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El-Mowafy M, Bahgat MM, Bilitewski U. Deletion of the HAMP domains from the histidine kinase CaNik1p of Candida albicans or treatment with fungicides activates the MAP kinase Hog1p in S. cerevisiae transformants. BMC Microbiol 2013; 13:209. [PMID: 24044701 PMCID: PMC3848655 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-13-209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Microorganisms use two-component signal transduction (TCST) systems to regulate the response of the organism to changes of environmental conditions. Such systems are absent from mammalian cells and are thus of interest as drug targets. Fungal TCST systems are usually composed of a hybrid histidine kinase, comprising the histidine kinase (HisKA) domain and a receiver domain, a histidine phosphotransfer protein and a response regulator. Among the 11 groups of fungal histidine kinases, group III histidine kinases are of particular relevance as they are essential for the activity of different groups of fungicides. A characteristic feature is the N-terminal amino acid repeat domain comprising multiple HAMP domains, of which the function is still largely unknown. In Candida albicans, a fungal human pathogen, three histidine kinases were identified, of which CaNik1p is a group III histidine kinase. Heterologous expression of this protein in Sacchromyces cerevisiae conferred susceptibility to different fungicides. Fungicide activity was associated with phosphorylation of the mitogen activated protein kinase Hog1p. Results We have constructed mutated versions of CaNik1p, from which either all HAMP domains were deleted (CaNik1pΔHAMP) or in which the histidine kinase or the receiver domains were not-functional. Expression of CaNIK1ΔHAMP in S. cerevisiae led to severe growth inhibition. Normal growth could be restored by either replacing the phosphate-accepting histidine residue in CaNik1pΔHAMP or by expressing CaNIK1ΔHAMP in S. cerevisiae mutants, in which single genes encoding several components of the HOG pathway were deleted. Expression of proteins with non-functional histidine kinase or receiver domains resulted in complete loss of susceptibility to antifungals, such as fludioxonil. Conditions leading to growth inhibition of transformants also led to phosphorylation of the MAP kinase Hog1p. Conclusion Our results show that functional histidine kinase and receiver domains of CaNik1p were essential for antifungal susceptibility and for activation of the Hog1p. Moreover, for the first time we show that deletion of all HAMP domains from CaNik1p led to activation of Hog1p without an external stimulus. This phenotype was similar to the effects obtained upon treatment with fungicides, as in both cases growth inhibition correlated with Hog1p activation and was dependent on the functionality of the conserved phosphate-accepting histidine residue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed El-Mowafy
- AG Biological Systems Analysis, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), Inhoffenstr, 7, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany.
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252
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Yang TS, Ou KL, Peng PW, Liou BC, Wang WT, Huang YC, Tsai CM, Su CH. Quantifying membrane permeability of amphotericin B ion channels in single living cells. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-BIOMEMBRANES 2013; 1828:1794-801. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamem.2013.03.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2012] [Revised: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/24/2013] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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253
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Youngsaye W, Hartland CL, Morgan BJ, Ting A, Nag PP, Vincent B, Mosher CA, Bittker JA, Dandapani S, Palmer M, Whitesell L, Lindquist S, Schreiber SL, Munoz B. ML212: A small-molecule probe for investigating fluconazole resistance mechanisms in Candida albicans. Beilstein J Org Chem 2013; 9:1501-7. [PMID: 23946849 PMCID: PMC3740683 DOI: 10.3762/bjoc.9.171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2013] [Accepted: 06/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The National Institutes of Health Molecular Libraries and Probe Production Centers Network (NIH-MLPCN) screened >300,000 compounds to evaluate their ability to restore fluconazole susceptibility in resistant Candida albicans isolates. Additional counter screens were incorporated to remove substances inherently toxic to either mammalian or fungal cells. A substituted indazole possessing the desired bioactivity profile was selected for further development, and initial investigation of structure–activity relationships led to the discovery of ML212.
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Affiliation(s)
- Willmen Youngsaye
- Chemical Biology Platform and Probe Development Center, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, 7 Cambridge Center, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
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254
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Spampinato C, Leonardi D. Candida infections, causes, targets, and resistance mechanisms: traditional and alternative antifungal agents. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2013; 2013:204237. [PMID: 23878798 PMCID: PMC3708393 DOI: 10.1155/2013/204237] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2013] [Revised: 06/06/2013] [Accepted: 06/06/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The genus Candida includes about 200 different species, but only a few species are human opportunistic pathogens and cause infections when the host becomes debilitated or immunocompromised. Candida infections can be superficial or invasive. Superficial infections often affect the skin or mucous membranes and can be treated successfully with topical antifungal drugs. However, invasive fungal infections are often life-threatening, probably due to inefficient diagnostic methods and inappropriate initial antifungal therapies. Here, we briefly review our current knowledge of pathogenic species of the genus Candida and yeast infection causes and then focus on current antifungal drugs and resistance mechanisms. An overview of new therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of Candida infections is also provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Spampinato
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
- Centro de Estudios Fotosintéticos y Bioquímicos (CEFOBI, UNR-CONICET), Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Darío Leonardi
- Departamento de Tecnología Farmacéutica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario (UNR), Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
- Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR, UNR-CONICET), Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
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255
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de Souza TB, Orlandi M, Coelho LFL, Malaquias LCC, Dias ALT, de Carvalho RR, Silva NC, Carvalho DT. Synthesis and in vitro evaluation of antifungal and cytotoxic activities of eugenol glycosides. Med Chem Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1007/s00044-013-0669-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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256
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High-throughput screening of a collection of known pharmacologically active small compounds for identification of Candida albicans biofilm inhibitors. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2013; 57:3681-7. [PMID: 23689719 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00680-13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most common etiologic agent of systemic fungal infections with unacceptably high mortality rates. The existing arsenal of antifungal drugs is very limited and is particularly ineffective against C. albicans biofilms. To address the unmet need for novel antifungals, particularly those active against biofilms, we have screened a small molecule library consisting of 1,200 off-patent drugs already approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the Prestwick Chemical Library, to identify inhibitors of C. albicans biofilm formation. According to their pharmacological applications that are currently known, we classified these bioactive compounds as antifungal drugs, as antimicrobials/antiseptics, or as miscellaneous drugs, which we considered to be drugs with no previously characterized antifungal activity. Using a 96-well microtiter plate-based high-content screening assay, we identified 38 pharmacologically active agents that inhibit C. albicans biofilm formation. These drugs were subsequently tested for their potency and efficacy against preformed biofilms, and we identified three drugs with novel antifungal activity. Thus, repurposing FDA-approved drugs opens up a valuable new avenue for identification and potentially rapid development of antifungal agents, which are urgently needed.
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257
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Palicz Z, Jenes Á, Gáll T, Miszti-Blasius K, Kollár S, Kovács I, Emri M, Márián T, Leiter É, Pócsi I, Csősz É, Kalló G, Hegedűs C, Virág L, Csernoch L, Szentesi P. In vivo application of a small molecular weight antifungal protein of Penicillium chrysogenum (PAF). Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2013; 269:8-16. [DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2013.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2012] [Revised: 02/21/2013] [Accepted: 02/22/2013] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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258
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Xiang MJ, Liu JY, Ni PH, Wang S, Shi C, Wei B, Ni YX, Ge HL. Erg11mutations associated with azole resistance in clinical isolates ofCandida albicans. FEMS Yeast Res 2013; 13:386-93. [PMID: 23480635 DOI: 10.1111/1567-1364.12042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2012] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/04/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jin-Yan Liu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; Ruijin Hospital Luwan Branch; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Shanghai; China
| | - Pei-Hua Ni
- Faculty of Clinical Laboratory; Ruijin Hospital; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Shanghai; China
| | - Shengzheng Wang
- School of Pharmacy; Second Military Medical University; Shanghai; China
| | - Ce Shi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; Ruijin Hospital; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Shanghai; China
| | - Bing Wei
- Department of Laboratory Medicine; Ruijin Hospital; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Shanghai; China
| | - Yu-Xing Ni
- Department of Clinical Microbiology Laboratory; Ruijin Hospital; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Shanghai; China
| | - Hai-Liang Ge
- Department of Immunology; Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; Shanghai; China
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259
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Cvelbar D, Zist V, Kobal K, Zigon D, Zakelj-Mavrič M. Steroid toxicity and detoxification in ascomycetous fungi. Chem Biol Interact 2013; 202:243-58. [PMID: 23257178 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2012.11.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2012] [Revised: 11/25/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
In the last couple of decades fungal infections have become a significant clinical problem. A major interest into fungal steroid action has been provoked since research has proven that steroid hormones are toxic to fungi and affect the host/fungus relationship. Steroid hormones were found to differ in their antifungal activity in ascomycetous fungi Hortaea werneckii, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus oryzae. Dehydroepiandrosterone was shown to be the strongest inhibitor of growth in all three varieties of fungi followed by androstenedione and testosterone. For their protection, fungi use several mechanisms to lower the toxic effects of steroids. The efficiency of biotransformation in detoxification depended on the microorganism and steroid substrate used. Biotransformation was a relatively slow process as it also depended on the growth phase of the fungus. In addition to biotransformation, steroid extrusion out of the cells contributed to the lowering of the active intracellular steroid concentration. Plasma membrane Pdr5 transporter was found to be the most effective, followed by Snq2 transporter and vacuolar transporters Ybt1 and Ycf1. Proteins Aus1 and Dan1 were not found to be involved in steroid import. The research of possible targets of steroid hormone action in fungi suggests that steroid hormones inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis in S. cerevisiae and H. werneckii. Results of this inhibition caused changes in the sterol content of the cellular membrane. The presence of steroid hormones most probably causes the degradation of the Tat2 permease and impairment of tryptophan import.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damjana Cvelbar
- Institute of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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260
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Foglia F, Lawrence MJ, Demė B, Fragneto G, Barlow D. Neutron diffraction studies of the interaction between amphotericin B and lipid-sterol model membranes. Sci Rep 2012; 2:778. [PMID: 23110248 PMCID: PMC3482691 DOI: 10.1038/srep00778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Accepted: 09/18/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last 50 years or so, amphotericin has been widely employed in treating life-threatening systemic fungal infections. Its usefulness in the clinic, however, has always been circumscribed by its dose-limiting side-effects, and it is also now compromised by an increasing incidence of pathogen resistance. Combating these problems through development of new anti-fungal agents requires detailed knowledge of the drug's molecular mechanism, but unfortunately this is far from clear. Neutron diffraction studies of the drug's incorporation within lipid-sterol membranes have here been performed to shed light on this problem. The drug is shown to disturb the structures of both fungal and mammalian membranes, and co-localises with the membrane sterols in a manner consistent with trans-membrane pore formation. The differences seen in the membrane lipid ordering and in the distributions of the drug-ergosterol and drug-cholesterol complexes within the membranes are consistent with the drug's selectivity for fungal vs. human cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabrizia Foglia
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M. Jayne Lawrence
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Bruno Demė
- Institut de Laue Langevin, Grenoble, France
| | | | - David Barlow
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, King's College London, London, UK
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261
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Quinto-Alemany D, Canerina-Amaro A, Hernández-Abad LG, Machín F, Romesberg FE, Gil-Lamaignere C. Yeasts acquire resistance secondary to antifungal drug treatment by adaptive mutagenesis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42279. [PMID: 22860105 PMCID: PMC3409178 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 07/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Acquisition of resistance secondary to treatment both by microorganisms and by tumor cells is a major public health concern. Several species of bacteria acquire resistance to various antibiotics through stress-induced responses that have an adaptive mutagenesis effect. So far, adaptive mutagenesis in yeast has only been described when the stress is nutrient deprivation. Here, we hypothesized that adaptive mutagenesis in yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans as model organisms) would also take place in response to antifungal agents (5-fluorocytosine or flucytosine, 5-FC, and caspofungin, CSP), giving rise to resistance secondary to treatment with these agents. We have developed a clinically relevant model where both yeasts acquire resistance when exposed to these agents. Stressful lifestyle associated mutation (SLAM) experiments show that the adaptive mutation frequencies are 20 (S. cerevisiae -5-FC), 600 (C. albicans -5-FC) or 1000 (S. cerevisiae--CSP) fold higher than the spontaneous mutation frequency, the experimental data for C. albicans -5-FC being in agreement with the clinical data of acquisition of resistance secondary to treatment. The spectrum of mutations in the S. cerevisiae -5-FC model differs between spontaneous and acquired, indicating that the molecular mechanisms that generate them are different. Remarkably, in the acquired mutations, an ectopic intrachromosomal recombination with an 87% homologous gene takes place with a high frequency. In conclusion, we present here a clinically relevant adaptive mutation model that fulfils the conditions reported previously.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Quinto-Alemany
- Unidad de Investigación. Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Ana Canerina-Amaro
- Unidad de Investigación. Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Luís G. Hernández-Abad
- Unidad de Investigación. Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Félix Machín
- Unidad de Investigación. Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
| | - Floyd E. Romesberg
- Chemistry Department, The Scripps Research Institute, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Cristina Gil-Lamaignere
- Unidad de Investigación. Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
- * E-mail:
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262
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Cuéllar-Cruz M, Vega-González A, Mendoza-Novelo B, López-Romero E, Ruiz-Baca E, Quintanar-Escorza MA, Villagómez-Castro JC. The effect of biomaterials and antifungals on biofilm formation by Candida species: a review. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 2012; 31:2513-27. [PMID: 22581304 DOI: 10.1007/s10096-012-1634-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2012] [Accepted: 04/24/2012] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, and C. tropicalis are able to form biofilms on virtually any biomaterial implanted in a human host. Biofilms are a primary cause of mortality in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients, as they cause recurrent and invasive candidiasis, which is difficult to eradicate. This is due to the fact that the biofilm cells show high resistance to antifungal treatments and the host defense mechanisms, and exhibit an excellent ability to adhere to biomaterials. Elucidation of the mechanisms of antifungal resistance in Candida biofilms is of unquestionable importance; therefore, this review analyzes both the chemical composition of biomaterials used to fabricate the medical devices, as well as the Candida genes and proteins that confer drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Cuéllar-Cruz
- Centro de Investigación y Asistencia en Tecnología y Diseño del Estado de Jalisco, A.C. (CIATEJ), Unidad de Biotecnología Médica y Farmacéutica, Av. Normalistas #800, Col. Colinas de la Normal, C.P. 44270 Guadalajara, Jalisco, México.
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