1
|
de Sousa Cutrim TA, Eloy MA, Barcelos FF, Meireles LM, de Freitas Ferreira LC, Reis TA, Gonçalves SS, Lacerda V, Fronza M, Morais PAB, Scherer R. New thymol-derived triazole exhibits promising activity against Trichophyton rubrum. Braz J Microbiol 2024; 55:1287-1295. [PMID: 38453819 PMCID: PMC11153403 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01295-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections have emerged worldwide, and azole antifungals are widely used to control these infections. However, the emergence of antifungal resistance has been compromising the effectiveness of these drugs. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the antifungal and cytotoxic activities of the nine new 1,2,3 triazole compounds derived from thymol that were synthesized through Click chemistry. The binding mode prediction was carried out by docking studies using the crystallographic structure of Lanosterol 14α-demethylase G73E mutant from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The new compounds showed potent antifungal activity against Trichophyton rubrum but did not show relevant action against Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans. For T. rubrum, molecules nº 5 and 8 showed promising results, emphasizing nº 8, whose fungicidal and fungistatic effects were similar to fluconazole. In addition, molecule nº 8 showed low toxicity for keratinocytes and fibroblasts, concluding that this compound demonstrates promising characteristics for developing a new drug for dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum, or serves as a structural basis for further research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thiago Antonio de Sousa Cutrim
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Vila Velha, Comissário José Dantas de Melo St., 21, Boa Vista, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, 29102-770, Brazil
| | - Mariana Alves Eloy
- Agrochemical Graduate Program, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espirito Santo, 29500-000, Brazil
| | - Fernando Fontes Barcelos
- Plant Biotechnology Graduate Program, Universidade Vila Velha, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, 29102-770, Brazil
| | - Leandra Martins Meireles
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Vila Velha, Comissário José Dantas de Melo St., 21, Boa Vista, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, 29102-770, Brazil
| | | | - Tatiana Alves Reis
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Sarah Santos Gonçalves
- Center for Research in Medical Mycology, Department of Pathology, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Valdemar Lacerda
- Chemistry Graduate Program, Universidade Federal Do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Espírito Santo, Brazil
| | - Marcio Fronza
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Vila Velha, Comissário José Dantas de Melo St., 21, Boa Vista, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, 29102-770, Brazil
| | - Pedro Alves Bezerra Morais
- Agrochemical Graduate Program, Federal University of Espírito Santo, Alegre, Espirito Santo, 29500-000, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Scherer
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Graduate Program, Universidade Vila Velha, Comissário José Dantas de Melo St., 21, Boa Vista, Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, 29102-770, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhou YB, Rezaei-Matehkolaei A, Meijer M, Kraak B, Gerrits van den Ende B, Hagen F, Afzalzadeh S, Kiasat N, Takesh A, Hoseinnejad A, Houbraken J. Aspergillus hubkae, a Novel Species Isolated from a Patient with Probable Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis. Mycopathologia 2024; 189:44. [PMID: 38734862 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-024-00848-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
A 50-year-old man, previously diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis and lung cavities, presented with symptoms including fever, shortness of breath, and cough. A pulmonary CT scan revealed multiple cavities, consolidation and tree-in-bud in the upper lungs. Further investigation through direct examination of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid showed septate hyphae with dichotomous acute branching. Subsequent isolation and morphological analysis identified the fungus as belonging to Aspergillus section Nigri. The patient was diagnosed with probable invasive pulmonary aspergillosis and successfully treated with a three-month oral voriconazole therapy. Phylogenetic analysis based on partial β-tubulin, calmodulin and RNA polymerase second largest subunit sequences revealed that the isolate represents a putative new species related to Aspergillus brasiliensis, and is named Aspergillus hubkae here. Antifungal susceptibility testing demonstrated that the isolate is resistant to itraconazole but susceptible to voriconazole. This phenotypic and genetic characterization of A. hubkae, along with the associated case report, will serve as a valuable resource for future diagnoses of infections caused by this species. It will also contribute to more precise and effective patient management strategies in similar clinical scenarios.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ya Bin Zhou
- Department of Dermatology, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Key Discipline of Pediatrics, Key Laboratory of Major Diseases in Children, Ministry of Education, National Center for Children's Health, Beijing, China
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Ali Rezaei-Matehkolaei
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Martin Meijer
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Bart Kraak
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | | | - Ferry Hagen
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sara Afzalzadeh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Razi Teaching Hospital, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Neda Kiasat
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Ameneh Takesh
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Akbar Hoseinnejad
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Health Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Jos Houbraken
- Westerdijk Fungal Biodiversity Institute, Uppsalalaan 8, 3584 CT, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Jothi R, Hong ST, Enkhtsatsral M, Pandian SK, Gowrishankar S. ROS mediated anticandidal efficacy of 3-Bromopyruvate prevents vulvovaginal candidiasis in mice model. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0295922. [PMID: 38153954 PMCID: PMC10754460 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0295922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Candidal infections, particularly vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), necessitate effective therapeutic interventions in clinical settings owing to their intricate clinical nature and elusive understanding of their etiological mechanisms. Given the challenges in developing effective antifungal therapies, the strategy of repurposing existing pharmaceuticals has emerged as a promising approach to combat drug-resistant fungi. In this regard, the current study investigates molecular insights on the anti-candidal efficacy of a well-proven anticancer small molecule -3-bromopyruvate (3BP) against three clinically significant VVC causing Candida species viz., C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. Furthermore, the study validates 3BP's therapeutic application by developing it as a vaginal cream for the treatment of VVC. 3BP exhibited phenomenal antifungal efficacy (killing >99%) with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) of 256 μg/mL against all tested Candida spp. Time killing kinetics experiment revealed 20 min as the minimum time required for 3BP at 2XMIC to achieve complete-killing (99.9%) in all Candida strains. Moreover, the ergosterol or sorbitol experiment explicated that the antifungal activity of 3BP does not stem from targeting the cell wall or the membrane component ergosterol. Instead, 3BP was observed to instigate a sequence of pre-apoptotic cascade events, such as phosphatidylserine (PS) externalization, nuclear condensation and ROS accumulations, as evidenced by PI, DAPI and DCFH-DA staining methods. Furthermore, 3BP demonstrated a remarkable efficacy in eradicating mature biofilms of Candida spp., achieving a maximum eradication level of 90%. Toxicity/safety profiling in both in vitro erythrocyte lysis and in vivo Galleria mellonella survival assay authenticated the non-toxic nature of 3BP up to 512 μg/mL. Finally, a vaginal cream formulated with 3BP was found to be effective in VVC-induced female mice model, as it significantly decreasing fungal load and protecting vaginal mucosa. Concomitantly, the present study serves as a clear demonstration of antifungal mechanistic action of anticancer drug -3BP, against Candida species. This finding holds significant potential for mitigating candidal infections, particularly VVC, within healthcare environments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Jothi
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Seong-Tshool Hong
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea
| | - Munkhtur Enkhtsatsral
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Institute for Medical Science, Jeonbuk National University Medical School, Jeonju, South Korea
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
4
|
Furnica DT, Dittmer S, Scharmann U, Meis JF, Steinmann J, Rath PM, Kirchhoff L. In Vitro and In Vivo Effect of the Imidazole Luliconazole against Lomentospora prolificans and Scedosporium spp. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0513022. [PMID: 37017567 PMCID: PMC10269907 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05130-22] [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: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections with Scedosporium spp. and Lomentospora prolificans have become a serious threat in clinical settings. The high mortality rates associated with these infections can be correlated with their multidrug resistance. The development of alternative treatment strategies has become crucial. Here, we investigate the in vitro and in vivo activity of luliconazole (LLCZ) against Scedosporium apiospermum (including its teleomorph Pseudallescheria boydii) and Lomentospora prolificans. The LLCZ MICs were determined for a total of 37 isolates (31 L. prolificans isolates, 6 Scedosporium apiospermum/P. boydii strains) according to EUCAST. Furthermore, the LLCZ antifungal activity was tested in vitro, using an XTT [2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide salt] growth kinetics assay and biofilm assays (crystal violet and XTT assay). In addition, a Galleria mellonella infection model was used for in vivo treatment assays. The MIC90 of LLCZ was determined to be 0.25 mg/L for all tested pathogens. Growth was inhibited within 6 to 48 h of the start of incubation. LLCZ inhibited biofilm formation in both preadhesion stages and late-stage adhesion. In vivo, a single dose of LLCZ increased the survival rate of the larvae by 40% and 20% for L. prolificans and Scedosporium spp., respectively. This is the first study demonstrating LLCZ activity against Lomentospora prolificans in vitro and in vivo and the first study showing the antibiofilm effect of LLCZ in Scedosporium spp. IMPORTANCE Lomentospora prolificans and S. apiospermum/P. boydii are opportunistic, multidrug-resistant pathogens causing invasive infections in immunosuppressed patients and sometimes in healthy persons. Lomentospora prolificans is panresistant against the currently available antifungals, and both species are associated with high mortality rates. Thus, the discovery of novel antifungal drugs exhibiting an effect against these resistant fungi is crucial. Our study shows the effect of luliconazole (LLCZ) against L. prolificans and Scedosporium spp. in vitro, as well as in an in vivo infection model. These data reveal the previously unknown inhibitory effect of LLCZ against L. prolificans and its antibiofilm effect in Scedosporium spp. It represents an extension of the literature regarding azole-resistant fungi and could potentially lead to the development of future treatment strategies against these opportunistic fungal pathogens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dan-Tiberiu Furnica
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Silke Dittmer
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Ulrike Scharmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Jacques F. Meis
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Cologne, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Cologne, Germany
- Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), Centre of Expertise in Mycology, Radboudumc/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Joerg Steinmann
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Institute of Clinical Hygiene, Medical Microbiology and Infectiology, Klinikum Nürnberg, Paracelsus Medical University, Nuremberg, Germany
| | - Peter-Michael Rath
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Lisa Kirchhoff
- Institute of Medical Microbiology, Excellence Center for Medical Mycology (ECMM), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jothi R, Sangavi R, Raja V, Kumar P, Pandian SK, Gowrishankar S. Alteration of Cell Membrane Permeability by Cetyltrimethylammonium Chloride Induces Cell Death in Clinically Important Candida Species. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:ijerph20010027. [PMID: 36612353 PMCID: PMC9819714 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
The increased incidence of healthcare-related Candida infection has necessitated the use of effective disinfectants/antiseptics in healthcare settings as a preventive measure to decontaminate the hospital environment and stop the persistent colonization of the offending pathogens. Quanternary ammonium surfactants (QASs), with their promising antimicrobial efficacy, are considered as intriguing and appealing candidates for disinfectants. From this perspective, the present study investigated the antifungal efficacy and action mechanism of the QAS cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) against three clinically important Candida species: C. albicans, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata. CTAC exhibited phenomenal antifungal activity against all tested Candida spp., with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFC) between 2 and 8 µg/mL. The time−kill kinetics of CTAC (at 2XMIC) demonstrated that an exposure time of 2 h was required to kill 99.9% of the inoculums in all tested strains. An important observation was that CTAC treatment did not influence intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), signifying that its phenomenal anticandidal efficacy was not mediated via oxidative stress. In addition, sorbitol supplementation increased CTAC’s MIC values against all tested Candida strains by three times (8−32 μg/mL), indicating that CTAC’s possible antifungal activity involves fungus cell membrane destruction. Interestingly, the increased fluorescence intensity of CTAC-treated cells in both propidium iodide (PI) and DAPI staining assays indicated the impairment of cell plasma membrane and nuclear membrane integrity by CTAC, respectively. Additionally, CTAC at MIC and 2XMIC was sufficient (>80%) to disrupt the mature biofilms of all tested spp., and it inhibited the yeast-to-hyphae transition at sub-MIC in C. albicans. Finally, the non-hemolytic activity of CTAC (upto 32 µg/mL) in human blood cells and HBECs signified its non-toxic nature at the investigated concentrations. Furthermore, thymol and citral, two phytocompounds, together with CTAC, showed synergistic fungicidal effectiveness against C. albicans planktonic cells. Altogether, the data of the present study appreciably broaden our understanding of the antifungal action mechanism of CTAC and support its future translation as a potential disinfectant against Candida-associated healthcare infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Jothi
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Ravichellam Sangavi
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Veerapandian Raja
- Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Paul L. Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA
| | - Ponnuchamy Kumar
- Department of Animal Health and Management, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| | | | - Shanmugaraj Gowrishankar
- Department of Biotechnology, Science Campus, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Sphingosine as a New Antifungal Agent against Candida and Aspergillus spp. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232415510. [PMID: 36555152 PMCID: PMC9779773 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232415510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Revised: 11/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study investigated whether sphingosine is effective as prophylaxis against Aspergillus spp. and Candida spp. In vitro experiments showed that sphingosine is very efficacious against A. fumigatus and Nakeomyces glabrataa (formerly named C. glabrata). A mouse model of invasive aspergillosis showed that sphingosine exerts a prophylactic effect and that sphingosine-treated animals exhibit a strong survival advantage after infection. Furthermore, mechanistic studies showed that treatment with sphingosine leads to the early depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species and to a release of cytochrome C within minutes, thereby presumably initiating apoptosis. Because of its very good tolerability and ease of application, inhaled sphingosine should be further developed as a possible prophylactic agent against pulmonary aspergillosis among severely immunocompromised patients.
Collapse
|
7
|
Aziz D, Mohamed SA, Tayel S, Makhlouf A. Enhanced Ocular Anti-Aspergillus Activity of Tolnaftate Employing Novel Cosolvent-Modified Spanlastics: Formulation, Statistical Optimization, Kill Kinetics, Ex Vivo Trans-Corneal Permeation, In Vivo Histopathological and Susceptibility Study. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081746. [PMID: 36015372 PMCID: PMC9415006 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Tolnaftate (TOL) is a thiocarbamate fungicidal drug used topically in the form of creams and ointments. No ocular formulations of TOL are available for fungal keratitis (FK) treatment due to its poor water solubility and unique ocular barriers. Therefore, this study aimed at developing novel modified spanlastics by modulating spanlastics composition using different glycols for enhancing TOL ocular delivery. To achieve this goal, TOL basic spanlastics were prepared by ethanol injection method using a full 32 factorial design. By applying the desirability function, the optimal formula (BS6) was selected and used as a nucleus for preparing and optimizing TOL-cosolvent spanlastics according to the full 31.21 factorial design. The optimal formula (MS6) was prepared using 30% propylene glycol and showed entrapment efficiency percent (EE%) of 66.10 ± 0.57%, particle size (PS) of 231.20 ± 0.141 nm, and zeta potential (ZP) of -32.15 ± 0.07 mV. MS6 was compared to BS6 and both nanovesicles significantly increased the corneal permeation potential of TOL than drug suspension. Additionally, in vivo histopathological experiment was accomplished and confirmed the tolerability of MS6 for ocular use. The fungal susceptibility testing using Aspergillus niger confirmed that MS6 displayed more durable growth inhibition than drug suspension. Therefore, MS6 can be a promising option for enhanced TOL ocular delivery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana Aziz
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Sally A. Mohamed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
| | - Saadia Tayel
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
| | - Amal Makhlouf
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, Egypt
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Fakhim H, Badali H, Dannaoui E, Nasirian M, Jahangiri F, Raei M, Vaseghi N, Ahmadikia K, Vaezi A. Trends in the Prevalence of Amphotericin B-Resistance (AmBR) among Clinical Isolates of Aspergillus Species. J Mycol Med 2022; 32:101310. [PMID: 35907396 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2022.101310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Revised: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The challenges of the invasive infections caused by the resistant Aspergillus species include the limited access to antifungals for treatment and high mortality. This study aimed to provide a global perspective of the prevalence of amphotericin B resistance (AmBR), geographic distribution, and the trend of AmBR from 2010 to 2020. To analyze the prevalence of in vitro AmBR in clinical Aspergillus species, we reviewed the literature and identified a total of 72 articles. AmBR was observed in 1128 out of 3061 Aspergillus terreus (36.8%), 538 out of 3663 Aspergillus flavus (14.9%), 141 out of 2691 Aspergillus niger (5.2%), and 353 out of 17,494 Aspergillus fumigatus isolates (2.01%). An increasing trend in AmB-resistant isolates of A. fumigatus and a decreasing trend in AmB-resistant A. terreus and A. flavus isolates were observed between 2016 and 2020. AmB-resistant A. terreus and A. niger isolates, accounting for 40.4% and 20.9%, respectively, were the common AmB-resistant Aspergillus species in Asian studies. However, common AmB-resistant Aspergillus species reported by European and American studies were A. terreus and A. flavus isolates, accounting for 40.1% and 14.3% in 31 studies from Europe and 25.1% and 11.7% in 14 studies from America, respectively. The prevalence of AmB-resistant A. niger in Asian isolates was higher than in American and European. We found a low prevalence of A. terreus in American isolates (25.1%) compared to Asian (40.4%) and European (40.1%). Future studies should focus on analyzing the trend of AmBR on a regional basis and using the same methodologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hamed Fakhim
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Hamid Badali
- Department of Molecular Microbiology & Immunology/South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Eric Dannaoui
- Université de Paris, Faculté de Médecine, APHP, Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Paris, France
| | - Maryam Nasirian
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center; and Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, Health School, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Fateme Jahangiri
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Maedeh Raei
- Faculty of medicine, Sari branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
| | - Narges Vaseghi
- Department of Pathobiology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Kazem Ahmadikia
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Afsane Vaezi
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Encephalartos villosus Lem. Displays a Strong In Vivo and In Vitro Antifungal Potential against Candida glabrata Clinical Isolates. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050521. [PMID: 35628776 PMCID: PMC9146621 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, Candida glabrata has been recognized as one of the most common fungal species that is highly associated with invasive candidiasis. Its spread could be attributed to its increasing resistance to antifungal drugs. Thus, there is a high need for safer and more efficient therapeutic alternatives such as plant extracts. Here, we investigated the antifungal potential of Encephalartos villosus leaves methanol extract (EVME) against C. glabrata clinical isolates. Tentative phytochemical identification of 51 metabolites was conducted in EVME using LC–MS/MS. EVME demonstrated antifungal activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations that ranged from 32 to 256 µg/mL. The mechanism of the antifungal action was studied by investigating the impact of EVME on nucleotide leakage. Additionally, a sorbitol bioassay was performed, and we found that EVME affected the fungal cell wall. In addition, the effect of EVME was elucidated on the efflux activity of C. glabrata isolates using acridine orange assay and quantitative real-time PCR. EVME resulted in downregulation of the expression of the efflux pump genes CDR1, CDR2, and ERG11 in the tested isolates with percentages of 33.33%, 41.67%, and 33.33%, respectively. Moreover, we investigated the in vivo antifungal activity of EVME using a murine model with systemic infection. The fungal burden was determined in the kidney tissues. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were carried out to investigate the effect of EVME. We noticed that EVME reduced the congestion of the glomeruli and tubules of the kidney tissues of the rats infected with C. glabrata. Furthermore, it decreased both the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the abnormal collagen fibers. Our results reveal, for the first time, the potential in vitro (by inhibition of the efflux activity) and in vivo (by decreasing the congestion and inflammation of the kidney tissues) antifungal activity of EVME against C. glabrata isolates.
Collapse
|
10
|
In Vitro and In Vivo Activity of Luliconazole (NND-502) against Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Azole Resistant Aspergillus fumigatus. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040350. [PMID: 35448581 PMCID: PMC9025574 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus has become a significant threat in clinical settings. Cases of invasive infections with azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates (ARAF) increased recently. Developing strategies for dealing with ARAF has become crucial. We here investigated the in-vitro and in-vivo activity of the imidazole luliconazole (LLCZ) against clinical ARAF. In total, the LLCZ minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were tested for 101 A. fumigatus isolates (84 ARAF and 17 azole-susceptible A. fumigatus as wild-type controls) according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST). Additionally, antifungal activity was assessed in vitro, including an XTT planktonic growth kinetics assay and biofilm assays (crystal violet and XTT assay). Further, a single-dose LLCZ treatment (152 mg/L) was tested for seven days in vivo in a Galleria mellonella infection model. LLCZ showed an MIC50 of 0.002 mg/L and no significant difference was found between triazole-resistant and wild-type isolates. Growth inhibition took place between 6 and 12 h after the start of incubation. LLCZ inhibited biofilm formation when added in the pre-adhesion stages. In vivo, single-dose LLCZ-treated larvae show a significantly higher survival percentage than the control group (20%). In conclusion, LLCZ has activity against planktonic cells and early biofilms of ARAF.
Collapse
|
11
|
Bastos RW, Rossato L, Valero C, Lagrou K, Colombo AL, Goldman GH. Potential of Gallium as an Antifungal Agent. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:414. [PMID: 31921699 PMCID: PMC6917619 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
There are only few drugs available to treat fungal infections, and the lack of new antifungals, along with the emergence of drug-resistant strains, results in millions of deaths/year. An unconventional approach to fight microbial infection is to exploit nutritional vulnerabilities of microorganism metabolism. The metal gallium can disrupt iron metabolism in bacteria and cancer cells, but it has not been tested against fungal pathogens such as Aspergillus and Candida. Here, we investigate in vitro activity of gallium nitrate III [Ga(NO3)3] against these human pathogens, to reveal the gallium mechanism of action and understand the interaction between gallium and clinical antifungal drugs. Ga(NO3)3 presented a fungistatic effect against azole-sensitive and -resistant A. fumigatus strains (MIC50/90 = 32.0 mg/L) and also had a synergistic effect with caspofungin, but not with azoles and amphotericin B. Its antifungal activity seems to be reliant on iron-limiting conditions, as the presence of iron increases its MIC value and because we observed a synergistic interaction between gallium and iron chelators against A. fumigatus. We also show that an A. fumigatus mutant (ΔhapX) unable to grow in the absence of iron is more susceptible to gallium, reinforcing that gallium could act by disrupting iron homeostasis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that gallium has a fungistatic effect against different species of Candida ranging from 16.0 to 256.0 mg/L, including multidrug-resistant Candida auris, C. haemulonii, C. duobushaemulonii, and C. glabrata. Our findings indicate that gallium can inhibit fungal pathogens in vitro under iron-limiting conditions, showing that Ga(NO3)3 could be a potential therapy not only against bacteria but also as an antifungal drug.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Wesley Bastos
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luana Rossato
- Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Clara Valero
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Epidemiology of antifungal susceptibility: Review of literature. J Mycol Med 2019; 28:574-584. [PMID: 29773435 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2017] [Revised: 04/26/2018] [Accepted: 04/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fungal infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality despite the latest developments of diagnostic tools and therapeutic options. Early initiation of the appropriate antifungal therapy has been demonstrated to have a direct impact on the patient's outcome. Antifungal susceptibility testing methods are available to detect antifungal resistance and to determine the best treatment for a specific fungus. American and European standards have been developed, as well as equivalent commercial systems, which are more appropriate for clinical laboratories. These studies have allowed the development of interpretative breakpoints against the most frequent agents of fungal infections in the world. Surveillance of antifungal susceptibility patterns can provide the local drug resistance data to the clinicians, which can further aid better management of patients. Antifungal susceptibility tests have become essential tools to identify resistance to antifungals, to know the local and global disease epidemiology and to guide the treatment of fungal diseases. The distribution of species and the prevalence of antifungal resistance in fungi isolates varied among different areas. Here we summarize the epidemiology of antifungal susceptibility pattern of different fungal species.
Collapse
|
13
|
Seyedmousavi S, Lionakis MS, Parta M, Peterson SW, Kwon-Chung KJ. Emerging Aspergillus Species Almost Exclusively Associated With Primary Immunodeficiencies. Open Forum Infect Dis 2018; 5:ofy213. [PMID: 30568990 PMCID: PMC6157306 DOI: 10.1093/ofid/ofy213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive aspergillosis (IA) is the most serious mold infection encountered in patients with iatrogenic immunosuppression. IA is also a major cause of mortality and morbidity in individuals with primary immunodeficiency (PID). Although Aspergillus fumigatus is the most common etiologic agent of IA reported in PID patients, followed by A. nidulans, multiple poorly recognized Aspergillus species such as A. udagawae, A. quadrilineatus, A. pseudoviridinutans, A. tanneri, A. subramanianii, and A. fumisynnematus have been reported almost exclusively from patients with inborn defects in host antifungal defense pathways. Infection in PID patients exhibits patterns of disease progression distinct from those in iatrogenic immunosuppression. Specifically, the disease can be extrapulmonary and chronic with a tendency to disseminate in a contiguous manner across anatomical planes. It is also more refractory to standard antifungal therapy. This synopsis summarizes our understanding of emerging rare Aspergillus species that primarily affect patients with PIDs but not those with acquired immunodeficiencies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- S Seyedmousavi
- Molecular Microbiology Section, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - M S Lionakis
- Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - M Parta
- Clinical Research Directorate/Clinical Monitoring Research Program, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, sponsored by the National Cancer Institute, Frederick, Maryland
| | - S W Peterson
- National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, US Department of Agriculture, Peoria, Illinois
| | - K J Kwon-Chung
- Molecular Microbiology Section, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Sav H, Ozdemir HG, Altınbas R, Kiraz N, Ilkit M, Seyedmousavi S. Virulence Attributes and Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Opportunistic Fungi Isolated from Ophthalmic Infections. Mycopathologia 2016; 181:653-61. [PMID: 27193295 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-016-0018-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/07/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Investigations of both virulence factors and antifungal susceptibility profiles are crucial for understanding the pathogenesis and prognosis of ophthalmic mycoses. In this study, we investigated the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of amphotericin B (AMB), voriconazole (VRC), and natamycin (NAT) against a set of 50 fungal isolates obtained from patients with ocular mycoses using the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute broth microdilution method. In addition, putative virulence factor, such as secretory phospholipases and proteinases, and biofilm formation activity were analyzed. The geometric means (GMs) of the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the antifungals across all isolates were the following (in increasing order): VRC (0.70 μg/mL), AMB (0.81 μg/mL), and NAT (1.05 μg/mL). The highest activity against 14 Aspergillus strains was exhibited by VRC (GM MIC: 0.10 μg/mL), followed by AMB and NAT (GM MICs: 0.21 and 0.27 μg/mL), respectively. However, for 12 Fusarium spp., the GM MIC of VRC (2.66) was higher than those of NAT and AMB (GM MICs 1.3 and 0.8 μg/mL, respectively). Proteinase and phospholipase activity were observed in 30 % and 42 % of the isolates, respectively, whereas only 8 % of the isolates were able to produce biofilms. Phospholipase activity was observed in all Fusarium isolates, but not in any of the Aspergillus isolates. In contrast, biofilm-forming capability was detected in 25 % of the Fusarium isolates, but none of the Aspergillus isolates. The differences in the MICs of AMB, VRC, and NAT, biofilm-forming ability and proteinase and phospholipase activities among the isolates were not significant (p > 0.05). Overall, our study suggests no significant correlation between the antifungal susceptibility profiles and virulence attributes of ocular fungal isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hafize Sav
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey.
| | - Havva Gül Ozdemir
- Division of Ophthalmology, Medicosocial Health Center, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey
| | - Rabiye Altınbas
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Nuri Kiraz
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University, 34098, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Macit Ilkit
- Division of Mycology, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Çukurova, Adana, Turkey
| | - Seyedmojtaba Seyedmousavi
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud UMC, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
- Laboratory of Clinical Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, USA
| |
Collapse
|