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Zhen C, Wang L, Feng Y, Whiteway M, Hang S, Yu J, Lu H, Jiang Y. Otilonium Bromide Exhibits Potent Antifungal Effects by Blocking Ergosterol Plasma Membrane Localization and Triggering Cytotoxic Autophagy in Candida Albicans. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2406473. [PMID: 38995235 PMCID: PMC11425263 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202406473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
Candidiasis, which presents a substantial risk to human well-being, is frequently treated with azoles. However, drug-drug interactions caused by azoles inhibiting the human CYP3A4 enzyme, together with increasing resistance of Candida species to azoles, represent serious issues with this class of drug, making it imperative to develop innovative antifungal drugs to tackle this growing clinical challenge. A drug repurposing approach is used to examine a library of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs, ultimately identifying otilonium bromide (OTB) as an exceptionally encouraging antifungal agent. Mechanistically, OTB impairs vesicle-mediated trafficking by targeting Sec31, thereby impeding the plasma membrane (PM) localization of the ergosterol transporters, such as Sip3. Consequently, OTB obstructs the movement of ergosterol across membranes and triggers cytotoxic autophagy. It is noteworthy that C. albicans encounters challenges in developing resistance to OTB because it is not a substrate for drug transporters. This study opens a new door for antifungal therapy, wherein OTB disrupts ergosterol subcellular distribution and induces cytotoxic autophagy. Additionally, it circumvents the hepatotoxicity associated with azole-mediated liver enzyme inhibition and avoids export-mediated drug resistance in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhen
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalSchool of MedicineTongji UniversityNo.1239 Siping RoadShanghai200092China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalSchool of MedicineTongji UniversityNo.1239 Siping RoadShanghai200092China
| | - Yanru Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalSchool of MedicineTongji UniversityNo.1239 Siping RoadShanghai200092China
| | - Malcolm Whiteway
- Department of BiologyConcordia UniversityMontrealQCH4B 1R6Canada
| | - Sijin Hang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalSchool of MedicineTongji UniversityNo.1239 Siping RoadShanghai200092China
| | - Jinhua Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalSchool of MedicineTongji UniversityNo.1239 Siping RoadShanghai200092China
| | - Hui Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalSchool of MedicineTongji UniversityNo.1239 Siping RoadShanghai200092China
| | - Yuanying Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's HospitalSchool of MedicineTongji UniversityNo.1239 Siping RoadShanghai200092China
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Engle K, Kumar G. Tackling multi-drug resistant fungi by efflux pump inhibitors. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 226:116400. [PMID: 38945275 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116400] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of multidrug-resistant fungi is of grave concern, and its infections are responsible for significant deaths among immunocompromised patients. The treatment of fungal infections primarily relies on a clinical class of antibiotics, including azoles, polyenes, echinocandins, polyketides, and a nucleotide analogue. However, the incidence of fungal infections is increasing as the treatment for human and plant fungal infections overlaps with antifungal drugs. The need for new antifungal agents acting on different targets than known targets is undeniable. Also, the pace at which loss of fungal susceptibility to antibiotics cannot be undermined. There are several modes by which fungi can develop resistance to antibiotics, including reduced drug uptake, drug target alteration, and a reduction in the cellular concentration of the drug due to active extrusions and biofilm formation. The efflux pump's overexpression in the fungi primarily reduced the antibiotic's concentration to a sub-lethal concentration, thus responsible for developing resistant fungus strains. Several strategies are used to check antibiotic resistance in multi-drug resistant fungi, including synthesizing antibiotic analogs and giving antibiotics in combination therapies. Among them, the efflux pump protein inhibitors are considered potential adjuvants to antibiotics and can block the efflux of antibiotics by inhibiting efflux pump protein transporters. Moreover, it can sensitize the antifungal drugs to multi-drug resistant fungi with overexpressed efflux pump proteins. This review discusses the natural lead molecules, repurposable drugs, and formulation strategies to overcome the efflux pump activity in the fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kritika Engle
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad, Hyderabad, Balanagar 500037, India
| | - Gautam Kumar
- Department of Pharmacy, Birla Institute of Technology and Science Pilani, Pilani Campus, Rajasthan 333031, India.
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Wu Y, Sun A, Chen F, Zhao Y, Zhu X, Zhang T, Ni G, Wang R. Synthesis, structure-activity relationship and biological evaluation of indole derivatives as anti-Candida albicans agents. Bioorg Chem 2024; 146:107293. [PMID: 38507998 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
In this work, we synthesized a series of indole derivatives to cope with the current increasing fungal infections caused by drug-resistant Candida albicans. All compounds were evaluated for antifungal activities against Candida albicans in vitro, and the structure-activity relationships (SARs) were analyzed. The results indicated that indole derivatives used either alone or in combination with fluconazole showed good activities against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. Further mechanisms studies demonstrated that compound 1 could inhibit yeast-to-hypha transition and biofilm formation of Candida albicans, increase the activity of the efflux pump, the damage of mitochondrial function, and the decrease of intracellular ATP content. In vivo studies, further proved the anti-Candida albicans activity of compound 1 by histological observation. Therefore, compound 1 could be considered as a novel antifungal agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yandan Wu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Aimei Sun
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Fei Chen
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Yin Zhao
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Xianhu Zhu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Tianbao Zhang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China
| | - Guanghui Ni
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China.
| | - Ruirui Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, Yunnan Province, China.
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Oufensou S, Dessì A, Dallocchio R, Balmas V, Azara E, Carta P, Migheli Q, Delogu G. Molecular Docking and Comparative Inhibitory Efficacy of Naturally Occurring Compounds on Vegetative Growth and Deoxynivalenol Biosynthesis in Fusarium culmorum. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13110759. [PMID: 34822543 PMCID: PMC8623340 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13110759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Revised: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The fungal pathogen Fusarium culmorum causes Fusarium head blight in cereals, resulting in yield loss and contamination of the grain by type B trichothecene mycotoxins such as deoxynivalenol (DON), and its acetylated derivatives. Synthesis of trichothecenes is driven by a trichodiene synthase (TRI5) that converts farnesyl pyrophosphate (FPP) to trichodiene. In this work, 15 naturally occurring compounds that belong to the structural phenol and hydroxylated biphenyl classes were tested in vitro and in planta (durum wheat) to determine their inhibitory activity towards TRI5. In vitro analysis highlighted the fungicidal effect of these compounds when applied at 0.25 mM. Greenhouse assays showed a strong inhibitory activity of octyl gallate 5, honokiol 13 and the combination propyl gallate 4 + thymol 7 on trichothecene biosynthesis. Docking analyses were run on the 3D model of F. culmorum TRI5 containing the inorganic pyrophosphate (PPi) or FPP. Significant ligand affinities with TRI-PPi and TRI-FPP were observed for the same sites for almost all compounds, with 1 and 2 as privileged sites. Octyl gallate 5 and honokiol 13 interacted almost exclusively with sites 1 and 2, by concurrently activating strong H-bonds with common sets of amino acids. These results open new perspectives for the targeted search of naturally occurring compounds that may find practical application in the eco-friendly control of FHB in wheat.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Oufensou
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via E. De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.B.); (Q.M.)
- Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via E. De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Correspondence:
| | - Alessandro Dessì
- Istituto CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.D.); (R.D.); (E.A.); (P.C.); (G.D.)
| | - Roberto Dallocchio
- Istituto CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.D.); (R.D.); (E.A.); (P.C.); (G.D.)
| | - Virgilio Balmas
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via E. De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.B.); (Q.M.)
| | - Emanuela Azara
- Istituto CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.D.); (R.D.); (E.A.); (P.C.); (G.D.)
| | - Paola Carta
- Istituto CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.D.); (R.D.); (E.A.); (P.C.); (G.D.)
| | - Quirico Migheli
- Dipartimento di Agraria, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via E. De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (V.B.); (Q.M.)
- Nucleo di Ricerca sulla Desertificazione, Università degli Studi di Sassari, Via E. De Nicola 9, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Delogu
- Istituto CNR di Chimica Biomolecolare, Traversa La Crucca 3, 07100 Sassari, Italy; (A.D.); (R.D.); (E.A.); (P.C.); (G.D.)
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Staniszewska M, Kuryk Ł, Gryciuk A, Kawalec J, Rogalska M, Baran J, Łukowska-Chojnacka E, Kowalkowska A. In Vitro Anti- Candida Activity and Action Mode of Benzoxazole Derivatives. Molecules 2021; 26:5008. [PMID: 34443595 PMCID: PMC8398596 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26165008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
A newly synthetized series of N-phenacyl derivatives of 2-mercaptobenzoxazole, including analogues of 5-bromo- and 5,7-dibromobenzoxazole, were screened against Candida strains and the action mechanism was evaluated. 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethanone (5d), 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-(2,3,4-trichloro-phenyl)ethanone (5i), 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl)ethanone (5k) and 2-[(5-bromo-1,3-benzoxazol-2-yl)sulfanyl]-1-phenylethanone (6a) showed anti-C. albicans SC5314 activity, where 5d displayed MICT = 16 µg/mL (%R = 100) and a weak anti-proliferative activity against the clinical strains: C. albicans resistant to azoles (Itr and Flu) and C. glabrata. Derivatives 5k and 6a displayed MICP = 16 µg/mL and %R = 64.2 ± 10.6, %R = 88.0 ± 9.7, respectively, against the C. albicans isolate. Derivative 5i was the most active against C. glabrata (%R = 53.0 ± 3.5 at 16 µg/mL). Benzoxazoles displayed no MIC against C. glabrata. Benzoxazoles showed a pleiotropic action mode: (1) the total sterols content was perturbed; (2) 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)ethanol and 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-(2,3,4-trichlorophenyl)ethanol (8h-i) at the lowest fungistatic conc. inhibited the efflux of the Rho123 tracker during the membrane transport process; (3) mitochondrial respiration was affected/inhibited by the benzoxazoles: 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethanol and 2-(1,3-benzoxazol-2-ylsulfanyl)-1-(4-bromophenyl)ethanol 8c-d and 8i. Benzoxazoles showed comparable activity to commercially available azoles due to (1) the interaction with exogenous ergosterol, (2) endogenous ergosterol synthesis blocking as well as (3) membrane permeabilizing properties typical of AmB. Benzoxazoles display a broad spectrum of anti-Candida activity and action mode towards the membrane without cross-resistance with AmB; furthermore, they are safe to mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Staniszewska
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies CEZAMAT, Warsaw University of Technology, Poleczki 19, 02-822 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Łukasz Kuryk
- Department of Virology, National Institute of Public Health-NIH-National Research Institute, Chocimska 24, 00-791 Warsaw, Poland;
- Clinical Science, Targovax Oy, Saukonpaadenranta 2, 00180 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Aleksander Gryciuk
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St. 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (A.G.); (J.K.); (M.R.); (E.Ł.-C.)
| | - Joanna Kawalec
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St. 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (A.G.); (J.K.); (M.R.); (E.Ł.-C.)
| | - Marta Rogalska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St. 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (A.G.); (J.K.); (M.R.); (E.Ł.-C.)
| | - Joanna Baran
- Centre for Advanced Materials and Technologies CEZAMAT, Warsaw University of Technology, Poleczki 19, 02-822 Warsaw, Poland;
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St. 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (A.G.); (J.K.); (M.R.); (E.Ł.-C.)
| | - Edyta Łukowska-Chojnacka
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St. 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (A.G.); (J.K.); (M.R.); (E.Ł.-C.)
| | - Anna Kowalkowska
- Faculty of Chemistry, Warsaw University of Technology, Noakowskiego St. 3, 00-664 Warsaw, Poland; (A.G.); (J.K.); (M.R.); (E.Ł.-C.)
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