be used for systemic administration, and resistance to these drugs is very common. This review summarizes various approaches to the discovery and development of new antifungal drugs, provides an overview of the most important molecules in terms of basic (laboratory) research and compounds currently in clinical trials, and focuses on drug repurposing strategy, while providing an overview of drugs of other indications that have been tested in vitro for their antifungal activity for possible expansion of antifungal drugs and/or support of existing antimycotics. EXPERT OPINION : Despite the limitations of the research of new antifungal drugs by pharmaceutical manufacturers, in addition to innovated molecules based on clinically used drugs, several completely new small entities with unique mechanisms of actions have been identified. The identification of new molecular targets that offer alternatives for the development of new unique selective antifungal highly effective agents has been an important outcome of repurposing of non-antifungal drugs to antifungal drug. Also, given the advances in monoclonal antibodies and their application to immunosuppressed patients, it may seem possible to predict a more optimistic future for antifungal therapy than has been the case in recent decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Jampilek
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Kim H, Lee AR, Jeon KY, Ko EJ, Cha HJ, Ock MS. Identification of the transcriptome profile of Miamiensis avidus after mebendazole treatment. KOSIN MEDICAL JOURNAL 2022. [DOI: 10.7180/kmj.22.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
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Ottilie S, Luth MR, Hellemann E, Goldgof GM, Vigil E, Kumar P, Cheung AL, Song M, Godinez-Macias KP, Carolino K, Yang J, Lopez G, Abraham M, Tarsio M, LeBlanc E, Whitesell L, Schenken J, Gunawan F, Patel R, Smith J, Love MS, Williams RM, McNamara CW, Gerwick WH, Ideker T, Suzuki Y, Wirth DF, Lukens AK, Kane PM, Cowen LE, Durrant JD, Winzeler EA. Adaptive laboratory evolution in S. cerevisiae highlights role of transcription factors in fungal xenobiotic resistance. Commun Biol 2022; 5:128. [PMID: 35149760 PMCID: PMC8837787 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03076-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro evolution and whole genome analysis were used to comprehensively identify the genetic determinants of chemical resistance in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Sequence analysis identified many genes contributing to the resistance phenotype as well as numerous amino acids in potential targets that may play a role in compound binding. Our work shows that compound-target pairs can be conserved across multiple species. The set of 25 most frequently mutated genes was enriched for transcription factors, and for almost 25 percent of the compounds, resistance was mediated by one of 100 independently derived, gain-of-function SNVs found in a 170 amino acid domain in the two Zn2C6 transcription factors YRR1 and YRM1 (p < 1 × 10−100). This remarkable enrichment for transcription factors as drug resistance genes highlights their important role in the evolution of antifungal xenobiotic resistance and underscores the challenge to develop antifungal treatments that maintain potency. Ottilie et al. employ an experimental evolution approach to investigate the role of transcription factors in yeast chemical resistance. Most emergent mutations in resistant strains were enriched in transcription factor coding genes, highlighting their importance in drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Ottilie
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Madeline R Luth
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Erich Hellemann
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Gregory M Goldgof
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Eddy Vigil
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Prianka Kumar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Andrea L Cheung
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Miranda Song
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Karla P Godinez-Macias
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Krypton Carolino
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Jennifer Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Gisel Lopez
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Matthew Abraham
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Maureen Tarsio
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Emmanuelle LeBlanc
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Jake Schenken
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Felicia Gunawan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Reysha Patel
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Joshua Smith
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA
| | - Melissa S Love
- Calibr, a division of The Scripps Research Institutes, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Roy M Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.,Aspen Neuroscience, San Diego, CA, 92121, USA
| | - Case W McNamara
- Calibr, a division of The Scripps Research Institutes, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - William H Gerwick
- Center for Marine Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Trey Ideker
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yo Suzuki
- Department of Synthetic Biology and Bioenergy, J. Craig Venter Institute, La Jolla, CA, 92037, USA
| | - Dyann F Wirth
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA.,Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Amanda K Lukens
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Patricia M Kane
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York, NY, 13210, USA
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Jacob D Durrant
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, 4249 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA, 15260, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Winzeler
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Diego, Gilman Dr, La Jolla, CA, 92093, USA.
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Yukuyama MN, Ishida K, de Araujo GLB, Spadari CDC, de Souza A, Löbenberg R, Henostroza MAB, Folchini BR, Peroni CM, Peters MCC, de Oliveira IF, Miyagi MYS, Bou-Chacra NA. Rational design of oral flubendazole-loaded nanoemulsion for brain delivery in cryptococcosis. Colloids Surf A Physicochem Eng Asp 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfa.2021.127631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Oliveira EAM, Ferreira GF, Lang KL. Drug repositioning of benzimidazole anthelmintics in the treatment of cryptococcosis: a review. Med Chem Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-021-02824-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Figueiredo ABC, Fonseca FL, Kuczera D, Conte FDP, Arissawa M, Rodrigues ML. Monoclonal Antibodies against Cell Wall Chitooligomers as Accessory Tools for the Control of Cryptococcosis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0118121. [PMID: 34570650 PMCID: PMC8597760 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01181-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Therapeutic strategies against systemic mycoses can involve antifungal resistance and significant toxicity. Thus, novel therapeutic approaches to fight fungal infections are urgent. Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) are promising tools to fight systemic mycoses. In this study, MAbs of the IgM isotype were developed against chitin oligomers. Chitooligomers derive from chitin, an essential component of the fungal cell wall and a promising therapeutic target, as it is not synthesized by humans or animals. Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) assays and cell-binding tests showed that the MAbs recognizing chitooligomers have high affinity and specificity for the chitin derivatives. In vitro tests showed that the chitooligomer MAbs increased the fungicidal capacity of amphotericin B against Cryptococcus neoformans. The chitooligomer-binding MAbs interfered with two essential properties related to cryptococcal pathogenesis: biofilm formation and melanin production. In a murine model of C. neoformans infection, the combined administration of the chitooligomer-binding MAb and subinhibitory doses of amphotericin B promoted disease control. The data obtained in this study support the hypothesis that chitooligomer antibodies have great potential as accessory tools in the control of cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fernanda L. Fonseca
- Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico em Saúde, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Diogo Kuczera
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Fernando de Paiva Conte
- Projeto Implantação Planta Piloto, Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcia Arissawa
- Vice Diretoria de Desenvolvimento Técnologico, Bio-Manguinhos, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Curitiba, Brazil
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes da Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Sutar Y, Fulton SR, Paul S, Altamirano S, Mhatre S, Saeed H, Patel P, Mallick S, Bhat R, Patravale VB, Chauhan H, Nielsen K, Date AA. Docusate-Based Ionic Liquids of Anthelmintic Benzimidazoles Show Improved Pharmaceutical Processability, Lipid Solubility, and in Vitro Activity against Cryptococcus neoformans. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2637-2649. [PMID: 34467755 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
As the existing therapeutic modalities for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis (CM) have suboptimal efficacy, repurposing existing drugs for the treatment of CM is of great interest. The FDA-approved anthelmintic benzimidazoles, albendazole, mebendazole, and flubendazole, have demonstrated potent but variable in vitro activity against Cryptococcus neoformans, the predominant fungal species responsible for CM. We performed molecular docking studies to ascertain the interaction of albendazole, mebendazole, and flubendazole with a C. neoformans β-tubulin structure, which revealed differential binding interactions and explained the different in vitro efficacies reported previously and observed in this investigation. Despite their promising in vitro efficacy, the repurposing of anthelmintic benzimidazoles for oral CM therapy is significantly hampered due to their high crystallinity, poor pharmaceutical processability, low and pH-dependent solubility, and drug precipitation upon entering the intestine, all of which result in low and variable oral bioavailability. Here, we demonstrate that the anthelmintic benzimidazoles can be transformed into partially amorphous low-melting ionic liquids (ILs) with a simple metathesis reaction using amphiphilic sodium docusate as a counterion. In vitro efficacy studies on a laboratory reference and a clinical isolate of C. neoformans showed 2- to 4-fold lower IC90 values for docusate-based ILs compared to the pure anthelmintic benzimidazoles. Furthermore, using a C. neoformans strain with green fluorescent protein (GFP)-tagged β-tubulin and albendazole and its docusate IL as model candidates, we showed that the benzimidazoles and their ILs reduce the viability of C. neoformans by interfering with its microtubule assembly. Unlike pure anthelmintic benzimidazoles, the docusate-based ILs showed excellent solubility in organic solvents and >30-fold higher solubility in bioavailability-enhancing lipid vehicles. Finally, the docusate ILs were successfully incorporated into SoluPlus, a self-assembling biodegradable polymer, which upon dilution with water formed polymeric micelles with a size of <100 nm. Thus, the development of docusate-based ILs represents an effective approach to improve the physicochemical properties and potency of anthelmintic benzimidazoles to facilitate their repurposing and preclinical development for CM therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yogesh Sutar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States
| | - Sophie R. Fulton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Sagarkumar Paul
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Profession, 2200 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68710, United States
| | - Sophie Altamirano
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Susmit Mhatre
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Chemical Technology, N.P Marg, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400011, India
| | - Hiwa Saeed
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States
| | - Pratikkumar Patel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States
| | - Sudipta Mallick
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States
| | - Roopal Bhat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Shree Chanakya Education Society’s Indira College of Pharmacy, Tathawade, Pune, Maharashtra 411033, India
| | - Vandana B. Patravale
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Institute of Chemical Technology, N.P Marg, Matunga, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400011, India
| | - Harsh Chauhan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Creighton University School of Pharmacy and Health Profession, 2200 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska 68710, United States
| | - Kirsten Nielsen
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455, United States
| | - Abhijit A. Date
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The Daniel K. Inouye College of Pharmacy, University of Hawai’i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii 96720, United States
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Pharmacology, John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii Manoa, Honolulu, Hawaii 96813, United States
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A Unique Dual-Readout High-Throughput Screening Assay To Identify Antifungal Compounds with Aspergillus fumigatus. mSphere 2021; 6:e0053921. [PMID: 34406854 PMCID: PMC8386399 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00539-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatment of invasive mold infections is limited by the lack of adequate drug options that are effective against these fatal infections. High-throughput screening of molds using traditional antifungal assays of growth is problematic and has greatly limited our ability to identify new mold-active agents. Here, we present a high-throughput screening platform for use with Aspergillus fumigatus, the most common causative agent of invasive mold infections, for the discovery of novel mold-active antifungals. This assay detects cell lysis through the release of the cytosolic enzyme adenylate kinase and, thus, is not dependent on changes in biomass or metabolism to detect antifungal activity. The ability to specifically detect cell lysis is a unique aspect of this assay that allows identification of molecules that disrupt fungal cell integrity, such as cell wall-active molecules. We also found that germinating A. fumigatus conidia release low levels of adenylate kinase and that a reduction in this background allowed us to identify molecules that inhibit conidial germination, expanding the potential for discovery of novel antifungal compounds. Here, we describe the validation of this assay and proof-of-concept pilot screens that identified a novel antifungal compound, PIK-75, that disrupts cell wall integrity. This screening assay provides a novel platform for high-throughput screens with A. fumigatus for the identification of anti-mold drugs. IMPORTANCE Fungal infections caused by molds have the highest mortality rates of human fungal infections. These devastating infections are hard to treat and available antifungal drugs are often not effective. Therefore, the identification of new antifungal drugs with mold activity is critical. Drug screening with molds is challenging and there are limited assays available to identify new antifungal compounds directly with these organisms. Here, we present an assay suitable for use for high-throughput screening with a common mold pathogen. This assay has exciting future potential for the identification of new drugs to treat these fatal infections.
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Screening of Chemical Libraries for New Antifungal Drugs against Aspergillus fumigatus Reveals Sphingolipids Are Involved in the Mechanism of Action of Miltefosine. mBio 2021; 12:e0145821. [PMID: 34372704 PMCID: PMC8406317 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01458-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important fungal pathogen and the main etiological agent of aspergillosis, a disease characterized by a noninvasive process that can evolve to a more severe clinical manifestation, called invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), in immunocompromised patients. The antifungal arsenal to threat aspergillosis is very restricted. Azoles are the main therapeutic approach to control IPA, but the emergence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates has significantly increased over recent decades. Therefore, new strategies are necessary to combat aspergillosis, and drug repurposing has emerged as an efficient and alternative approach for identifying new antifungal drugs. Here, we used a screening approach to analyze A. fumigatus in vitro susceptibility to 1,127 compounds. A. fumigatus was susceptible to 10 compounds, including miltefosine, a drug that displayed fungicidal activity against A. fumigatus. By screening an A. fumigatus transcription factor null library, we identified a single mutant, which has the smiA (sensitive to miltefosine) gene deleted, conferring a phenotype of susceptibility to miltefosine. The transcriptional profiling (RNA-seq) of the wild-type and ΔsmiA strains and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to next-generation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) of an SmiA-tagged strain exposed to miltefosine revealed genes of the sphingolipid pathway that are directly or indirectly regulated by SmiA. Sphingolipid analysis demonstrated that the mutant has overall decreased levels of sphingolipids when growing in the presence of miltefosine. The identification of SmiA represents the first genetic element described and characterized that plays a direct role in miltefosine response in fungi. IMPORTANCE The filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus causes a group of diseases named aspergillosis, and their development occurs after the inhalation of conidia dispersed in the environment. Very few classes of antifungal drugs are available for aspergillosis treatment, e.g., azoles, but the emergence of global resistance to azoles in A. fumigatus clinical isolates has increased over recent decades. Repositioning or repurposing drugs already available on the market is an interesting and faster opportunity for the identification of novel antifungal agents. By using a repurposing strategy, we identified 10 different compounds that impact A. fumigatus survival. One of these compounds, miltefosine, demonstrated fungicidal activity against A. fumigatus. The mechanism of action of miltefosine is unknown, and, aiming to get more insights about it, we identified a transcription factor, SmiA (sensitive to miltefosine), important for miltefosine resistance. Our results suggest that miltefosine displays antifungal activity against A. fumigatus, interfering in sphingolipid biosynthesis.
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Oliveira NK, Frank LA, Squizani ED, Reuwsaat JCV, Marques BM, Motta H, Garcia AWA, Kinskovski UP, Barcellos VA, Schrank A, Pohlmann AR, Staats CC, Guterres SS, Vainstein MH, Kmetzsch L. New nanotechnological formulation based on amiodarone-loaded lipid core nanocapsules displays anticryptococcal effect. Eur J Pharm Sci 2021; 162:105816. [PMID: 33757827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejps.2021.105816] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is the etiological agent of cryptococcal meningoencephalitis. The recommended available treatment has low efficiency, with high toxicity and resistance as recurrent problems. In the search of new treatment protocols, the proposal of new pharmacological approaches is considered an innovative strategy, mainly nanotechnological systems considering fungal diseases. The antiarrhythmic drug amiodarone has demonstrated antifungal activity against a range of fungi, including C. neoformans. Here, considering the importance of calcium storage mediated by transporters on cryptococcal virulence, we evaluated the use of the calcium channel blocker amiodarone as an alternative therapy for cryptococcosis. C. neoformans displayed high sensitivity to amiodarone, which was also synergistic with fluconazole. Amiodarone treatment influenced some virulence factors, interrupting the calcium-calcineurin signaling pathway. Experiments with murine cryptococcosis models revealed that amiodarone treatment increased the fungal burden in the lungs, while its combination with fluconazole did not improve treatment compared to fluconazole alone. In addition, we have developed different innovative nanotechnological formulations, one of which combining two drugs with different mechanisms of action. Lipid-core nanocapsules (LNC) loaded with amiodarone (LNCAMD), fluconazole (LNCFLU) and both (LNCAMD+FLU) were produced to achieve a better efficacy in vivo. In an intranasal model of treatment, all the LNC formulations had an antifungal effect. In an intraperitoneal treatment, LNCAMD showed an enhanced anticryptococcal effect compared to the free drug, whereas LNCFLU or LNCAMD+FLU displayed no differences from the free drugs. In this way, nanotechnology using amiodarone formulations could be an effective therapy for cryptococcal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luiza Abrahão Frank
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil
| | - Eamim Daidrê Squizani
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | | | - Heryk Motta
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Uriel Perin Kinskovski
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | | | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Adriana Raffin Pohlmann
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil; Departamento de Química Orgânica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil
| | - Charley Christian Staats
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Sílvia Stanisçuaski Guterres
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre RS, Brazil
| | - Marilene Henning Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - Lívia Kmetzsch
- Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Departamento de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
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Silva VKA, May RC, Rodrigues ML. Pyrifenox, an ergosterol inhibitor, differentially affects Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii. Med Mycol 2021; 58:928-937. [PMID: 31915833 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myz132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 12/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a life-threatening fungal infection. New therapeutic approaches are necessary to combat cryptococcosis, as the currently available therapeutic protocols are expensive and generally result in deleterious side effects. Pyrifenox is an antifungal compound that affects phytopathogens by inhibiting the biosynthesis of ergosterol. In this study, we investigated the effects of pyrifenox on Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii growth, capsule architecture and export of the major capsule component, glucuroxylomannan (GXM). Pyrifenox inhibited the growth of C. neoformans, but was significantly less effective against C. gattii. The resistance of C. gattii to pyrifenox was associated with the expression of efflux pump genes, particularly AFR1 and AFR2, since mutant cells lacking expression of these genes became sensitive to pyrifenox. Analysis of the cryptococcal capsule by India ink counterstaining, immunofluorescence, and scanning electron microscopy showed that pyrifenox affected capsular dimensions in both species. However, GXM fibers were shorter and uniformly distributed in C. neoformans, whereas in C. gattii the number of fibers was reduced. Pyrifenox-treated C. gattii developed unusually long chains of undivided cells. The secretion of GXM was markedly reduced in both species after treatment with pyrifenox. Altogether, the results indicated that pyrifenox differently affects C. neoformans and C. gattii. In addition, it highlights a potential role for pyrifenox as an inhibitor of GXM export in experimental models involving pathogenic cryptococci.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa K A Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Robin C May
- Institute of Microbiology and Infection and School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK
| | - Marcio L Rodrigues
- Instituto Carlos Chagas (ICC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Curitiba, Brazil.,Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Drug Repurposing in Medical Mycology: Identification of Compounds as Potential Antifungals to Overcome the Emergence of Multidrug-Resistant Fungi. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14050488. [PMID: 34065420 PMCID: PMC8161392 DOI: 10.3390/ph14050488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Immunodepression, whether due to HIV infection or organ transplantation, has increased human vulnerability to fungal infections. These conditions have created an optimal environment for the emergence of opportunistic infections, which is concomitant to the increase in antifungal resistance. The use of conventional antifungal drugs as azoles and polyenes can lead to clinical failure, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Difficulties related to treating fungal infections combined with the time required to develop new drugs, require urgent consideration of other therapeutic alternatives. Drug repurposing is one of the most promising and rapid solutions that the scientific and medical community can turn to, with low costs and safety advantages. To treat life-threatening resistant fungal infections, drug repurposing has led to the consideration of well-known and potential molecules as a last-line therapy. The aim of this review is to provide a summary of current antifungal compounds and their main resistance mechanisms, following by an overview of the antifungal activity of non-traditional antimicrobial drugs. We provide their eventual mechanisms of action and the synergistic combinations that improve the activity of current antifungal treatments. Finally, we discuss drug repurposing for the main emerging multidrug resistant (MDR) fungus, including the Candida auris, Aspergillus or Cryptococcus species.
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Ghosh C, Varela‐Aramburu S, Eldesouky HE, Salehi Hossainy S, Seleem MN, Aebischer T, Seeberger PH. Non‐Toxic Glycosylated Gold Nanoparticle‐Amphotericin B Conjugates Reduce Biofilms and Intracellular Burden of Fungi and Parasites. ADVANCED THERAPEUTICS 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/adtp.202000293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chandradhish Ghosh
- Department of Biomolecular Systems Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Am Mühlenberg 1 Potsdam 14476 Germany
| | - Silvia Varela‐Aramburu
- Department of Biomolecular Systems Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Am Mühlenberg 1 Potsdam 14476 Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Takustraße 3 Berlin 14195 Germany
| | - Hassan E. Eldesouky
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology Purdue University 625 Harrison Street West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia‐Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg VA 24060 USA
| | - Sharareh Salehi Hossainy
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Department of Infectious Diseases Robert Koch Institute Berlin 13353 Germany
| | - Mohamed N. Seleem
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology Purdue University 625 Harrison Street West Lafayette IN 47907 USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Pathobiology, Virginia‐Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg VA 24060 USA
| | - Toni Aebischer
- Unit 16 Mycotic and Parasitic Agents and Mycobacteria, Department of Infectious Diseases Robert Koch Institute Berlin 13353 Germany
| | - Peter H. Seeberger
- Department of Biomolecular Systems Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces Am Mühlenberg 1 Potsdam 14476 Germany
- Institute of Chemistry and Biochemistry Freie Universität Berlin Takustraße 3 Berlin 14195 Germany
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Ko HT, Hsu LH, Yang SY, Chen YL. Repurposing the thrombopoietin receptor agonist eltrombopag as an anticryptococcal agent. Med Mycol 2021; 58:493-504. [PMID: 31297540 DOI: 10.1093/mmy/myz077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drug with previously unreported antifungal activity was investigated for suitability for use as an anticryptococcal agent. First, we screened a compound library of 1018 FDA-approved drugs against Cryptococcus neoformans. Of 52 drugs possessing anti-Cryptococcus activity, eltrombopag was chosen due to its novel activity. The susceptibility of Cryptococcus against eltrombopag was then studied by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC), while the synergy of eltrombopag with other drugs was tested by fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Eltrombopag had a limited spectrum of antifungal activity against C. neoformans/C. gattii species complex (MICs of 0.125 mg/l), Candida glabrata (MIC, 0.25 mg/l), and Trichophyton rubrum (MIC, 0.5 mg/l). Eltrombopag affected cryptococcal virulence factors, including capsule and biofilm formation, melanin production, and growth ability at 37°C. Further, RNA sequencing and deletion mutant library screening experiments revealed that genes involved in the calcineurin pathway, lipid biosynthesis, membrane component, and transporter genes were associated with eltrombopag. In addition, eltrombopag showed synergism with the calcineurin inhibitor FK506 (FICI < 0.5) against Cryptococcus species. In conclusion, eltrombopag exhibited excellent antifungal activity against Cryptococcus species potentially via a mode of action which interferes with virulence factors and the calcineurin pathway, indicating that eltrombopag might be usefully repurposed as an antifungal agent for treating cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Tai Ko
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan.,Faculty of Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Lublin, 20093 Poland
| | - Li-Hang Hsu
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan
| | - Sheng-Yung Yang
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan
| | - Ying-Lien Chen
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, National Taiwan University, Taipei, 10617 Taiwan
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Zrg1, a cryptococcal protein associated with regulation of growth in nutrient deprivation conditions. Genomics 2021; 113:805-814. [PMID: 33529779 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2021.01.023] [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: 08/04/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus gattii is one of the causes of cryptococcosis, a life-threatening disease generally characterized by pneumonia and/or meningitis. Zinc is an essential element for life, being required for the activity of many proteins with catalytic and structural roles. Here, we characterize ZRG1 (zinc-related gene 1), which codes a product involved in zinc metabolism. Transcriptional profiling revealed that zinc availability regulated the expression of ZRG1, and its null mutants demonstrated impaired growth in zinc- and nitrogen-limiting conditions. Moreover, zrg1 strains displayed alterations in the expression of the zinc homeostasis-related genes ZAP1 and ZIP1. Notably, cryptococcal cells lacking Zrg1 displayed upregulation of autophagy-like phenotypes. Despite no differences were detected in the classical virulence-associated traits; cryptococcal cells lacking ZRG1 displayed decreased capacity for survival inside macrophages and attenuated virulence in an invertebrate model. Together, these results indicate that ZRG1 plays an important role in proper zinc metabolism, and is necessary for cryptococcal fitness and virulence.
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Chaves AFA, Xander P, Romera LMD, Fonseca FLA, Batista WL. What is the elephant in the room when considering new therapies for fungal diseases? Crit Rev Microbiol 2021; 47:275-289. [PMID: 33513315 DOI: 10.1080/1040841x.2021.1876632] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The global scenario of antimicrobial resistance is alarming, and the development of new drugs has not appeared to make substantial progress. The constraints on drug discovery are due to difficulties in finding new targets for therapy, the high cost of development, and the mismatch between the time of drug introduction in a clinic and microorganism adaptation to a drug. Policies to address neglected diseases miss the broad spectrum of mycosis. Society is not aware of the actual threat represented by fungi to human health, food security, and biodiversity. The evidence discussed here is critical for warning governments to establish effective surveillance policies for fungi.HIGHLIGHTSFungal diseases are ignored even among neglected disease classifications.There are few options to treat mycoses, which is an increasing concern regarding fungal resistance to drugs, as evidenced by the spread of Candida auris.Fungal diseases represent a real threat to human health and food security.Investment in research to investigate the potential of repurposing drugs already in use could obtain results in the short term.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia Xander
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Wagner Luiz Batista
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Pereira TC, de Menezes RT, de Oliveira HC, de Oliveira LD, Scorzoni L. In vitro synergistic effects of fluoxetine and paroxetine in combination with amphotericin B against Cryptococcus neoformans. Pathog Dis 2021; 79:6070654. [PMID: 33417701 DOI: 10.1093/femspd/ftab001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a yeast that mainly affects immunocompromised individuals and causes meningoencephalitis depending on the immune status of the host. The present study aimed to validate the efficacy of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, fluoxetine hydrochloride (FLH) and paroxetine hydrochloride (PAH), alone and in combination with amphotericin B (AmB) against C. neoformans. Susceptibility tests were conducted using the broth microdilution method and synergistic effects of combining FLH and PAH with AmB were analyzed using the checkerboard assay. Effects of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and synergistic concentration were evaluated in biofilms by quantifying the biomass, measuring the viability by counting the colony-forming units (CFU/mL) and examining the size of the induced capsules. Cryptococcus neoformans was susceptible to FLH and PAH and the synergistic effect of FLH and PAH in combination with AmB reduced the MIC of AmB by up to 8-fold. The isolated substances and combination with AmB were able to reduce biofilm biomass and biofilm viability. In addition, FLH and PAH alone or in combination with AmB significantly decreased the size of the yeast capsules. Collectively, our results indicate the use of FLH and PAH as a promising prototype for the development of anti-cryptococcal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Cristine Pereira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. Engenheiro Francisco José Longo, 777 São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Raquel Teles de Menezes
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. Engenheiro Francisco José Longo, 777 São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Haroldo Cesar de Oliveira
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rua Prof. Algacyr Munhoz Mader, 3775 Curitiba, PR 81350-010, Brazil
| | - Luciane Dias de Oliveira
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. Engenheiro Francisco José Longo, 777 São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
| | - Liliana Scorzoni
- Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis, Institute of Science and Technology, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Av. Engenheiro Francisco José Longo, 777 São José dos Campos, São Paulo 12245-000, Brazil
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Kim JH, Cheng LW, Chan KL, Tam CC, Mahoney N, Friedman M, Shilman MM, Land KM. Antifungal Drug Repurposing. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9110812. [PMID: 33203147 PMCID: PMC7697925 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9110812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of fungal pathogens is increasingly problematic due to the limited number of effective drugs available for antifungal therapy. Conventional antifungal drugs could also trigger human cytotoxicity associated with the kidneys and liver, including the generation of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, increased incidences of fungal resistance to the classes of azoles, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, or posaconazole, or echinocandins, including caspofungin, anidulafungin, or micafungin, have been documented. Of note, certain azole fungicides such as propiconazole or tebuconazole that are applied to agricultural fields have the same mechanism of antifungal action as clinical azole drugs. Such long-term application of azole fungicides to crop fields provides environmental selection pressure for the emergence of pan-azole-resistant fungal strains such as Aspergillus fumigatus having TR34/L98H mutations, specifically, a 34 bp insertion into the cytochrome P450 51A (CYP51A) gene promoter region and a leucine-to-histidine substitution at codon 98 of CYP51A. Altogether, the emerging resistance of pathogens to currently available antifungal drugs and insufficiency in the discovery of new therapeutics engender the urgent need for the development of new antifungals and/or alternative therapies for effective control of fungal pathogens. We discuss the current needs for the discovery of new clinical antifungal drugs and the recent drug repurposing endeavors as alternative methods for fungal pathogen control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong H. Kim
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-510-559-5841
| | - Luisa W. Cheng
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Kathleen L. Chan
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Christina C. Tam
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Noreen Mahoney
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Mendel Friedman
- Healthy Processed Foods Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA;
| | | | - Kirkwood M. Land
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA;
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Cortez-Maya S, Moreno-Herrera A, Palos I, Rivera G. Old Antiprotozoal Drugs: Are They Still Viable Options for Parasitic Infections or New Options for Other Diseases? Curr Med Chem 2020; 27:5403-5428. [DOI: 10.2174/0929867326666190628163633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2018] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases, caused by helminths (ascariasis, hookworm, trichinosis, and schistosomiasis)
and protozoa (chagas, leishmaniasis, and amebiasis), are considered a serious public
health problem in developing countries. Additionally, there is a limited arsenal of anti-parasitic
drugs in the current pipeline and growing drug resistance. Therefore, there is a clear need for the
discovery and development of new compounds that can compete and replace these drugs that have
been controlling parasitic infections over the last decades. However, this approach is highly resource-
intensive, expensive and time-consuming. Accordingly, a drug repositioning strategy of the
existing drugs or drug-like molecules with known pharmacokinetics and safety profiles is alternatively
being used as a fast approach towards the identification of new treatments. The artemisinins,
mefloquine, tribendimidine, oxantel pamoate and doxycycline for the treatment of helminths, and
posaconazole and hydroxymethylnitrofurazone for the treatment of protozoa are promising candidates.
Therefore, traditional antiprotozoal drugs, which were developed in some cases decades ago,
are a valid solution. Herein, we review the current status of traditional anti-helminthic and antiprotozoal
drugs in terms of drug targets, mode of action, doses, adverse effects, and parasite resistance
to define their suitability for repurposing strategies. Current antiparasitic drugs are not only
still viable for the treatment of helminth and protozoan infections but are also important candidates
for new pharmacological treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Cortez-Maya
- Instituto de Quimica, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Cd. Universitaria, Circuito Exterior, Coyoacan, 04510 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Antonio Moreno-Herrera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnologia Farmaceutica, Centro de Biotecnologia Genomica, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, 88710 Reynosa, Mexico
| | - Isidro Palos
- Unidad AcadEmica Multidisciplinaria Reynosa-Rodhe, Universidad AutOnoma de Tamaulipas, 88710 Reynosa, Mexico
| | - Gildardo Rivera
- Laboratorio de Biotecnologia Farmaceutica, Centro de Biotecnologia Genomica, Instituto Politecnico Nacional, 88710 Reynosa, Mexico
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Jubie S, Durai U, Latha S, Ayyamperumal S, Wadhwani A, Prabha T. Repurposing of Benzimidazole Scaffolds for HER2 Positive Breast Cancer Therapy: An In-Silico Approach. Curr Drug Res Rev 2020; 13:73-83. [PMID: 32955008 DOI: 10.2174/2589977512999200821170221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A newer trend has been seen recently to reuse the conventional drugs with distinct indications for the newer applications to speed up the drug discovery and development based on earlier records and safety data. Most of the non-cancerous agents could afford a little or tolerable side effects in individuals. However, the repositioning of these non-cancerous agents for successful anticancer therapy is an outstanding strategy for future anti-cancer drug development. Since more diverse and selective cancer drug targets are being discovered and developed, the approved drug collections are particularly useful to quickly identify clinically advanced anticancer drugs against those targets. OBJECTIVE Antihelminthic drugs such as Mebendazole and Albendazole (Benzimidazole class) have been reported to exhibit cytotoxicity (or anticancer activities) against several types of cancer. Therefore, this study aims to repurpose the benzimidazole scaffold for breast cancer treatment. METHODS In the present study, three hydrazone analogs having a benzimidazole motif in their structural frame were synthesized. Their in-silico binding studies against HER2 receptor (PDB ID: 4LQM) and ADMET studies were carried out using Accelrys drug discovery studio 4.1. Cytotoxicity of the synthesized compounds against HER2 overexpressed MCF-7 cell lines was determined by MTT assay. RESULTS One of the compounds 2-[2-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hydrazinylidene]-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazole (U1) has shown good cytotoxicity when compared to the standard Lapatinib, which is a well known HER2 inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS Thus, the designed benzimidazole scaffold might serve as the best leads for treating breast cancer, which is additionally confirmed by performing their docking study via Accelrys discovery studio.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selvaraj Jubie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Researchooty, Nilgiris, Ooty-643001, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Uma Durai
- Department of Chemistry, PSG College of Arts & Science, Avinasi Road, Coimbatore- 641 014, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Subbiah Latha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology, Centre for Excellence in Nanobio Translational Research, Anna University, Bharathidasan Institute of Technology Campus, Tiruchirappalli, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Selvaraj Ayyamperumal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Researchooty, Nilgiris, Ooty-643001, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Ashish Wadhwani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, JSS College of Pharmacy, JSS Academy of Higher Education & Researchooty, Nilgiris, Ooty-643001, Tamilnadu, India
| | - Thangavelu Prabha
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Nandha College of Pharmacy, Affiliated to The Tamilnadu Dr. MGR. Medical University-Chennai, Erode-638052, Tamilnadu, India
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Screening Repurposing Libraries for Identification of Drugs with Novel Antifungal Activity. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00924-20. [PMID: 32660991 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00924-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal organisms are ubiquitous in nature, and progress of modern medicine is creating an expanding number of severely compromised patients susceptible to a variety of opportunistic fungal infections. These infections are difficult to diagnose and treat, leading to high mortality rates. The limited antifungal arsenal, the toxicity of current antifungal drugs, the development of resistance, and the emergence of new multidrug-resistant fungi, all highlight the urgent need for new antifungal agents. Unfortunately, the development of a novel antifungal is a rather long and expensive proposition, and no new classes of antifungal agents have reached the market in the last 2 decades. Drug repurposing, or finding new indications for old drugs, represents a promising alternative pathway to drug development that is particularly appealing within the academic environment. In the last few years, there has been a growing interest in repurposing approaches in the antifungal arena, with multiple groups of investigators having performed screenings of different repurposing libraries against different pathogenic fungi in search for drugs with previously unrecognized antifungal effects. Overall, these repurposing efforts may lead to the fast deployment of drugs with novel antifungal activity, which can rapidly bring benefits to patients, while at the same time reducing health care costs.
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Fenbendazole Controls In Vitro Growth, Virulence Potential, and Animal Infection in the Cryptococcus Model. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00286-20. [PMID: 32253211 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00286-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The human diseases caused by the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii are associated with high indices of mortality and toxic and/or cost-prohibitive therapeutic protocols. The need for affordable antifungals to combat cryptococcal disease is unquestionable. Previous studies suggested benzimidazoles as promising anticryptococcal agents combining low cost and high antifungal efficacy, but their therapeutic potential has not been demonstrated so far. In this study, we investigated the antifungal potential of fenbendazole, the most effective anticryptococcal benzimidazole. Fenbendazole was inhibitory against 17 different isolates of C. neoformans and C. gattii at a low concentration. The mechanism of anticryptococcal activity of fenbendazole involved microtubule disorganization, as previously described for human parasites. In combination with fenbendazole, the concentrations of the standard antifungal amphotericin B required to control cryptococcal growth were lower than those required when this antifungal was used alone. Fenbendazole was not toxic to mammalian cells. During macrophage infection, the anticryptococcal effects of fenbendazole included inhibition of intracellular proliferation rates and reduced phagocytic escape through vomocytosis. Fenbendazole deeply affected the cryptococcal capsule. In a mouse model of cryptococcosis, the efficacy of fenbendazole to control animal mortality was similar to that observed for amphotericin B. These results indicate that fenbendazole is a promising candidate for the future development of an efficient and affordable therapeutic tool to combat cryptococcosis.
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de Mello TP, Silva LN, de Souza Ramos L, Frota HF, Branquinha MH, dos Santos ALS. Drug Repurposing Strategy against Fungal Biofilms. Curr Top Med Chem 2020. [DOI: 10.2174/156802662007200316142626] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thaís Pereira de Mello
- Laboratório de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Laura Nunes Silva
- Laboratório de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lívia de Souza Ramos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Heloísa Freire Frota
- Laboratório de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marta Helena Branquinha
- Laboratório de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André Luis Souza dos Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avancados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Goes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Spadari CDC, Wirth F, Lopes LB, Ishida K. New Approaches for Cryptococcosis Treatment. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E613. [PMID: 32340403 PMCID: PMC7232457 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an important opportunistic infection and a leading cause of meningitis in patients with HIV infection. The antifungal pharmacological treatment is limited to amphotericin B, fluconazole and 5- flucytosine. In addition to the limited pharmacological options, the high toxicity, increased resistance rate and difficulty of the currently available antifungal molecules to cross the blood-brain barrier hamper the treatment. Thus, the search for new alternatives for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis is extremely necessary. In this review, we describe the therapeutic strategies currently available, discuss new molecules with antifungal potential in different phases of clinical trials and in advanced pre-clinical phase, and examine drug nanocarriers to improve delivery to the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina de Castro Spadari
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
| | - Fernanda Wirth
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
| | - Luciana Biagini Lopes
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Kelly Ishida
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
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Identification of Off-Patent Drugs That Show Synergism with Amphotericin B or That Present Antifungal Action against Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.01921-19. [PMID: 31988099 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01921-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Amphotericin B (AmB) is the antifungal with the strongest fungicidal activity, but its use has several limitations, mainly associated with its toxicity. Although some lipidic and liposomal formulations that present reduced toxicity are available, their price limits their application in developing countries. Flucytosine (5FC) has shown synergistic effect with AmB for treatment of some fungal infections, such as cryptococcosis, but again, its price is a limitation for its use in many regions. In the present work, we aimed to identify new drugs that have a minor effect on Cryptococcus neoformans, reducing its growth in the presence of subinhibitory concentrations of AmB. In the initial screening, we found fourteen drugs that had this pattern. Later, checkerboard assays of selected compounds, such as erythromycin, riluzole, nortriptyline, chenodiol, nisoldipine, promazine, chlorcyclizine, cloperastine, and glimepiride, were performed and all of them confirmed for their synergistic effect (fractional inhibitory concentration index [FICI] < 0.5). Additionally, toxicity of these drugs in combination with AmB was tested in mammalian cells and in zebrafish embryos. Harmless compounds, such as the antibiotic erythromycin, were found to have synergic activity with AmB, not only against C. neoformans but also against some Candida spp., in particular against Candida albicans In parallel, we identified drugs that had antifungal activity against C. neoformans and found 43 drugs that completely inhibited the growth of this fungus, such as ciclopirox and auranofin. Our results expand our knowledge about antifungal compounds and open new perspectives in the treatment of invasive mycosis based on repurposing off-patent drugs.
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Faria DR, Sakita KM, Capoci IRG, Arita GS, Rodrigues-Vendramini FAV, de Oliveira Junior AG, Soares Felipe MS, Bonfim de Mendonça PDS, Svidzinski TIE, Kioshima ES. Promising antifungal activity of new oxadiazole against Candida krusei. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0227876. [PMID: 31935275 PMCID: PMC6959663 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0227876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida krusei is one of the most common agents of invasive candidiasis and candidemia worldwide, leading to high morbidity and mortality rates. This species has become a problem due to its intrinsic resistance and reduced susceptibility to azoles and polyenes. Moreover, the number of antifungal drugs available for candidiasis treatment is limited, demonstrating the urgent need for the discovery of novel alternative therapies. In this work, the in vivo and in vitro activities of a new oxadiazole (LMM11) were evaluated against C. krusei. The minimum inhibitory concentration ranged from 32 to 64 μg/mL with a significant reduction in the colony forming unit (CFU) count (~3 log10). LMM11 showed fungicidal effect, similar to amphotericin, reducing the viable cell number (>99.9%) in the time-kill curve. Yeast cells presented morphological alterations and inactive metabolism when treated with LMM11. This compound was also effective in decreasing C. krusei replication inside and outside macrophages. A synergistic effect between fluconazole and LMM11 was observed. In vivo treatment with the new oxadiazole led to a significant reduction in CFU (0.85 log10). Furthermore, histopathological analysis of the treated group exhibited a reduction in the inflammatory area. Taken together, these results indicate that LMM11 is a promising candidate for the development of a new antifungal agent for the treatment of infections caused by resistant Candida species such as C. krusei.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniella Renata Faria
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Karina Mayumi Sakita
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Isis Regina Grenier Capoci
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Sayuri Arita
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Sueli Soares Felipe
- Department of Cell Biology, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, University of Brasília, Brasília, Distrito Federal, Brazil
| | | | | | - Erika Seki Kioshima
- Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil
- * E-mail:
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Krummenauer ME, Lopes W, Garcia AWA, Schrank A, Gnoatto SCB, Kawano DF, Vainstein MH. A Highly Active Triterpene Derivative Capable |of Biofilm Damage to Control Cryptococcus spp. Biomolecules 2019; 9:E831. [PMID: 31817559 PMCID: PMC6995603 DOI: 10.3390/biom9120831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Revised: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an encapsulated yeast responsible for more than 180,000 deaths per year. The standard therapeutic approach against cryptococcosis is a combination of amphotericin B with flucytosine. In countries where cryptococcosis is most prevalent, 5-fluorocytosine is rarely available, and amphotericin B requires intravenous administration. C. neoformans biofilm formation is related to increased drug resistance, which is an important outcome for hospitalized patients. Here, we describe new molecules with anti-cryptococcal activity. A collection of 66 semisynthetic derivatives of ursolic acid and betulinic acid was tested against mature biofilms of C. neoformans at 25 µM. Out of these, eight derivatives including terpenes, benzazoles, flavonoids, and quinolines were able to cause damage and eradicate mature biofilms. Four terpene compounds demonstrated significative growth inhibition of C. neoformans. Our study identified a pentacyclic triterpenoid derived from betulinic acid (LAFIS13) as a potential drug for anti-cryptococcal treatment. This compound appears to be highly active with low toxicity at minimal inhibitory concentration and capable of biofilm eradication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria E. Krummenauer
- Centro de Biotecnologia, PPGBCM, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 91501-970, Brazil; (M.E.K.); (W.L.); (A.W.A.G.); (A.S.)
| | - William Lopes
- Centro de Biotecnologia, PPGBCM, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 91501-970, Brazil; (M.E.K.); (W.L.); (A.W.A.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Ane W. A. Garcia
- Centro de Biotecnologia, PPGBCM, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 91501-970, Brazil; (M.E.K.); (W.L.); (A.W.A.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Augusto Schrank
- Centro de Biotecnologia, PPGBCM, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 91501-970, Brazil; (M.E.K.); (W.L.); (A.W.A.G.); (A.S.)
| | - Simone C. B. Gnoatto
- Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 90610-000, Brazil;
| | - Daniel F. Kawano
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo 13083-871, Brazil;
| | - Marilene H. Vainstein
- Centro de Biotecnologia, PPGBCM, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul 91501-970, Brazil; (M.E.K.); (W.L.); (A.W.A.G.); (A.S.)
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Rizzo J, Stanchev LD, da Silva VK, Nimrichter L, Pomorski TG, Rodrigues ML. Role of lipid transporters in fungal physiology and pathogenicity. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2019; 17:1278-1289. [PMID: 31921394 PMCID: PMC6944739 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2019.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 09/02/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The fungal cell wall and membrane are the most common targets of antifungal agents, but the potential of membrane lipid organization in regulating drug-target interactions has yet to be investigated. Energy-dependent lipid transporters have been recently associated with virulence and drug resistance in many pathogenic fungi. To illustrate this view, we discuss (i) the structural and biological aspects of ATP-driven lipid transporters, comprising P-type ATPases and ATP-binding cassette transporters, (ii) the role of these transporters in fungal physiology and virulence, and (iii) the potential of lipid transporters as targets for the development of novel antifungals. These recent observations indicate that the lipid-trafficking machinery in fungi is a promising target for studies on physiology, pathogenesis and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Rizzo
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lyubomir Dimitrov Stanchev
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C,Denmark
| | - Vanessa K.A. da Silva
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Parasitária do Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Nimrichter
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thomas Günther Pomorski
- Department of Molecular Biochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, Faculty of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 44780 Bochum, Germany
- Department of Plant Biology and Biotechnology, University of Copenhagen, Thorvaldsensvej 40, 1871 Frederiksberg C,Denmark
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Instituto Carlos Chagas, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (Fiocruz), Curitiba, Brazil
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de Oliveira AA, Neves BJ, Silva LDC, Soares CMDA, Andrade CH, Pereira M. Drug Repurposing for Paracoccidioidomycosis Through a Computational Chemogenomics Framework. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:1301. [PMID: 31244810 PMCID: PMC6581699 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.01301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM) is the most prevalent endemic mycosis in Latin America. The disease is caused by fungi of the genus Paracoccidioides and mainly affects low-income rural workers after inhalation of fungal conidia suspended in the air. The current arsenal of chemotherapeutic agents requires long-term administration protocols. In addition, chemotherapy is related to a significantly increased frequency of disease relapse, high toxicity, and incomplete elimination of the fungus. Due to the limitations of current anti-PCM drugs, we developed a computational drug repurposing-chemogenomics approach to identify approved drugs or drug candidates in clinical trials with anti-PCM activity. In contrast to the one-drug-one-target paradigm, our chemogenomics approach attempts to predict interactions between drugs, and Paracoccidioides protein targets. To achieve this goal, we designed a workflow with the following steps: (a) compilation and preparation of Paracoccidioides spp. genome data; (b) identification of orthologous proteins among the isolates; (c) identification of homologous proteins in publicly available drug-target databases; (d) selection of Paracoccidioides essential targets using validated genes from Saccharomyces cerevisiae; (e) homology modeling and molecular docking studies; and (f) experimental validation of selected candidates. We prioritized 14 compounds. Two antineoplastic drug candidates (vistusertib and BGT-226) predicted to be inhibitors of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase TOR2 showed antifungal activity at low micromolar concentrations (<10 μM). Four antifungal azole drugs (bifonazole, luliconazole, butoconazole, and sertaconazole) showed antifungal activity at low nanomolar concentrations, validating our methodology. The results suggest our strategy for predicting new anti-PCM drugs is useful. Finally, we could recommend hit-to-lead optimization studies to improve potency and selectivity, as well as pharmaceutical formulations to improve oral bioavailability of the antifungal azoles identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Alves de Oliveira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil.,Laboratório de Cheminformática, Centro Universitário de Anápolis, UniEVANGÉLICA, Anápolis, Brazil
| | - Bruno Junior Neves
- Laboratório de Cheminformática, Centro Universitário de Anápolis, UniEVANGÉLICA, Anápolis, Brazil
| | - Lívia do Carmo Silva
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | | | - Carolina Horta Andrade
- Laboratório de Modelagem Molecular e Design de Medicamentos, Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Maristela Pereira
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
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In Vitro Activity of a Novel Antifungal Compound, MYC-053, against Clinically Significant Antifungal-Resistant Strains of Candida glabrata, Candida auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Pneumocystis spp. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019; 63:AAC.01975-18. [PMID: 30917977 PMCID: PMC6437499 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01975-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
An urgent need exists for new antifungal compounds to treat fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. The aim of the current study was to investigate the potency of a novel antifungal compound, MYC-053, against the emerging yeast and yeast-like pathogens Candida glabrata, Candida auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Pneumocystis species. An urgent need exists for new antifungal compounds to treat fungal infections in immunocompromised patients. The aim of the current study was to investigate the potency of a novel antifungal compound, MYC-053, against the emerging yeast and yeast-like pathogens Candida glabrata, Candida auris, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Pneumocystis species. MYC-053 was equally effective against the susceptible control strains, clinical isolates, and resistant strains, with MICs of 0.125 to 4.0 μg/ml. Notably, unlike other antifungals such as azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins, MYC-053 was effective against Pneumocystis isolates, therefore being the only synthetic antifungal that may potentially be used against Pneumocystis spp., Candida spp., and Cryptococcus spp. MYC-053 was highly effective against preformed 48-h-old C. glabrata and C. neoformans biofilms, with minimal biofilm eradication concentrations equal to 1 to 4 times the MIC. Together, these data indicated that MYC-053 may be developed into a promising antifungal agent for the treatment and prevention of invasive fungal infections caused by yeasts and yeast-like fungi.
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A Novel Protocol for the Isolation of Fungal Extracellular Vesicles Reveals the Participation of a Putative Scramblase in Polysaccharide Export and Capsule Construction in Cryptococcus gattii. mSphere 2019; 4:4/2/e00080-19. [PMID: 30894430 PMCID: PMC6429041 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00080-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are fundamental components of the physiology of cells from all kingdoms. In pathogenic fungi, they participate in important mechanisms of transfer of antifungal resistance and virulence, as well as in immune stimulation and prion transmission. However, studies on the functions of fungal EVs are still limited by the lack of efficient methods for isolation of these compartments. In this study, we developed an alternative protocol for isolation of fungal EVs and demonstrated an application of this new methodology in the study of the physiology of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii. Our results describe a fast and reliable method for the study of fungal EVs and reveal the participation of scramblase, a phospholipid-translocating enzyme, in secretory processes of C. gattii. Regular protocols for the isolation of fungal extracellular vesicles (EVs) are time-consuming, hard to reproduce, and produce low yields. In an attempt to improve the protocols used for EV isolation, we explored a model of vesicle production after growth of Cryptococcus gattii and Cryptococcus neoformans on solid media. Nanoparticle tracking analysis in combination with transmission electron microscopy revealed that C. gattii and C. neoformans produced EVs in solid media. The properties of cryptococcal vesicles varied according to the culture medium used and the EV-producing species. EV detection was reproduced with an acapsular mutant of C. neoformans, as well as with isolates of Candida albicans, Histoplasma capsulatum, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Cryptococcal EVs produced in solid media were biologically active and contained regular vesicular components, including the major polysaccharide glucuronoxylomannan (GXM) and RNA. Since the protocol had higher yields and was much faster than the regular methods used for the isolation of fungal EVs, we asked if it would be applicable to address fundamental questions related to cryptococcal secretion. On the basis that polysaccharide export in Cryptococcus requires highly organized membrane traffic culminating with EV release, we analyzed the participation of a putative scramblase (Aim25; CNBG_3981) in EV-mediated GXM export and capsule formation in C. gattii. EVs from a C. gattiiaim25Δ strain differed from those obtained from wild-type (WT) cells in physical-chemical properties and cargo. In a model of surface coating of an acapsular cryptococcal strain with vesicular GXM, EVs obtained from the aim25Δ mutant were more efficiently used as a source of capsular polysaccharides. Lack of the Aim25 scramblase resulted in disorganized membranes and increased capsular dimensions. These results associate the description of a novel protocol for the isolation of fungal EVs with the identification of a previously unknown regulator of polysaccharide release. IMPORTANCE Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are fundamental components of the physiology of cells from all kingdoms. In pathogenic fungi, they participate in important mechanisms of transfer of antifungal resistance and virulence, as well as in immune stimulation and prion transmission. However, studies on the functions of fungal EVs are still limited by the lack of efficient methods for isolation of these compartments. In this study, we developed an alternative protocol for isolation of fungal EVs and demonstrated an application of this new methodology in the study of the physiology of the fungal pathogen Cryptococcus gattii. Our results describe a fast and reliable method for the study of fungal EVs and reveal the participation of scramblase, a phospholipid-translocating enzyme, in secretory processes of C. gattii.
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