1
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Billerbeck S, Walker RSK, Pretorius IS. Killer yeasts: expanding frontiers in the age of synthetic biology. Trends Biotechnol 2024; 42:1081-1096. [PMID: 38575438 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2024.03.003] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Killer yeasts secrete protein toxins that are selectively lethal to other yeast and filamentous fungi. These exhibit exceptional genetic and functional diversity, and have several biotechnological applications. However, despite decades of research, several limitations hinder their widespread adoption. In this perspective we contend that technical advances in synthetic biology present an unprecedented opportunity to unlock the full potential of yeast killer systems across a spectrum of applications. By leveraging these new technologies, engineered killer toxins may emerge as a pivotal new tool to address antifungal resistance and food security. Finally, we speculate on the biotechnological potential of re-engineering host double-stranded (ds) RNA mycoviruses, from which many toxins derive, as a safe and noninfectious system to produce designer RNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonja Billerbeck
- Molecular Microbiology, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology institute, University of Groningen, Groningen 9747, AG, The Netherlands
| | - Roy S K Walker
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Isak S Pretorius
- ARC Centre of Excellence in Synthetic Biology, Macquarie University, Sydney, New South Wales 2109, Australia.
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2
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Yang L, Li W, Zhong J, Liu X. Inhibitory effects and mode of antifungal action of isobavachalcone on Candida albicans growth and virulence factors. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 179:117352. [PMID: 39208670 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.117352] [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: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 08/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/22/2024] [Indexed: 09/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The fungus Candida albicans causes various kinds of human infections, including oral thrush, vulvovaginitis and life-endangering bloodstream infections, the incidence of which are rising. Worsening this, the clinical antifungals are limited to a few, highlighting the necessity to develop novel antifungal therapies. In this study, the antifungal activities of isobavachalcone against C. albicans SC5314 and nine C. albicans clinical isolates were tested. The effects of isobavachalcone (IBC) on C. albicans virulence factors, such as hyphal formation, adhesion, biofilm formation and extracellular phospholipase production, as well as the underlying mechanism, were also evaluated. Antifungal susceptibility test revealed that IBC has significant anti-Candida activities, with both MIC and MFC being 4-5 μg/mL against all strains tested. Hyphal formation in RPMI-1640, Spider and GlcNAc medium, adhesion to abiotic polystyrene surfaces and surfaces of A549 cells, could be inhibited by IBC. Most important, IBC could inhibit the C. albicans biofilm formation and development. PI staining tests showed that IBC could increase the cell membrane permeability, suggesting the damages to the fungal cell membrane. IBC was further demonstrated to induce excessive ROS production in C. albicans planktonic cells and its mature biofilms, as revealed by DCFH fluorescence detection through flowcytometry and relative fluorescence intensity analysis (with a microplate reader). The roles of ROS in the antifungal activity of IBC were further confirmed through antioxidant rescue assays in MIC and biofilm formation tests. Compared to its antifungal activity, the cytotoxicity against mammalian cells was low, indicating its potential in developing antifungal therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Yang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Wenmao Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Jianfeng Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Eye Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China.
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3
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Hleba L, Hlebová M, Charousová I. In Vitro Evaluation of Synergistic Essential Oils Combination for Enhanced Antifungal Activity against Candida spp. Life (Basel) 2024; 14:693. [PMID: 38929677 PMCID: PMC11204509 DOI: 10.3390/life14060693] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, a significant number of infections have been attributed to non-albicidal Candida species (NAC), mainly due to the increasing resistance of NAC to antifungal agents. As only a few antifungal agents are available (azoles, echinocandins, polyenes, allylamines and nucleoside analogues), it is very important to look for possible alternatives to inhibit resistant fungi. One possibility could be essential oils (EOs), which have been shown to have significant antifungal and antibacterial activity. Therefore, in this study, the efficacy of 12 EOs and their combinations was evaluated against four yeasts of the genus Candida (C. albicas, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis). GC-MS and GC-MS FID techniques were used for the chemical analysis of all EOs. VITEK-2XL was used to determine the antifungal susceptibility of the tested Candida spp. strains. The agar disc diffusion method was used for primary screening of the efficacy of the tested EOs. The broth dilution method was used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the most potent EOs. After MIC cultivation, the minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) was determined on Petri dishes (60 mm). The synergistic effect of combined EOs was evaluated using the checkerboard method and expressed as a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). The results showed that ginger > ho-sho > absinth > dill > fennel > star anise > and cardamom were the most effective EOs. For all Candida species tested, the synergy was mainly observed in these combinations: ginger/fennel for C. albicans FICI 0.25 and C. glabrata, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis FICI 0.5 and absinth/fennel for C. albicans FICI 0.3125, C. tropicalis FICI 0.3125 and C. parapsilosis FICI 0.375. Our results suggest that the resistance of fungal pathogens to available antifungals could be reduced by combining appropriate EOs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukáš Hleba
- Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Tr. A. Hlinku 2, 94976 Nitra, Slovakia
| | - Miroslava Hlebová
- Institute of Biology and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, University of SS. Cyril and Methodius, Nám. J. Herdu 2, SK-91701 Trnava, Slovakia
| | - Ivana Charousová
- Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Unilabs Slovensko, s.r.o., J. Bellu 66, SK-03495 Likavka, Slovakia
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4
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Kumar V, Huang J, Dong Y, Hao GF. Targeting Fks1 proteins for novel antifungal drug discovery. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:366-384. [PMID: 38493014 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.02.007] [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: 01/09/2024] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Fungal infections are a major threat to human health. The limited availability of antifungal drugs, the emergence of drug resistance, and a growing susceptible population highlight the critical need for novel antifungal agents. The enzymes involved in fungal cell wall synthesis offer potential targets for antifungal drug development. Recent studies have enhanced our focus on the enzyme Fks1, which synthesizes β-1,3-glucan, a critical component of the cell wall. These studies provide a deeper understanding of Fks1's function in cell wall biosynthesis, pathogenicity, structural biology, evolutionary conservation across fungi, and interaction with current antifungal drugs. Here, we discuss the role of Fks1 in the survival and adaptation of fungi, guided by insights from evolutionary and structural analyses. Furthermore, we delve into the dynamics of Fks1 modulation with novel antifungal strategies and assess its potential as an antifungal drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinit Kumar
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; BMLT, Markham College of Commerce, Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh, Jharkhand 825301, India
| | - Juan Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China
| | - Yawen Dong
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China.
| | - Ge-Fei Hao
- National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide and Agricultural Bioengineering, Ministry of Education, Center for Research and Development of Fine Chemicals, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, PR China; National Key Laboratory of Green Pesticide, Central China Normal University, Wuhan 430079, PR China.
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5
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Chen X, Zhou JL, Yu J, Chen N, Chen W, Lu H, Xin GZ, Lin Y. Development of target-based cell membrane affinity ultrafiltration technology for a simplified approach to discovering potential bioactive compounds in natural products. Anal Bioanal Chem 2024; 416:1647-1655. [PMID: 38305859 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-024-05166-3] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Target-based drug discovery technology based on cell membrane targets has gained significant traction and has been steadily advancing. However, current methods still face certain limitations that need to be addressed. One of the challenges is the laborious preparation process of screening materials, which can be time-consuming and resource-intensive. Additionally, there is a potential issue of non-specific adsorption caused by carrier materials, which can result in false-positive results and compromise the accuracy of the screening process. To address these challenges, this paper proposes a target-based cell membrane affinity ultrafiltration technology for active ingredient discovery in natural products. In this technique, the cell membranes of human lung adenocarcinoma epithelial cells (A549) with a high expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) were incubated with candidate drugs and then transferred to an ultrafiltration tube. Through centrifugation, components that interacted with EGFR were retained in the ultrafiltration tube as "EGFR-ligand" complex, while the components that did not interact with EGFR were separated. After thorough washing and eluting, the components interacting with EGFR were dissociated and further identified using LC-MS, enabling the discovery of bioactive compounds. Moreover, the target-based cell membrane affinity ultrafiltration technology exhibited commendable binding capacity and selectivity. Ultimately, this technology successfully screened and identified two major components from the Curcumae Rhizoma-Sparganii Rhizoma (CS) herb pair extracts, which were further validated for their potential anti-tumor activity through pharmacological experiments. By eliminating the need for laborious preparation of screening materials and the potential non-specific adsorption caused by carriers, the development of target-based cell membrane affinity ultrafiltration technology provides a simplified approach and method for bioactive compounds discovery in natural sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian-Liang Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jinhao Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ningbo Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenda Chen
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huaqiu Lu
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China
| | - Gui-Zhong Xin
- State Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines, Department of Chinese Medicines Analysis, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yuanyuan Lin
- School of Pharmacy, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China.
- Key Laboratory of Elemene Class Anti-Cancer Chinese Medicines; Engineering Laboratory of Development and Application of Traditional Chinese Medicines, Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicines of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou, 311121, Zhejiang, China.
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6
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Tay DWP, Yeo NZX, Adaikkappan K, Lim YH, Ang SJ. 67 million natural product-like compound database generated via molecular language processing. Sci Data 2023; 10:296. [PMID: 37208372 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02207-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products are a rich resource of bioactive compounds for valuable applications across multiple fields such as food, agriculture, and medicine. For natural product discovery, high throughput in silico screening offers a cost-effective alternative to traditional resource-heavy assay-guided exploration of structurally novel chemical space. In this data descriptor, we report a characterized database of 67,064,204 natural product-like molecules generated using a recurrent neural network trained on known natural products, demonstrating a significant 165-fold expansion in library size over the approximately 400,000 known natural products. This study highlights the potential of using deep generative models to explore novel natural product chemical space for high throughput in silico discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dillon W P Tay
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8 Biomedical Grove, #07-01 Neuros Building, Singapore, 138665, Republic of Singapore.
| | - Naythan Z X Yeo
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8 Biomedical Grove, #07-01 Neuros Building, Singapore, 138665, Republic of Singapore
- Hwa Chong Institution, 661 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore, 269734, Republic of Singapore
| | - Krishnan Adaikkappan
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8 Biomedical Grove, #07-01 Neuros Building, Singapore, 138665, Republic of Singapore
- National Junior College, 37 Hillcrest Road, Singapore, 288913, Republic of Singapore
| | - Yee Hwee Lim
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8 Biomedical Grove, #07-01 Neuros Building, Singapore, 138665, Republic of Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Program, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore, 117597, Republic of Singapore
| | - Shi Jun Ang
- Institute of Sustainability for Chemicals, Energy and Environment (ISCE2), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 8 Biomedical Grove, #07-01 Neuros Building, Singapore, 138665, Republic of Singapore.
- Institute of High Performance Computing (IHPC), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), 1 Fusionopolis Way, #16-16 Connexis, Singapore, 138632, Republic of Singapore.
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7
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Yuan B, Grau MF, Murata RM, Torok T, Venkateswaran K, Stajich JE, Wang CCC. Identification of the Neoaspergillic Acid Biosynthesis Gene Cluster by Establishing an In Vitro CRISPR-Ribonucleoprotein Genetic System in Aspergillus melleus. ACS OMEGA 2023; 8:16713-16721. [PMID: 37214671 PMCID: PMC10193573 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.2c08104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Filamentous fungi are an essential source of bioactive mycotoxins. Recent efforts have focused on developing antifungal agents that are effective against invasive yeasts, such as Candida spp. By screening fungal strains isolated from regions surrounding the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster for antifungal activity against Candida albicans, we found that Aspergillus melleus IMV 01140 produced compounds that inhibited the growth of the yeast. The active compound produced by A. melleus was isolated and found to be neoaspergillic acid, a compound that is closely related to aspergillic acid. While aspergillic acid and its derivatives have been characterized and were found to have antibacterial and antifungal properties, neoaspergillic acid has been much less studied. Even though neoaspergillic acid and related compounds were found to have antibacterial and antitumoral effects, further investigation into this group of compounds is limited by challenges associated with large-scale production, isolation, and purification. The production of neoaspergillic acid has been shown to require co-cultivation methods or special growth conditions. In this work, neoaspergillic acid and related compounds were found to be produced by A. melleus under laboratory growth conditions. The biosynthetic gene cluster of neoaspergillic acid was predicted using the aspergillic acid gene cluster as a model. The biosynthetic pathway for neoaspergillic acid was then confirmed by establishing an in vitro CRISPR-ribonucleoprotein system to individually delete genes within the cluster. A negative transcriptional factor, mcrA, was also eliminated to further improve the production of neoaspergillic acid and the related compounds for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Yuan
- Department
of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Michelle F. Grau
- Department
of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
| | - Ramiro Mendonça Murata
- Department
of Foundational Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina 27834, United States
| | - Tamas Torok
- Ecology
Department, Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Kasthuri Venkateswaran
- Jet
Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute
of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, United States
| | - Jason E. Stajich
- Department
of Microbiology and Plant Pathology, University
of California Riverside, Riverside, California 92521, United States
| | - Clay C. C. Wang
- Department
of Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Southern California,
Dornsife College of Letters, Arts, and Sciences, Los Angeles, California 90089, United States
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8
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MacAlpine J, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Bacterial-fungal interactions and their impact on microbial pathogenesis. Mol Ecol 2023; 32:2565-2581. [PMID: 35231147 PMCID: PMC11032213 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities of the human microbiota exhibit diverse effects on human health and disease. Microbial homeostasis is important for normal physiological functions and changes to the microbiota are associated with many human diseases including diabetes, cancer, and colitis. In addition, there are many microorganisms that are either commensal or acquired from environmental reservoirs that can cause diverse pathologies. Importantly, the balance between health and disease is intricately connected to how members of the microbiota interact and affect one another's growth and pathogenicity. However, the mechanisms that govern these interactions are only beginning to be understood. In this review, we outline bacterial-fungal interactions in the human body, including examining the mechanisms by which bacteria govern fungal growth and virulence, as well as how fungi regulate bacterial pathogenesis. We summarize advances in the understanding of chemical, physical, and protein-based interactions, and their role in exacerbating or impeding human disease. We focus on the three fungal species responsible for the majority of systemic fungal infections in humans: Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus. We conclude by summarizing recent studies that have mined microbes for novel antimicrobials and antivirulence factors, highlighting the potential of the human microbiota as a rich resource for small molecule discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessie MacAlpine
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5G 1M1, Canada
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9
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Taubenschmid-Stowers J, Orthofer M, Laemmerer A, Krauditsch C, Rózsová M, Studer C, Lötsch D, Gojo J, Gabler L, Dyczynski M, Efferth T, Hagelkruys A, Widhalm G, Peyrl A, Spiegl-Kreinecker S, Hoepfner D, Bian S, Berger W, Knoblich JA, Elling U, Horn M, Penninger JM. A whole-genome scan for Artemisinin cytotoxicity reveals a novel therapy for human brain tumors. EMBO Mol Med 2023; 15:e16959. [PMID: 36740985 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202216959] [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: 09/29/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The natural compound Artemisinin is the most widely used antimalarial drug worldwide. Based on its cytotoxicity, it is also used for anticancer therapy. Artemisinin and its derivates are endoperoxides that damage proteins in eukaryotic cells; their definite mechanism of action and host cell targets, however, have remained largely elusive. Using yeast and haploid stem cell screening, we demonstrate that a single cellular pathway, namely porphyrin (heme) biosynthesis, is required for the cytotoxicity of Artemisinins. Genetic or pharmacological modulation of porphyrin production is sufficient to alter its cytotoxicity in eukaryotic cells. Using multiple model systems of human brain tumor development, such as cerebral glioblastoma organoids, and patient-derived tumor spheroids, we sensitize cancer cells to dihydroartemisinin using the clinically approved porphyrin enhancer and surgical fluorescence marker 5-aminolevulinic acid, 5-ALA. A combination treatment of Artemisinins and 5-ALA markedly and specifically killed brain tumor cells in all model systems tested, including orthotopic patient-derived xenografts in vivo. These data uncover the critical molecular pathway for Artemisinin cytotoxicity and a sensitization strategy to treat different brain tumors, including drug-resistant human glioblastomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmin Taubenschmid-Stowers
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Anna Laemmerer
- Center for Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Christian Krauditsch
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | - Daniela Lötsch
- Center for Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Johannes Gojo
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Lisa Gabler
- Center for Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Thomas Efferth
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biology, Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Astrid Hagelkruys
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Georg Widhalm
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Peyrl
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Sabine Spiegl-Kreinecker
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kepler University Hospital GmbH, Johannes Kepler University Linz, Linz, Austria
| | | | - Shan Bian
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Walter Berger
- Center for Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center-Central Nervous System Tumor Unit, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Juergen A Knoblich
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | - Ulrich Elling
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Josef M Penninger
- IMBA, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Vienna Biocenter, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Medical Genetics, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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10
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Cruz R, Wuest WM. Beyond Ergosterol: Strategies for Combatting Antifungal Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida auris. Tetrahedron 2023; 133:133268. [PMID: 36938356 PMCID: PMC10022592 DOI: 10.1016/j.tet.2023.133268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida auris are historically problematic fungal pathogens responsible for systemic infections and high mortality rates, especially in immunocompromised populations. The three antifungal classes that comprise our present day armamentarium have facilitated efficacious treatment of these fungal infections in past decades, but their potency has steadily declined over the years as resistance to these compounds has accumulated. Importantly, pan-resistant strains of Candida auris have been observed in clinical settings, leaving affected patients with no treatment options and a death sentence. Many compounds in the ongoing antifungal drug discovery pipeline, similar to those within our aforementioned trinity, are predicated on the binding or inhibition of ergosterol. Recurring accounts of resistance to antifungals targeting this pathway suggest optimization of ergosterol-dependent antifungals is likely not the best solution for the long-term. This review aims to present several natural products with novel or underexplored biological targets, as well as similarly underutilized drug discovery strategies to inspire future biological investigations and medicinal chemistry campaigns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardo Cruz
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Dr. Atlanta GA 30322
| | - William M Wuest
- Department of Chemistry, Emory University, 1515 Dickey Dr. Atlanta GA 30322
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11
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Vanreppelen G, Wuyts J, Van Dijck P, Vandecruys P. Sources of Antifungal Drugs. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020171. [PMID: 36836286 PMCID: PMC9965926 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their eukaryotic heritage, the differences between a fungal pathogen's molecular makeup and its human host are small. Therefore, the discovery and subsequent development of novel antifungal drugs are extremely challenging. Nevertheless, since the 1940s, researchers have successfully uncovered potent candidates from natural or synthetic sources. Analogs and novel formulations of these drugs enhanced the pharmacological parameters and improved overall drug efficiency. These compounds ultimately became the founding members of novel drug classes and were successfully applied in clinical settings, offering valuable and efficient treatment of mycosis for decades. Currently, only five different antifungal drug classes exist, all characterized by a unique mode of action; these are polyenes, pyrimidine analogs, azoles, allylamines, and echinocandins. The latter, being the latest addition to the antifungal armamentarium, was introduced over two decades ago. As a result of this limited arsenal, antifungal resistance development has exponentially increased and, with it, a growing healthcare crisis. In this review, we discuss the original sources of antifungal compounds, either natural or synthetic. Additionally, we summarize the existing drug classes, potential novel candidates in the clinical pipeline, and emerging non-traditional treatment options.
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12
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Hoy MJ, Heitman J. Drug Target Elucidation Through Isolation and Analysis of Drug-Resistant Mutants in Cryptococcus neoformans. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2658:127-143. [PMID: 37024699 PMCID: PMC10602406 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3155-3_9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Drug target identification is an essential component to antifungal drug development. Many methods, including large chemical library screening, natural product screening, and drug repurposing efforts, can identify compounds with favorable in vitro antifungal activity. However, these approaches will often identify compounds with no known mechanism of action. Herein, we describe a method utilizing the human fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans to identify antifungal drug targets through the isolation of spontaneous resistant mutants, antifungal testing, whole-genome sequencing, and variant analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Hoy
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Joseph Heitman
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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13
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Robbins N, Cowen LE. Antifungal discovery. Curr Opin Microbiol 2022; 69:102198. [PMID: 36037637 PMCID: PMC10726697 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2022.102198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Fungi have a profound impact on human health, leading to billions of infections and millions of deaths worldwide each year. Exacerbating the public health burden is the continued emergence of drug-resistant fungal pathogens coupled with a dearth of treatment options to combat serious infections. Despite this health threat, scientific advances in chemistry, genetics, and biochemistry methodologies have enabled novel antifungal compounds to be discovered. Here, we describe current approaches for the discovery and characterization of novel antifungals, focusing on the identification of novel chemical matter and elucidation of the cellular target of bioactive compounds, followed by a review of the most promising emerging therapies in the antifungal-development pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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14
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Robbins N, Cowen LE. Genomic Approaches to Antifungal Drug Target Identification and Validation. Annu Rev Microbiol 2022; 76:369-388. [PMID: 35650665 PMCID: PMC10727914 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-micro-041020-094524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The last several decades have witnessed a surge in drug-resistant fungal infections that pose a serious threat to human health. While there is a limited arsenal of drugs that can be used to treat systemic infections, scientific advances have provided renewed optimism for the discovery of novel antifungals. The development of chemical-genomic assays using Saccharomyces cerevisiae has provided powerful methods to identify the mechanism of action of molecules in a living cell. Advances in molecular biology techniques have enabled complementary assays to be developed in fungal pathogens, including Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. These approaches enable the identification of target genes for drug candidates, as well as genes involved in buffering drug target pathways. Here, we examine yeast chemical-genomic assays and highlight how such resources can be utilized to predict the mechanisms of action of compounds, to study virulence attributes of diverse fungal pathogens, and to bolster the antifungal pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada;
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15
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Caesar LK, Montaser R, Keller NP, Kelleher NL. Metabolomics and genomics in natural products research: complementary tools for targeting new chemical entities. Nat Prod Rep 2021; 38:2041-2065. [PMID: 34787623 PMCID: PMC8691422 DOI: 10.1039/d1np00036e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Covering: 2010 to 2021Organisms in nature have evolved into proficient synthetic chemists, utilizing specialized enzymatic machinery to biosynthesize an inspiring diversity of secondary metabolites. Often serving to boost competitive advantage for their producers, these secondary metabolites have widespread human impacts as antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and antifungal drugs. The natural products discovery field has begun a shift away from traditional activity-guided approaches and is beginning to take advantage of increasingly available metabolomics and genomics datasets to explore undiscovered chemical space. Major strides have been made and now enable -omics-informed prioritization of chemical structures for discovery, including the prospect of confidently linking metabolites to their biosynthetic pathways. Over the last decade, more integrated strategies now provide researchers with pipelines for simultaneous identification of expressed secondary metabolites and their biosynthetic machinery. However, continuous collaboration by the natural products community will be required to optimize strategies for effective evaluation of natural product biosynthetic gene clusters to accelerate discovery efforts. Here, we provide an evaluative guide to scientific literature as it relates to studying natural product biosynthesis using genomics, metabolomics, and their integrated datasets. Particular emphasis is placed on the unique insights that can be gained from large-scale integrated strategies, and we provide source organism-specific considerations to evaluate the gaps in our current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay K Caesar
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - Rana Montaser
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
| | - Nancy P Keller
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology and Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Neil L Kelleher
- Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA.
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
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Zhou J, Li J, Cheong I, Liu NN, Wang H. Evaluation of artemisinin derivative artemether as a fluconazole potentiator through inhibition of Pdr5. Bioorg Med Chem 2021; 44:116293. [PMID: 34243044 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmc.2021.116293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Antifungal development has gained increasing attention due to its limited armamentarium and drug resistance. Drug repurposing holds great potential in antifungal discovery. In this study, we explored the antifungal activity of artemisinin and its derivatives, dihydroartemisinin, artesunate and artemether. We identified that artemisinins can inhibit the growth of Candida albicans, and can enhance the activity of three commonly used antifungals, amphotericin B, micafungin and fluconazole (FLC), on Candida albicans growth and filamentation. Artemisinins possess stronger antifungal effect with FLC than with other antifungals. Among artemisinins, artemether exhibits the most potent antifungal activity with FLC and can recover the susceptibility of FLC-resistant clinical isolates to FLC treatment. The combinatorial antifungal activity of artemether and FLC is broad-spectrum, as it can inhibit the growth of Candida auris, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Cryptococcus neoformans. Mechanistic investigation revealed that artemether might enhance azole efficacy through disrupting the function of Pdr5, leading to intracellular accumulation of FLC. This study identified artemether as a novel FLC potentiator, providing potential therapeutic insights against fungal infection and antifungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Jinyang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Iohong Cheong
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Ning-Ning Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China.
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17
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Curto MÁ, Butassi E, Ribas JC, Svetaz LA, Cortés JCG. Natural products targeting the synthesis of β(1,3)-D-glucan and chitin of the fungal cell wall. Existing drugs and recent findings. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 88:153556. [PMID: 33958276 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the last three decades systemic fungal infections associated to immunosuppressive therapies have become a serious healthcare problem. Clinical development of new antifungals is an urgent requirement. Since fungal but not mammalian cells are encased in a carbohydrate-containing cell wall, which is required for the growth and viability of fungi, the inhibition of cell wall synthesizing machinery, such as β(1,3)-D-glucan synthases (GS) and chitin synthases (CS) that catalyze the synthesis of β(1-3)-D-glucan and chitin, respectively, represent an ideal mode of action of antifungal agents. Although the echinocandins anidulafungin, caspofungin and micafungin are clinically well-established GS inhibitors for the treatment of invasive fungal infections, much effort must still be made to identify inhibitors of other enzymes and processes involved in the synthesis of the fungal cell wall. PURPOSE Since natural products (NPs) have been the source of several antifungals in clinical use and also have provided important scaffolds for the development of semisynthetic analogues, this review was devoted to investigate the advances made to date in the discovery of NPs from plants that showed capacity of inhibiting cell wall synthesis targets. The chemical characterization, specific target, discovery process, along with the stage of development are provided here. METHODS An extensive systematic search for NPs against the cell wall was performed considering all the articles published until the end of 2020 through the following scientific databases: NCBI PubMed, Scopus and Google Scholar and using the combination of the terms "natural antifungals" and "plant extracts" with "fungal cell wall". RESULTS The first part of this review introduces the state of the art of the structure and biosynthesis of the fungal cell wall and considers exclusively those naturally produced GS antifungals that have given rise to both existing semisynthetic approved drugs and those derivatives currently in clinical trials. According to their chemical structure, natural GS inhibitors can be classified as 1) cyclic lipopeptides, 2) glycolipids and 3) acidic terpenoids. We also included nikkomycins and polyoxins, NPs that inhibit the CS, which have traditionally been considered good candidates for antifungal drug development but have finally been discarded after enduring unsuccessful clinical trials. Finally, the review focuses in the most recent findings about the growing field of plant-derived molecules and extracts that exhibit activity against the fungal cell wall. Thus, this search yielded sixteen articles, nine of which deal with pure compounds and seven with plant extracts or fractions with proven activity against the fungal cell wall. Regarding the mechanism of action, seven (44%) produced GS inhibition while five (31%) inhibited CS. Some of them (56%) interfered with other components of the cell wall. Most of the analyzed articles refer to tests carried out in vitro and therefore are in early stages of development. CONCLUSION This report delivers an overview about both existing natural antifungals targeting GS and CS activities and their mechanisms of action. It also presents recent discoveries on natural products that may be used as starting points for the development of potential selective and non-toxic antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ángeles Curto
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Estefanía Butassi
- Área Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Juan C Ribas
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Laura A Svetaz
- Área Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina.
| | - Juan C G Cortés
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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18
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Perlatti B, Lan N, Xiang M, Earp CE, Spraker JE, Harvey CJB, Nichols CB, Alspaugh JA, Gloer JB, Bills GF. Anti-cryptococcal activity of preussolides A and B, phosphoethanolamine-substituted 24-membered macrolides, and leptosin C from coprophilous isolates of Preussia typharum. J Ind Microbiol Biotechnol 2021; 48:6152282. [PMID: 33640980 PMCID: PMC8788809 DOI: 10.1093/jimb/kuab022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a serious human pathogen with limited options for treatment. We have interrogated extracts from fungal fermentations to find Cryptococcus-inhibiting natural products using assays for growth inhibition and differential thermosensitivity. Extracts from fermentations of four fungal strains from wild and domestic animal dung from Arkansas and West Virginia, USA were identified as Preussia typharum. The extracts exhibited two antifungal regions. Purification of one region yielded new 24-carbon macrolides incorporating both a phosphoethanolamine unit and a bridging tetrahydrofuran ring. The structures of these metabolites were established mainly by analysis of high-resolution mass spectrometry and 2D NMR data. Relative configurations were assigned using NOESY data, and the structure assignments were supported by NMR comparison with similar compounds. These new metabolites are designated preussolides A and B. The second active region was caused by the cytotoxin, leptosin C. Genome sequencing of the four strains revealed biosynthetic gene clusters consistent with those known to encode phosphoethanolamine-bearing polyketide macrolides and the biosynthesis of dimeric epipolythiodioxopiperazines. All three compounds showed moderate to potent and selective antifungal activity toward the pathogenic yeast C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Perlatti
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Nan Lan
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
| | - Meichun Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No 3 Park 1, Beichen West Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Cody E Earp
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
| | | | | | - Connie B Nichols
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - J Andrew Alspaugh
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA
| | - James B Gloer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, USA
| | - Gerald F Bills
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, USA
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19
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Iyer KR, Camara K, Daniel-Ivad M, Trilles R, Pimentel-Elardo SM, Fossen JL, Marchillo K, Liu Z, Singh S, Muñoz JF, Kim SH, Porco JA, Cuomo CA, Williams NS, Ibrahim AS, Edwards JE, Andes DR, Nodwell JR, Brown LE, Whitesell L, Robbins N, Cowen LE. An oxindole efflux inhibitor potentiates azoles and impairs virulence in the fungal pathogen Candida auris. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6429. [PMID: 33353950 PMCID: PMC7755909 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20183-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen that exhibits resistance to multiple drugs, including the most commonly prescribed antifungal, fluconazole. Here, we use a combinatorial screening approach to identify a bis-benzodioxolylindolinone (azoffluxin) that synergizes with fluconazole against C. auris. Azoffluxin enhances fluconazole activity through the inhibition of efflux pump Cdr1, thus increasing intracellular fluconazole levels. This activity is conserved across most C. auris clades, with the exception of clade III. Azoffluxin also inhibits efflux in highly azole-resistant strains of Candida albicans, another human fungal pathogen, increasing their susceptibility to fluconazole. Furthermore, azoffluxin enhances fluconazole activity in mice infected with C. auris, reducing fungal burden. Our findings suggest that pharmacologically targeting Cdr1 in combination with azoles may be an effective strategy to control infection caused by azole-resistant isolates of C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kali R Iyer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kaddy Camara
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Clark+Elbing LLP, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Richard Trilles
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jen L Fossen
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Karen Marchillo
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Zhongle Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shakti Singh
- Division of Infectious Disease, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - José F Muñoz
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sang Hu Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John A Porco
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christina A Cuomo
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noelle S Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ashraf S Ibrahim
- Division of Infectious Disease, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John E Edwards
- Division of Infectious Disease, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David R Andes
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Justin R Nodwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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20
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Abstract
In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Caplan et al. (2020) describe a series of studies in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans to identify a new target for antimicrobial drug development. Beginning with an unbiased compound screen, they identify new mechanisms to address rising resistance to currently used anti-infective agents.
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21
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Perlatti B, Harris G, Nichols CB, Ekanayake DI, Alspaugh JA, Gloer JB, Bills GF. Campafungins: Inhibitors of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans Hyphal Growth. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2020; 83:2718-2726. [PMID: 32881504 PMCID: PMC7530089 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.0c00641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Campafungin A is a polyketide that was recognized in the Candida albicans fitness test due to its antiproliferative and antihyphal activity. Its mode of action was hypothesized to involve inhibition of a cAMP-dependent PKA pathway. The originally proposed structure appeared to require a polyketide assembled in a somewhat unusual fashion. However, structural characterization data were never formally published. This background stimulated a reinvestigation in which campafungin A and three closely related minor constituents were purified from fermentations of a strain of the ascomycete fungus Plenodomus enteroleucus. Labeling studies, along with extensive NMR analysis, enabled assignment of a revised structure consistent with conventional polyketide synthetic machinery. The structure elucidation of campafungin A and new analogues encountered in this study, designated here as campafungins B, C, and D, is presented, along with a proposed biosynthetic route. The antimicrobial spectrum was expanded to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, and Schizosaccharomyces pombe, with MICs ranging as low as 4-8 μg mL-1 in C. neoformans. Mode-of-action studies employing libraries of C. neoformans mutants indicated that multiple pathways were affected, but mutants in PKA/cAMP pathways were unaffected, indicating that the mode of action was distinct from that observed in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Perlatti
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
| | - Guy Harris
- Guy Harris Consulting, 464 Fairview Road, Belington, West Virginia 26250, United States
| | - Connie B Nichols
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - Dulamini I Ekanayake
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - J Andrew Alspaugh
- Departments of Medicine and Molecular Genetics & Microbiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, United States
| | - James B Gloer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Gerald F Bills
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77054, United States
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22
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Sousa F, Ferreira D, Reis S, Costa P. Current Insights on Antifungal Therapy: Novel Nanotechnology Approaches for Drug Delivery Systems and New Drugs from Natural Sources. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2020; 13:ph13090248. [PMID: 32942693 PMCID: PMC7558771 DOI: 10.3390/ph13090248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/13/2020] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The high incidence of fungal infections has become a worrisome public health issue, having been aggravated by an increase in host predisposition factors. Despite all the drugs available on the market to treat these diseases, their efficiency is questionable, and their side effects cannot be neglected. Bearing that in mind, it is of upmost importance to synthetize new and innovative carriers for these medicines not only to fight emerging fungal infections but also to avert the increase in drug-resistant strains. Although it has revealed to be a difficult job, new nano-based drug delivery systems and even new cellular targets and compounds with antifungal potential are now being investigated. This article will provide a summary of the state-of-the-art strategies that have been studied in order to improve antifungal therapy and reduce adverse effects of conventional drugs. The bidirectional relationship between Mycology and Nanotechnology will be also explained. Furthermore, the article will focus on new compounds from the marine environment which have a proven antifungal potential and may act as platforms to discover drug-like characteristics, highlighting the challenges of the translation of these natural compounds into the clinical pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Sousa
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (P.C.)
| | - Domingos Ferreira
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Salette Reis
- LAQV, REQUIMTE, Department of Chemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
| | - Paulo Costa
- UCIBIO, REQUIMTE, Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Drug Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Porto, Rua Jorge Viterbo Ferreira nº 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal;
- Correspondence: (F.S.); (P.C.)
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23
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Xue A, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Advances in fungal chemical genomics for the discovery of new antifungal agents. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2020; 1496:5-22. [PMID: 32860238 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14484] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 08/09/2020] [Accepted: 08/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections have escalated from a rare curiosity to a major cause of human mortality around the globe. This is in part due to a scarcity in the number of antifungal drugs available to combat mycotic disease, making the discovery of novel bioactive compounds and determining their mode of action of utmost importance. The development and application of chemical genomic assays using the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae has provided powerful methods to identify the mechanism of action of diverse molecules in a living cell. Furthermore, complementary assays are continually being developed in fungal pathogens, most notably Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, to elucidate compound mechanism of action directly in the pathogen of interest. Collectively, the suite of chemical genetic assays that have been developed in multiple fungal species enables the identification of candidate drug target genes, as well as genes involved in buffering drug target pathways, and genes involved in general cellular responses to small molecules. In this review, we examine current yeast chemical genomic assays and highlight how such resources provide powerful tools that can be utilized to bolster the antifungal pipeline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Xue
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Heterologous Expression of the Unusual Terreazepine Biosynthetic Gene Cluster Reveals a Promising Approach for Identifying New Chemical Scaffolds. mBio 2020; 11:mBio.01691-20. [PMID: 32843555 PMCID: PMC7448278 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01691-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Advances in genome sequencing have revitalized natural product discovery efforts, revealing the untapped biosynthetic potential of fungi. While the volume of genomic data continues to expand, discovery efforts are slowed due to the time-consuming nature of experiments required to characterize new molecules. To direct efforts toward uncharacterized biosynthetic gene clusters most likely to encode novel chemical scaffolds, we took advantage of comparative metabolomics and heterologous gene expression using fungal artificial chromosomes (FACs). By linking mass spectral profiles with structural clues provided by FAC-encoded gene clusters, we targeted a compound originating from an unusual gene cluster containing an indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). With this approach, we isolate and characterize R and S forms of the new molecule terreazepine, which contains a novel chemical scaffold resulting from cyclization of the IDO-supplied kynurenine. The discovery of terreazepine illustrates that FAC-based approaches targeting unusual biosynthetic machinery provide a promising avenue forward for targeted discovery of novel scaffolds and their biosynthetic enzymes, and it also represents another example of a biosynthetic gene cluster "repurposing" a primary metabolic enzyme to diversify its secondary metabolite arsenal.IMPORTANCE Here, we provide evidence that Aspergillus terreus encodes a biosynthetic gene cluster containing a repurposed indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) dedicated to secondary metabolite synthesis. The discovery of this neofunctionalized IDO not only enabled discovery of a new compound with an unusual chemical scaffold but also provided insight into the numerous strategies fungi employ for diversifying and protecting themselves against secondary metabolites. The observations in this study set the stage for further in-depth studies into the function of duplicated IDOs present in fungal biosynthetic gene clusters and presents a strategy for accessing the biosynthetic potential of gene clusters containing duplicated primary metabolic genes.
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25
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Gómez-Rodríguez L, Schultz PJ, Tamayo-Castillo G, Dotson GD, Sherman DH, Tripathi A. Adipostatins E-J, New Potent Antimicrobials Identified as Inhibitors of Coenzyme-A Biosynthesis. Tetrahedron Lett 2019; 61. [PMID: 32863451 DOI: 10.1016/j.tetlet.2019.151469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Phosphopantetheine is a key structural element in biological acyl transfer reactions found embedded within coenzyme A (CoA). Phosphopantothenoylcysteine synthetase (PPCS) is responsible for installing a cysteamine group within phosphopantetheine. Therefore, it holds considerable potential as a drug target for developing new antimicrobials. In this study, we adapted a biochemical assay specific for bacterial PPCS to screen for inhibitors of CoA biosynthesis against a library of marine microbial derived natural product extracts (NPEs). Analysis of the NPE derived from Streptomyces blancoensis led to the isolation of novel antibiotics (10-12, and 14) from the adipostatin class of molecules. The most potent molecule (10) displayed in vitro activity with IC50= 0.93 μM, against S. pneumoniae PPCS. The whole cell antimicrobial assay against isolated molecules demonstrated their ability to penetrate bacterial cells and inhibit clinically relevant pathogenic strains. This establishes the validity of PPCS as a pertinent drug target, and the value of NPEs to provide new antibiotics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lyanne Gómez-Rodríguez
- UM Natural Products Discovery Core, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Program in Chemical Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Pamela J Schultz
- UM Natural Products Discovery Core, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Giselle Tamayo-Castillo
- Escuela de Química & CIPRONA, Universidad de Costa Rica, 2060 San Pedro de Costa Rica & INBio, Santo Domingo de Heredia, Heredia, Costa Rica
| | - Garry D Dotson
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - David H Sherman
- UM Natural Products Discovery Core, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Ashootosh Tripathi
- UM Natural Products Discovery Core, Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Medicinal Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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26
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Yang L, Ren S, Xu F, Ma Z, Liu X, Wang L. Recent Advances in the Pharmacological Activities of Dioscin. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:5763602. [PMID: 31511824 PMCID: PMC6710808 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5763602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Accepted: 07/28/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Dioscin is a typical saponin with multiple pharmacological activities. The past few years have seen an emerging interest in and growing research on this pleiotropic saponin. Here, we review the emerging pharmacological activities reported recently, with foci on its antitumor, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and tissue-protective properties. The potential use of dioscin in therapies of diverse clinical disorders is also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Yang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Shengnan Ren
- Department of Surgery, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, China
| | - Fei Xu
- Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Zhiming Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Eye Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Lufei Wang
- Eye Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130024, China
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27
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Antifungal Activity of Crude Extract from the Rhizome and Root of Smilacina japonica A. Gray. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2019; 2019:5320203. [PMID: 31379963 PMCID: PMC6662278 DOI: 10.1155/2019/5320203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of hydroalcoholic extract from Smilacina japonica A. Gray (SJA) against different fungi. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for SJA was determined by the broth microdilution method. The antifungal effects of SJA against Candida albicans were further confirmed by cell growth test and time-kill curve test. The effects of SJA on the fungal morphology and ultrastructure were also evaluated. SJA has a broad-spectrum antifungal activity. The MICs of SJA against different fungi, including fluconazole-sensitive and -resistant Candida albicans, other Candida species, and Cryptococcus neoformans, ranged from 208 μg/ml to 1665 μg/ml. Furthermore, SJA displayed fungicidal activity against varied fungi and obviously inhibited the hyphal growth of fungi. The mechanism study revealed that the antifungal activity of SJA might be associated with its effect on the cell morphology and ultrastructure.
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28
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Wong JH, Alfatah M, Kong KW, Hoon S, Yeo WL, Ching KC, Jie Hui Goh C, Zhang MM, Lim YH, Wong FT, Arumugam P. Chemogenomic profiling in yeast reveals antifungal mode-of-action of polyene macrolactam auroramycin. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0218189. [PMID: 31181115 PMCID: PMC6557514 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0218189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we report antifungal activity of auroramycin against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Cryptococcus neoformans. Auroramycin, a potent antimicrobial doubly glycosylated 24-membered polyene macrolactam, was previously isolated and characterized, following CRISPR-Cas9 mediated activation of a silent polyketide synthase biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces rosesporous NRRL 15998. Chemogenomic profiling of auroramycin in yeast has linked its antifungal bioactivity to vacuolar transport and membrane organization. This was verified by disruption of vacuolar structure and membrane integrity of yeast cells with auroramycin treatment. Addition of salt but not sorbitol to the medium rescued the growth of auroramycin-treated yeast cells suggesting that auroramycin causes ionic stress. Furthermore, auroramycin caused hyperpolarization of the yeast plasma membrane and displayed a synergistic interaction with cationic hygromycin. Our data strongly suggest that auroramycin inhibits yeast cells by causing leakage of cations from the cytoplasm. Thus, auroramycin’s mode-of-action is distinct from known antifungal polyenes, reinforcing the importance of natural products in the discovery of new anti-infectives.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shawn Hoon
- Molecular Engineering Laboratory, Singapore
| | - Wan Lin Yeo
- Metabolic Engineering Research Laboratory, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore
| | - Kuan Chieh Ching
- Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore
| | | | - Mingzi M Zhang
- Metabolic Engineering Research Laboratory, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore
| | - Yee Hwee Lim
- Organic Chemistry, Institute of Chemical and Engineering Sciences, Singapore
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Yang L, Liu X, Sui Y, Ma Z, Feng X, Wang F, Ma T. Lycorine Hydrochloride Inhibits the Virulence Traits of Candida albicans. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:1851740. [PMID: 31275963 PMCID: PMC6582861 DOI: 10.1155/2019/1851740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The human opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans causes a severe health burden while the biofilms formed by C. albicans present a kind of infections that are hard to cure, highlighting the pressing need for new antifungal drugs against C. albicans. This study was to explore the antifungal activities of lycorine hydrochloride (LH) against C. albicans. The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of LH against C. albicans SC5314 was 64 μM. Below its MIC, LH demonstrated antivirulence property by suppressing adhesion, filamentation, biofilm formation, and development, as well as the production of extracellular phospholipase and exopolymeric substances (EPS). The cytotoxicity of LH against mammalian cells was low, with half maximal inhibitory concentrations (IC50) above 256 μM. Moreover, LH showed a synergistic effect with AmB, although its interaction with fluconazole, as well as caspofungin, was indifferent. Thus, our study reports the potential use of LH, alone or in combination with current antifungal drugs, to fight C. albicans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longfei Yang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Xin Liu
- Eye Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Yujie Sui
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Zhiming Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Xuechao Feng
- College of Life Science, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
| | - Fang Wang
- College of Oceanology and Food Science, Quanzhou Normal University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Tonghui Ma
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
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30
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Abstract
In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Robbins et al. (2016) identify ibomycin, a unique compound with antifungal activity. Microbial physiological and genetic studies suggest that endocytic trafficking might be the site of action for this lead antifungal compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Andrew Alspaugh
- Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA; Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC 27710, USA.
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Toxoflavin Produced by Burkholderia gladioli from Lycoris aurea Is a New Broad-Spectrum Fungicide. Appl Environ Microbiol 2019; 85:AEM.00106-19. [PMID: 30824447 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00106-19] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections not only cause extensive agricultural damage but also result in serious diseases in the immunodeficient populations of human beings. Moreover, the increasing emergence of drug resistance has led to a decrease in the efficacy of current antifungals. Thus, screening of new antifungal agents is imperative in the fight against antifungal drug resistance. In this study, we show that an endophytic bacterium, Burkholderia gladioli HDXY-02, isolated from the medicinal plant Lycoris aurea, showed broad-spectrum antifungal activity against plant and human fungal pathogens. An antifungal ability assay indicated that the bioactive component was produced from strain HDXY-02 having an extracellular secreted component with a molecular weight lower than 1,000 Da. In addition, we found that this new antifungal could be produced effectively by liquid fermentation of HDXY-02. Furthermore, the purified component contributing to the antifungal activity was identified to be toxoflavin, a yellow compound possessing a pyrimido[5,4-e][1,2,4]triazine ring. In vitro bioactivity studies demonstrated that purified toxoflavin from B. gladioli HDXY-02 cultures had a significant antifungal activity against the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus, resulting in abolished germination of conidia. More importantly, the growth inhibition by toxoflavin was observed in both wild-type and drug-resistant mutants (cyp51A and non-cyp51A) of A. fumigatus Finally, an optimized protocol for the large-scale production of toxoflavin (1,533 mg/liter) has been developed. Taken together, our findings provide a promising biosynthetic resource for producing a new antifungal reagent, toxoflavin, from isolates of the endophytic bacterium B. gladioli IMPORTANCE Human fungal infections are a growing problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Moreover, a growing number of antifungal-resistant fungal isolates have been reported over the past decade. Thus, the need for novel antifungal agents is imperative. In this study, we show that an endophytic bacterium, Burkholderia gladioli, isolated from the medicinal plant Lycoris aurea, is able to abundantly secrete a compound, toxoflavin, which has a strong fungicidal activity not only against plant fungal pathogens but also against human fungal pathogens Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and the model filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans More importantly, toxoflavin also displays an efficacious inhibitory effect against azole antifungal-resistant mutants of A. fumigatus Consequently, our findings provide a promising approach to abundantly produce toxoflavin, which has novel broad-spectrum antifungal activity, especially against those currently problematic drug-resistant isolates.
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32
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Caesar LK, Kellogg JJ, Kvalheim OM, Cech NB. Opportunities and Limitations for Untargeted Mass Spectrometry Metabolomics to Identify Biologically Active Constituents in Complex Natural Product Mixtures. JOURNAL OF NATURAL PRODUCTS 2019; 82:469-484. [PMID: 30844279 PMCID: PMC6837904 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b00176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Compounds derived from natural sources represent the majority of small-molecule drugs utilized today. Plants, owing to their complex biosynthetic pathways, are poised to synthesize diverse secondary metabolites that selectively target biological macromolecules. Despite the vast chemical landscape of botanicals, drug discovery programs from these sources have diminished due to the costly and time-consuming nature of standard practices and high rates of compound rediscovery. Untargeted metabolomics approaches that integrate biological and chemical data sets potentially enable the prediction of active constituents early in the fractionation process. However, data acquisition and data processing parameters may have major impacts on the success of models produced. Using an inactive botanical mixture spiked with known antimicrobial compounds, untargeted mass spectrometry-based metabolomics data were combined with bioactivity data to produce selectivity ratio models subjected to a variety of data acquisition and data processing parameters. Selectivity ratio models were used to identify active constituents that were intentionally added to the mixture, along with an additional antimicrobial compound, randainal (5), which was masked by the presence of antagonists in the mixture. These studies found that data-processing approaches, particularly data transformation and model simplification tools using a variance cutoff, had significant impacts on the models produced, either masking or enhancing the ability to detect active constituents in samples. The current study highlights the importance of the data processing step for obtaining reliable information from metabolomics models and demonstrates the strengths and limitations of selectivity ratio analysis to comprehensively assess complex botanical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay K. Caesar
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, United States
| | - Joshua J. Kellogg
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, United States
| | | | - Nadja B. Cech
- Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, University of North Carolina Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, United States
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33
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Cortés JCG, Curto MÁ, Carvalho VSD, Pérez P, Ribas JC. The fungal cell wall as a target for the development of new antifungal therapies. Biotechnol Adv 2019; 37:107352. [PMID: 30797093 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2019.02.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Revised: 01/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
In the past three decades invasive mycoses have globally emerged as a persistent source of healthcare-associated infections. The cell wall surrounding the fungal cell opposes the turgor pressure that otherwise could produce cell lysis. Thus, the cell wall is essential for maintaining fungal cell shape and integrity. Given that this structure is absent in host mammalian cells, it stands as an important target when developing selective compounds for the treatment of fungal infections. Consequently, treatment with echinocandins, a family of antifungal agents that specifically inhibits the biosynthesis of cell wall (1-3)β-D-glucan, has been established as an alternative and effective antifungal therapy. However, the existence of many pathogenic fungi resistant to single or multiple antifungal families, together with the limited arsenal of available antifungal compounds, critically affects the effectiveness of treatments against these life-threatening infections. Thus, new antifungal therapies are required. Here we review the fungal cell wall and its relevance in biotechnology as a target for the development of new antifungal compounds, disclosing the most promising cell wall inhibitors that are currently in experimental or clinical development for the treatment of some invasive mycoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos G Cortés
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
| | - M-Ángeles Curto
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Vanessa S D Carvalho
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pilar Pérez
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Ribas
- Instituto de Biología Funcional y Genómica and Departamento de Microbiología y Genética, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
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34
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Fu Y, Luo J, Qin J, Yang M. Screening techniques for the identification of bioactive compounds in natural products. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019; 168:189-200. [PMID: 30825802 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2019.02.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Natural products (NPs) have a long history of clinical use and are rich source of bioactive compounds. The development of tools and techniques for identifying and analyzing NP bioactive compounds to ensure their quality and discover new drugs is thus very important and still in demand. Screening techniques have proven highly useful for screening and analyzing active components in complex mixtures, which rely on cell culture, dialysis, ultrafiltration, chromatographic methods and target molecule immobilization, using biological targets to identify the active compounds. The recent progress in biological screening techniques in the field of natural products is reviewed here. This includes a review on the strategy and application of the screening methods, their detailed description and discussion of their existing limitations of the different models along with prospective in future development of screening techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwei Fu
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiaoyang Luo
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Jiaan Qin
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China
| | - Meihua Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substances and Resources Utilization of Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100193, China.
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35
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Hoepfner D, McAllister G, Hoffman GR. CRISPR/Cas9-Based Chemogenomic Profiling in Mammalian Cells. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1888:153-174. [PMID: 30519946 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8891-4_9] [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: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Chemogenomic profiling is a powerful and unbiased approach to elucidate pharmacological targets and the mechanism of bioactive compounds. It is based on identifying cellular hypersensitivity and resistance caused by individual gene modulations with genome-wide coverage. Due to the requirement of bar-coded, genome-wide deletion collections, high-resolution experiments of this nature have historically been limited to fungal systems. Pooled RNAi reagents have enabled similar attempts in mammalian cells but efforts have been hampered by significant off-target effects and experimental noise. The CRISPR/Cas9 system for the first time enables precise DNA editing at defined loci in a genome-wide fashion. Here we present the detailed protocol that leverages the CRISPR/Cas9 system for chemogenomic profiling and target identification of diverse chemical probes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominic Hoepfner
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG, Basel, Switzerland.
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36
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Inducible Cell Fusion Permits Use of Competitive Fitness Profiling in the Human Pathogenic Fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2018; 63:AAC.01615-18. [PMID: 30397071 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01615-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Antifungal agents directed against novel therapeutic targets are required for treating invasive, chronic, and allergic Aspergillus infections. Competitive fitness profiling technologies have been used in a number of bacterial and yeast systems to identify druggable targets; however, the development of similar systems in filamentous fungi is complicated by the fact that they undergo cell fusion and heterokaryosis. Here, we demonstrate that cell fusion in Aspergillus fumigatus under standard culture conditions is not predominately constitutive, as with most ascomycetes, but can be induced by a range of extracellular stressors. Using this knowledge, we have developed a barcode-free genetic profiling system that permits high-throughput parallel determination of strain fitness in a collection of diploid A. fumigatus mutants. We show that heterozygous cyp51A and arf2 null mutants have reduced fitness in the presence of itraconazole and brefeldin A, respectively, and a heterozygous atp17 null mutant is resistant to brefeldin A.
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37
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Prescott TAK, Jaeg T, Hoepfner D. Yeast Chemogenomic Profiling Reveals Iron Chelation To Be the Principle Cell Inhibitory Mode of Action of Gossypol. J Med Chem 2018; 61:7381-7386. [PMID: 30016095 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.8b00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Gossypol is an inhibitor of eukaryotic cells with an undetermined mode of action. Here we show that the chemogenomic profile of gossypol is strikingly similar to that of the iron chelators deferasirox and desferricoprogen. Iron import channels Fet1 and Fet3 are prominent in all three profiles. Furthermore, yeast inhibited by gossypol and deferasirox is rescued by the addition of Fe2+. We propose that Fe2+ chelation is in fact the principle mode of action of gossypol.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tiphaine Jaeg
- Developmental & Molecular Pathways , Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG , Fabrikstrasse 22 , CH-4056 Basel , Switzerland
| | - Dominic Hoepfner
- Developmental & Molecular Pathways , Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Novartis Pharma AG , Fabrikstrasse 22 , CH-4056 Basel , Switzerland
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38
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Affiliation(s)
- Damian J Krysan
- a Department of Pediatrics and Microbiology/Immunology , University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry , Rochester , NY , USA
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39
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Geddes-McAlister J, Shapiro RS. New pathogens, new tricks: emerging, drug-resistant fungal pathogens and future prospects for antifungal therapeutics. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2018; 1435:57-78. [DOI: 10.1111/nyas.13739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/28/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer Geddes-McAlister
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph Ontario Canada
- Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction; Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry; Munich Germany
| | - Rebecca S. Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology; University of Guelph; Guelph Ontario Canada
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40
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Antifungal Effects of Saponin Extract from Rhizomes of Dioscorea panthaica Prain et Burk against Candida albicans. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:6095307. [PMID: 29853962 PMCID: PMC5949152 DOI: 10.1155/2018/6095307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2017] [Revised: 03/04/2018] [Accepted: 03/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen causing serious diseases, while there are only a paucity of antifungal drugs. Therefore, the present study was performed to investigate the antifungal effects of saponin extract from rhizomes of Dioscorea panthaica Prain et Burk (Huangshanyao Saponin extract, HSE) against C. albicans. HSE inhibits the planktonic growth and biofilm formation and development of C. albicans. 16–64 μg/mL of HSE could inhibit adhesion to polystyrene surfaces, transition from yeast to filamentous growth, and production of secreted phospholipase and could also induce endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and disrupt cell membrane in planktonic cells. Inhibitory activities against extracellular exopolysaccharide (EPS) production and ROS production in preformed biofilms could be inhibited by 64–256 μg/mL of HSE. Cytotoxicity against human Chang's liver cells is low, with a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of about 256 μg/mL. In sum, our study suggested that HSE might be used as a potential antifungal therapeutic against C. albicans.
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Essential oils and their components are a class of antifungals with potent vapour-phase-mediated anti-Candida activity. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3958. [PMID: 29500393 PMCID: PMC5834617 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-22395-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2017] [Accepted: 02/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-resistant microorganisms continue to challenge medicine and fuel the search for new antimicrobials. Here we show that essential oils and their components are a promising class of antifungals that can have specific anti-Candida activity via their vapour-phase. We quantify the vapour-phase-mediated antimicrobial activity (VMAA) of 175 essential oils and 37 essential oil components, representing more than a 1,000 unique molecules, against C. albicans and C. glabrata in a novel vapour-phase-mediated susceptibility assay. Approximately half of the tested essential oils and their components show growth-inhibitory VMAA. Moreover, an average greater activity was observed against the intrinsically more resistant C. glabrata, with essential oil component citronellal having a highly significant differential VMAA. In contrast, representatives of each class of antifungals currently used in clinical practice showed no VMAA. The vapour-phase-mediated susceptibility assay presented here thus allows for the simple detection of VMAA and can advance the search for novel (applications of existing) antimicrobials. This study represents the first comprehensive characterisation of essential oils and their components as a unique class of antifungals with antimicrobial properties that differentiate them from existing antifungal classes.
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Xu L, Li Y, Biggins JB, Bowman BR, Verdine GL, Gloer JB, Alspaugh JA, Bills GF. Identification of cyclosporin C from Amphichorda felina using a Cryptococcus neoformans differential temperature sensitivity assay. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2018; 102:2337-2350. [PMID: 29396588 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-018-8792-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
We used a temperature differential assay with the opportunistic fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans as a simple screening platform to detect small molecules with antifungal activity in natural product extracts. By screening of a collection extracts from two different strains of the coprophilous fungus, Amphichorda felina, we detected strong, temperature-dependent antifungal activity using a two-plate agar zone of inhibition assay at 25 and 37 °C. Bioassay-guided fractionation of the crude extract followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) identified cyclosporin C (CsC) as the main component of the crude extract responsible for growth inhibition of C. neoformans at 37 °C. The presence of CsC was confirmed by comparison with a commercial standard. We sequenced the genome of A. felina to identify and annotate the CsC biosynthetic gene cluster. The only previously characterized gene cluster for the biosynthesis of similar compounds is that of the related immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine A (CsA). The CsA and CsC gene clusters share a high degree of synteny and sequence similarity. Amino acid changes in the adenylation domain of the CsC nonribosomal peptide synthase's sixth module may be responsible for the substitution of L-threonine compared to L-α-aminobutyric acid in the CsA peptide core. This screening strategy promises to yield additional antifungal natural products with a focused spectrum of antimicrobial activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijian Xu
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1881 East Road, 3SCR6.4676, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
- College of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Heilongjiang University, Harbin, 150080, China
| | - Yan Li
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1881 East Road, 3SCR6.4676, Houston, TX, 77054, USA
- Institute of Vegetables and Flowers, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - John B Biggins
- LifeMine Therapeutics, 430 E. 29th Street, Suite 830, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Brian R Bowman
- LifeMine Therapeutics, 430 E. 29th Street, Suite 830, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - Gregory L Verdine
- LifeMine Therapeutics, 430 E. 29th Street, Suite 830, New York, NY, 10016, USA
| | - James B Gloer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - J Andrew Alspaugh
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, 27710, USA
| | - Gerald F Bills
- Texas Therapeutics Institute, The Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, 1881 East Road, 3SCR6.4676, Houston, TX, 77054, USA.
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Target Identification and Mechanism of Action of Picolinamide and Benzamide Chemotypes with Antifungal Properties. Cell Chem Biol 2018; 25:279-290.e7. [PMID: 29307839 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2017] [Revised: 10/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are accompanied by high mortality rates that range up to 90%. At present, only three different compound classes are available for use in the clinic, and these often suffer from low bioavailability, toxicity, and drug resistance. These issues emphasize an urgent need for novel antifungal agents. Herein, we report the identification of chemically versatile benzamide and picolinamide scaffolds with antifungal properties. Chemogenomic profiling and biochemical assays with purified protein identified Sec14p, the major phosphatidylinositol/phosphatidylcholine transfer protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, as the sole essential target for these compounds. A functional variomics screen identified resistance-conferring residues that localized to the lipid-binding pocket of Sec14p. Determination of the X-ray co-crystal structure of a Sec14p-compound complex confirmed binding in this cavity and rationalized both the resistance-conferring residues and the observed structure-activity relationships. Taken together, these findings open new avenues for rational compound optimization and development of novel antifungal agents.
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Liu X, Ma Z, Zhang J, Yang L. Antifungal Compounds against Candida Infections from Traditional Chinese Medicine. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 2017:4614183. [PMID: 29445739 PMCID: PMC5763084 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4614183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2017] [Revised: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Infections caused by Candida albicans, often refractory and with high morbidity and mortality, cause a heavy burden on the public health while the current antifungal drugs are limited and are associated with toxicity and resistance. Many plant-derived molecules including compounds isolated from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) are reported to have antifungal activity through different targets such as cell membrane, cell wall, mitochondria, and virulence factors. Here, we review the recent progress in the anti-Candida compounds from TCM, as well as their antifungal mechanisms. Considering the diverse targets and structures, compounds from TCM might be a potential library for antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Eye Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Zhiming Ma
- Department of Gastrointestinal Nutrition and Hernia Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Jingxiao Zhang
- Department of Emergency, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
| | - Longfei Yang
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory on Molecular and Chemical Genetics, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, China
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Fuentefria AM, Pippi B, Dalla Lana DF, Donato KK, de Andrade SF. Antifungals discovery: an insight into new strategies to combat antifungal resistance. Lett Appl Microbiol 2017; 66:2-13. [PMID: 29112282 DOI: 10.1111/lam.12820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 108] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2017] [Revised: 10/07/2017] [Accepted: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Undeniably, new antifungal treatments are necessary against pathogenic fungi. Fungal infections have significantly increased in recent decades, being highlighted as important causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Five main antifungal classes are used: (i) azoles, (ii) echinocandins, (iii) polyenes, (iv) allylamines and (v) pyrimidine analogues. Moreover, the treatment of mycoses has several limitations, such as undesirable side effects, narrow activity spectrum, a small number of targets and fungal resistance, which are still of major concern in clinical practice. The discovery of new antifungals is mostly achieved by the screening of natural or synthetic/semisynthetic chemical compounds. The most recent discoveries in drug resistance mechanism and their avoidance were explored in a review, focusing on different antifungal targets, as well as new agents or strategies, such as combination therapy, that could improve antifungal therapy. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The failure to respond to antifungal therapy is complex and is associated with microbiological resistance and increased expression of virulence in fungal pathogens. Thus, this review offers an overview of current challenges in the treatment of fungal infections associated with increased antifungal drug resistance and the formation of biofilms in these opportunistic pathogens. Furthermore, the most recent and potential strategies to combat fungal pathogens are explored here, focusing on new agents as well as innovative approaches, such as combination therapy between antifungal drugs or with natural compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- A M Fuentefria
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - B Pippi
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - D F Dalla Lana
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
| | - K K Donato
- MackGraphe (Graphene and Nano-Material Research Center), Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - S F de Andrade
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Microbiologia Agrícola e do Ambiente, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Farmacêuticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil
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Reich M, Labes A. How to boost marine fungal research: A first step towards a multidisciplinary approach by combining molecular fungal ecology and natural products chemistry. Mar Genomics 2017; 36:57-75. [PMID: 29031541 DOI: 10.1016/j.margen.2017.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Marine fungi have attracted attention in recent years due to increased appreciation of their functional role in ecosystems and as important sources of new natural products. The concomitant development of various "omic" technologies has boosted fungal research in the fields of biodiversity, physiological ecology and natural product biosynthesis. Each of these research areas has its own research agenda, scientific language and quality standards, which have so far hindered an interdisciplinary exchange. Inter- and transdisciplinary interactions are, however, vital for: (i) a detailed understanding of the ecological role of marine fungi, (ii) unlocking their hidden potential for natural product discovery, and (iii) designing access routes for biotechnological production. In this review and opinion paper, we describe the two different "worlds" of marine fungal natural product chemists and marine fungal molecular ecologists. The individual scientific approaches and tools employed are summarised and explained, and enriched with a first common glossary. We propose a strategy to find a multidisciplinary approach towards a comprehensive view on marine fungi and their chemical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlis Reich
- University of Bremen, BreMarE, NW2 B3320, Leobener Str. 5, D-28359 Bremen, Germany.
| | - Antje Labes
- Flensburg University of Applied Sciences, Kanzleistr. 91-93, D-24943 Flensburg, Germany.
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McCarthy MW, Kontoyiannis DP, Cornely OA, Perfect JR, Walsh TJ. Novel Agents and Drug Targets to Meet the Challenges of Resistant Fungi. J Infect Dis 2017; 216:S474-S483. [PMID: 28911042 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of drug-resistant fungi poses a major threat to human health. Despite advances in preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions, resistant fungal infections continue to cause significant morbidity and mortality in patients with compromised immunity, underscoring the urgent need for new antifungal agents. In this article, we review the challenges associated with identifying broad-spectrum antifungal drugs and highlight novel targets that could enhance the armamentarium of agents available to treat drug-resistant invasive fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew W McCarthy
- Division of General Internal Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
| | | | - Oliver A Cornely
- Cologne Excellence Cluster on Cellular Stress Responses in Aging-Associated Diseases (CECAD), Department I of Internal Medicine, Clinical Trials Centre Cologne (ZKS Köln), University of Cologne, Germany
| | - John R Perfect
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Thomas J Walsh
- Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
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Identification and Mode of Action of a Plant Natural Product Targeting Human Fungal Pathogens. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2017; 61:AAC.00829-17. [PMID: 28674054 PMCID: PMC5571344 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00829-17] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is a major cause of fungal diseases in humans, and its resistance to available drugs is of concern. In an attempt to identify novel antifungal agents, we initiated a small-scale screening of a library of 199 natural plant compounds (i.e., natural products [NPs]). In vitro susceptibility profiling experiments identified 33 NPs with activity against C. albicans (MIC50s ≤ 32 μg/ml). Among the selected NPs, the sterol alkaloid tomatidine was further investigated. Tomatidine originates from the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and exhibited high levels of fungistatic activity against Candida species (MIC50s ≤ 1 μg/ml) but no cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. Genome-wide transcriptional analysis of tomatidine-treated C. albicans cells revealed a major alteration (upregulation) in the expression of ergosterol genes, suggesting that the ergosterol pathway is targeted by this NP. Consistent with this transcriptional response, analysis of the sterol content of tomatidine-treated cells showed not only inhibition of Erg6 (C-24 sterol methyltransferase) activity but also of Erg4 (C-24 sterol reductase) activity. A forward genetic approach in Saccharomyces cerevisiae coupled with whole-genome sequencing identified 2 nonsynonymous mutations in ERG6 (amino acids D249G and G132D) responsible for tomatidine resistance. Our results therefore unambiguously identified Erg6, a C-24 sterol methyltransferase absent in mammals, to be the main direct target of tomatidine. We tested the in vivo efficacy of tomatidine in a mouse model of C. albicans systemic infection. Treatment with a nanocrystal pharmacological formulation successfully decreased the fungal burden in infected kidneys compared to the fungal burden achieved by the use of placebo and thus confirmed the potential of tomatidine as a therapeutic agent.
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Bar-Yosef H, Vivanco Gonzalez N, Ben-Aroya S, Kron SJ, Kornitzer D. Chemical inhibitors of Candida albicans hyphal morphogenesis target endocytosis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5692. [PMID: 28720834 PMCID: PMC5515890 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05741-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 06/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen, typically found as a benign commensal yeast living on skin and mucosa, but poised to invade injured tissue to cause local infections. In debilitated and immunocompromised individuals, C. albicans may spread to cause life-threatening systemic infections. Upon contact with serum and at body temperature, C. albicans performs a regulated switch to filamentous morphology, characterized by emergence of a germ tube from the yeast cell followed by mold-like growth of branching hyphae. The ability to switch between growth morphologies is an important virulence factor of C. albicans. To identify compounds able to inhibit hyphal morphogenesis, we screened libraries of existing drugs for inhibition of the hyphal switch under stringent conditions. Several compounds that specifically inhibited hyphal morphogenesis were identified. Chemogenomic analysis suggested an interaction with the endocytic pathway, which was confirmed by direct measurement of fluid-phase endocytosis in the presence of these compounds. These results suggest that the activity of the endocytic pathway, which is known to be particularly important for hyphal growth, represents an effective target for hyphae-inhibiting drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagit Bar-Yosef
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - I.I.T. and the Rappaport Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, Haifa, 31096, Israel
| | - Nora Vivanco Gonzalez
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA
| | - Shay Ben-Aroya
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, 52900, Israel
| | - Stephen J Kron
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60637, USA.
| | - Daniel Kornitzer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Technion - I.I.T. and the Rappaport Institute for Research in the Medical Sciences, Haifa, 31096, Israel.
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Feyaerts AF, Mathé L, Luyten W, Tournu H, Van Dyck K, Broekx L, Van Dijck P. Assay and recommendations for the detection of vapour-phase-mediated antimicrobial activities. FLAVOUR FRAG J 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ffj.3400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Adam F. Feyaerts
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
| | - Lotte Mathé
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
| | - Walter Luyten
- Department of Biology; KU Leuven; 3000 Leuven Belgium
| | - Hélène Tournu
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
| | - Katrien Van Dyck
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
| | - Lize Broekx
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
| | - Patrick Van Dijck
- VIB-KU Leuven Center for Microbiology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
- Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology; KU Leuven; 3001 Leuven Belgium
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