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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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Gad AI, El-Ganiny AM, Eissa AG, Noureldin NA, Nazeih SI. Miconazole and phenothiazine hinder the quorum sensing regulated virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. J Antibiot (Tokyo) 2024; 77:454-465. [PMID: 38724627 PMCID: PMC11208154 DOI: 10.1038/s41429-024-00731-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2024] [Accepted: 04/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
Antibiotic resistance is a major health problem worldwide. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a Gram-negative pathogen with an arsenal of virulence factors and elevated antimicrobial resistance. It is a leading cause of nosocomial infections with high morbidity and mortality. The significant time and effort required to develop new antibiotics can be circumvented using alternative therapeutic strategies, including anti-virulence targets. This study aimed to investigate the anti-virulence activity of the FDA-approved drugs miconazole and phenothiazine against P. aeruginosa. The phenotypic effect of sub-inhibitory concentrations of miconazole and phenothiazine on biofilm, pyocyanin, protease, rhamnolipid and hemolysin activities in PAO1 strain was examined. qRT-PCR was used to assess the effect of drugs on quorum-sensing genes that regulate virulence. Further, the anti-virulence potential of miconazole and phenothiazine was evaluated in silico and in vivo. Miconazole showed significant inhibition of Pseudomonas virulence by reducing biofilm-formation approximately 45-48%, hemolytic-activity by 59%, pyocyanin-production by 47-49%, rhamnolipid-activity by approximately 42-47% and protease activity by 36-40%. While, phenothiazine showed lower anti-virulence activity, it inhibited biofilm (31-35%), pyocyanin (37-39%), protease (32-40%), rhamnolipid (35-40%) and hemolytic activity (47-56%). Similarly, there was significantly reduced expression of RhlR, PqsR, LasI and LasR following treatment with miconazole, but less so with phenothiazine. In-silico analysis revealed that miconazole had higher binding affinity than phenothiazine to LasR, RhlR, and PqsR QS-proteins. Furthermore, there was 100% survival in mice injected with PAO1 treated with miconazole. In conclusion, miconazole and phenothiazine are promising anti-virulence agents for P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amany I Gad
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy and Drug Technology, Egyptian Chinese University, Cairo, 11786, Egypt
| | - Amira M El-Ganiny
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
| | - Ahmed G Eissa
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Nada A Noureldin
- Medicinal Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Shaimaa I Nazeih
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
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3
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Du J, Jin S, Zhang Y, Qiu W, Dong Y, Liu Y, Yin D, Yang Y, Xu W. In vitro and in vivo inhibitory effects of the Sanghuang mushroom extracts against Candida albicans. Future Microbiol 2024; 19:983-996. [PMID: 38904292 PMCID: PMC11318678 DOI: 10.1080/17460913.2024.2352269] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Aim: To explore the antifungal potential of Sanghuang mushroom, a traditional Chinese medicine. Materials & methods: The antifungal properties and the potential mechanism of Sanghuang mushroom extracts against Candida albicans were studied in vitro and in vivo. Results: Sanghuang mushroom extracts inhibited the biofilm formation, increased the cell membrane permeability and promoted cell apoptosis of C. albicans in vitro. In a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis, Sanghuang mushroom extracts reduced the vaginal fungal load, improved inflammatory cell infiltration and downregulated the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6. Untargeted metabolomic analysis suggested the presence of ten antifungal components in Sanghuang mushroom extracts. Conclusion: Sanghuang mushroom extracts showed promise as antifungal agent against candidiasis, with potential therapeutic implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahui Du
- Joint Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui of IHM, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Shuqing Jin
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Joint Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui of IHM, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Wei Qiu
- Joint Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui of IHM, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Yahui Dong
- Joint Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui of IHM, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Institute of Sericulture Science & Technology Research, Chongqing, 400700, China
| | - Dengke Yin
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Ye Yang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
| | - Weifang Xu
- Joint Research Center for Chinese Herbal Medicine of Anhui of IHM, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Research & Development of Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, Anhui, China
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Wu S, Jia W, Lu Y, Jiang H, Huang C, Tang S, Du L. Mechanism and bioinformatics analysis of the effect of berberine-enhanced fluconazole against drug-resistant Candida albicans. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:196. [PMID: 38849761 PMCID: PMC11157861 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03334-0] [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: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Biofilms produced by Candida albicans present a challenge in treatment with antifungal drug. Enhancing the sensitivity to fluconazole (FLC) is a reasonable method for treating FLC-resistant species. Moreover, several lines of evidence have demonstrated that berberine (BBR) can have antimicrobial effects. The aim of this study was to clarify the underlying mechanism of these effects. We conducted a comparative study of the inhibition of FLC-resistant strain growth by FLC treatment alone, BBR treatment alone, and the synergistic effect of combined FLC and BBR treatment. Twenty-four isolated strains showed distinct biofilm formation capabilities. The antifungal effect of combined FLC and BBR treatment in terms of the growth and biofilm formation of Candida albicans species was determined via checkerboard, time-kill, and fluorescence microscopy assays. The synergistic effect of BBR and FLC downregulated the expression of the efflux pump genes CDR1 and MDR, the hyphal gene HWP1, and the adhesion gene ALS3; however, the gene expression of the transcriptional repressor TUP1 was upregulated following treatment with this drug combination. Furthermore, the addition of BBR led to a marked reduction in cell surface hydrophobicity. To identify resistance-related genes and virulence factors through genome-wide sequencing analysis, we investigated the inhibition of related resistance gene expression by the combination of BBR and FLC, as well as the associated signaling pathways and metabolic pathways. The KEGG metabolic map showed that the metabolic genes in this strain are mainly involved in amino acid and carbon metabolism. The metabolic pathway map showed that several ergosterol (ERG) genes were involved in the synthesis of cell membrane sterols, which may be related to drug resistance. In this study, BBR + FLC combination treatment upregulated the expression of the ERG1, ERG3, ERG4, ERG5, ERG24, and ERG25 genes and downregulated the expression of the ERG6 and ERG9 genes compared with fluconazole treatment alone (p < 0.05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sitong Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Viral Diseases, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Clinical Biotechnology, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liu Zhou, 545006, China
| | - Wei Jia
- Ningxia Key Laboratory of Clinical and Pathogenic Microbiology, The General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, 750004, Ningxia, China
| | - Yu Lu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Viral Diseases, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Clinical Biotechnology, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liu Zhou, 545006, China
| | - Hongkun Jiang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Viral Diseases, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Clinical Biotechnology, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liu Zhou, 545006, China
| | - Chunlan Huang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Viral Diseases, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Clinical Biotechnology, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liu Zhou, 545006, China
| | - Shifu Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Viral Diseases, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Clinical Biotechnology, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liu Zhou, 545006, China
| | - Le Du
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Viral Diseases, Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Clinical Biotechnology, Liuzhou People's Hospital, Liu Zhou, 545006, China.
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Gomaa SE, Abbas HA, Mohamed FA, Ali MAM, Ibrahim TM, Abdel Halim AS, Alghamdi MA, Mansour B, Chaudhary AA, Elkelish A, Boufahja F, Hegazy WAH, Yehia FAZA. The anti-staphylococcal fusidic acid as an efflux pump inhibitor combined with fluconazole against vaginal candidiasis in mouse model. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:54. [PMID: 38341568 PMCID: PMC10858509 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03181-z] [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: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida albicans is the most common fungus that causes vaginal candidiasis in immunocompetent women and catastrophic infections in immunocompromised patients. The treatment of such infections is hindered due to the increasing emergence of resistance to azoles in C. albicans. New treatment approaches are needed to combat candidiasis especially in the dwindled supply of new effective and safe antifungals. The resistance to azoles is mainly attributed to export of azoles outside the cells by means of the efflux pump that confers cross resistance to all azoles including fluconazole (FLC). OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the possible efflux pump inhibiting activity of fusidic acid (FA) in C. albicans resistant isolates and the potential use of Fusidic acid in combination with fluconazole to potentiate the antifungal activity of fluconazole to restore its activity in the resistant C. albicans isolates. METHODS The resistance of C. albicans isolates was assessed by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration. The effect of Fusidic acid at sub-inhibitory concentration on efflux activity was assayed by rhodamine 6G efflux assay and intracellular accumulation. Mice model studies were conducted to evaluate the anti-efflux activity of Fusidic acid and its synergistic effects in combination with fluconazole. Impact of Fusidic acid on ergosterol biosynthesis was quantified. The synergy of fluconazole when combined with Fusidic acid was investigated by determination of minimum inhibitory concentration. The cytotoxicity of Fusidic acid was tested against erythrocytes. The effect of Fusidic acid on efflux pumps was tested at the molecular level by real-time PCR and in silico study. In vivo vulvovaginitis mice model was used to confirm the activity of the combination in treating vulvovaginal candidiasis. RESULTS Fusidic acid showed efflux inhibiting activity as it increased the accumulation of rhodamine 6G, a substrate for ABC-efflux transporter, and decreased its efflux in C. albicans cells. The antifungal activity of fluconazole was synergized when combined with Fusidic acid. Fusidic acid exerted only minimal cytotoxicity on human erythrocytes indicating its safety. The FA efflux inhibitory activity could be owed to its ability to interfere with efflux protein transporters as revealed by docking studies and downregulation of the efflux-encoding genes of both ABC transporters and MFS superfamily. Moreover, in vivo mice model showed that using fluconazole-fusidic acid combination by vaginal route enhanced fluconazole antifungal activity as shown by lowered fungal burden and a negligible histopathological change in vaginal tissue. CONCLUSION The current findings highlight FA's potential as a potential adjuvant to FLC in the treatment of vulvovaginal candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salwa E Gomaa
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Hisham A Abbas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Fatma A Mohamed
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology-Medical School, University of Pécs, Szigeti Út 12, Pécs, H-7624, Hungary
| | - Mohamed A M Ali
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Tarek M Ibrahim
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
| | - Alyaa S Abdel Halim
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, Abbassia, Cairo, 11566, Egypt
| | - Mashael A Alghamdi
- Department of Chemistry, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Basem Mansour
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, Delta University for Science and Technology, Gamasa, Belqas, 11152, Egypt
| | - Anis Ahmad Chaudhary
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amr Elkelish
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | - Fehmi Boufahja
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University (IMSIU), Riyadh, 11623, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wael A H Hegazy
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt.
- Pharmacy Program, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oman College of Health Sciences, Muscat, 113, Oman.
| | - Fatma Al-Zahraa A Yehia
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, Zagazig, 44519, Egypt
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Zhu X, Chen Y, Yu D, Fang W, Liao W, Pan W. Progress in the application of nanoparticles for the treatment of fungal infections: A review. Mycology 2023; 15:1-16. [PMID: 38558835 PMCID: PMC10977003 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2023.2285764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
The burden of fungal infections on human health is increasing worldwide. Aspergillus, Candida, and Cryptococcus are the top three human pathogenic fungi that are responsible for over 90% of infection-related deaths. Moreover, effective antifungal therapeutics are lacking, primarily due to host toxicity, pathogen resistance, and immunodeficiency. In recent years, nanomaterials have proved not only to be more efficient antifungal therapeutic agents but also to overcome resistance against fungal medication. This review will examine the limitations of standard antifungal therapy as well as focus on the development of nanomaterials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlin Zhu
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Youming Chen
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Shanghai Public Health Clinical Center, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Dan Yu
- Department of General Practice, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjie Fang
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanqing Liao
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Weihua Pan
- Department of Dermatology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Medical Mycology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Naval Medical University, Shanghai, China
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Shin J, Bae S. In vitro effects of omeprazole in combination with antifungal compounds against Malassezia pachydermatis. Vet Med Sci 2023; 9:2594-2599. [PMID: 37872836 PMCID: PMC10650238 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1305] [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: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fungal and yeast infections, including those caused by Malassezia spp., are becoming increasingly difficult to treat, likely due to the occurrence of drug resistance. OBJECTIVES This study aimed to evaluate the antifungal effects of omeprazole (OME), a proton pump inhibitor, against antifungal-resistant Malassezia pachydermatis and to investigate the potential synergistic effects between OME and other antifungal compounds. METHODS In total, 15 samples of M. pachydermatis isolated from the skin of dogs were tested. The susceptibility of M. pachydermatis to itraconazole, ketoconazole, miconazole, terbinafine and OME was assessed using a modified broth microdilution (BM) method. The in vitro efficacy of OME alone and in combination with other antifungal compounds was evaluated for all isolates using the BM chequerboard method. The data obtained were analysed using the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). RESULTS The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of antifungal compounds and OME against quality control strain (M. pachydermatis CBS1879) were lower than the MIC90 values of same drugs against clinically collected strains. There was no significant difference in MIC values between drugs alone and combination. According to the analysis by the FICI method, no interaction was observed with OME and antifungal compounds. CONCLUSIONS Most M. pachydermatis strains were resistant to azole antifungal compounds. OME exerted antifungal effects against Malassezia spp. and even showed good effects on antifungal-resistant strains. No synergistic effects were observed between the antifungal compounds and OME.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juyoung Shin
- Department of Veterinary Internal MedicineCollege of Veterinary MedicineKyungpook National UniversityDaeguRepublic of Korea
| | - Seulgi Bae
- Department of Veterinary Internal MedicineCollege of Veterinary MedicineKyungpook National UniversityDaeguRepublic of Korea
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Munzen ME, Goncalves Garcia AD, Martinez LR. An update on the global treatment of invasive fungal infections. Future Microbiol 2023; 18:1095-1117. [PMID: 37750748 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a serious problem affecting many people worldwide, creating critical economic and medical consequences. Fungi are ubiquitous and can cause invasive diseases in individuals mostly living in developing countries or with weakened immune systems, and antifungal drugs currently available have important limitations in tolerability and efficacy. In an effort to counteract the high morbidity and mortality rates associated with invasive fungal infections, various approaches are being utilized to discover and develop new antifungal agents. This review discusses the challenges posed by fungal infections, outlines different methods for developing antifungal drugs and reports on the status of drugs currently in clinical trials, which offer hope for combating this serious global problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa E Munzen
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | | | - Luis R Martinez
- Department of Oral Biology, University of Florida College of Dentistry, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Emerging Pathogens Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Immunology and Transplantation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
- Center for Translational Research in Neurodegenerative Disease, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
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da Silva CR, Silveira MJCB, Soares GC, de Andrade CR, Cabral VPDF, Sá LGDAV, Rodrigues DS, Moreira LEA, Barbosa AD, da Silva LJ, da Silva AR, Gomes AOCV, Cavalcanti BC, de Moraes MO, Nobre Júnior HV, de Andrade Neto JB. Analysis of possible pathways on the mechanism of action of minocycline and doxycycline against strains of Candida spp. resistant to fluconazole. J Med Microbiol 2023; 72. [PMID: 37801011 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.001759] [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: 10/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Species of the genus Candida, characterized as commensals of the human microbiota, are opportunistic pathogens capable of generating various types of infections with high associated costs. Considering the limited pharmacological arsenal and the emergence of antifungal-resistant strains, the repositioning of drugs is a strategy used to search for new therapeutic alternatives, in which minocycline and doxycycline have been evaluated as potential candidates. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the in vitro antifungal activity of two tetracyclines, minocycline and doxycycline, and their possible mechanism of action against fluconazole-resistant strains of Candida spp. The sensitivity test for antimicrobials was performed using the broth microdilution technique, and the pharmacological interaction with fluconazole was also analysed using the checkerboard method. To analyse the possible mechanisms of action, flow cytometry assays were performed. The minimum inhibitory concentration obtained was 4-427 µg ml-1 for minocycline and 128-512 µg ml-1 for doxycycline, and mostly indifferent and additive interactions with fluconazole were observed. These tetracyclines were found to promote cellular alterations that generated death by apoptosis, with concentration-dependent reactive oxygen species production and reduced cell viability. Therefore, minocycline and doxycycline present themselves as promising study molecules against Candida spp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecília Rocha da Silva
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Maria Janielly Castelo Branco Silveira
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Christus University Center (UNICHRISTUS), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | | | - Vitória Pessoa de Farias Cabral
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Lívia Gurgel do Amaral Valente Sá
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Christus University Center (UNICHRISTUS), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Daniel Sampaio Rodrigues
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Lara Elloyse Almeida Moreira
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Amanda Dias Barbosa
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Lisandra Juvêncio da Silva
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Hélio Vitoriano Nobre Júnior
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - João Batista de Andrade Neto
- School of Pharmacy, Laboratory of Bioprospection of Antimicrobial Molecules (LABIMAN), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Drug Research & Development Center, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
- Christus University Center (UNICHRISTUS), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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Toepfer S, Lackner M, Keniya MV, Zenz LM, Friemert M, Bracher F, Monk BC. Clorgyline Analogs Synergize with Azoles against Drug Efflux in Candida auris. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:663. [PMID: 37367600 DOI: 10.3390/jof9060663] [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: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Concern about the global emergence of multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens led us to explore the use of combination therapy to combat azole resistance in Candida auris. Clorgyline had previously been shown to be a multi-target inhibitor of Cdr1 and Mdr1 efflux pumps of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. A screen for antifungal sensitizers among synthetic analogs of Clorgyline detected interactions with the C. auris efflux pump azole substrates Posaconazole and Voriconazole. Of six Clorgyline analogs, M19 and M25 were identified as potential sensitizers of azole resistance. M19 and M25 were found to act synergistically with azoles against resistant C. auris clade I isolates and recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains overexpressing C. auris efflux pumps. Nile Red assays with the recombinant strains showed M19 and M25 inhibited the activity of Cdr1 and Mdr1 efflux pumps that are known to play key roles in azole resistance in C. auris clades I, III, and IV. While Clorgyline, M19 and M25 uncoupled the Oligomycin-sensitive ATPase activity of Cdr1 from C. albicans and C. auris, their mode of action is yet to be fully elucidated. The experimental combinations described herein provides a starting point to combat azole resistance dominated by overexpression of CauCdr1 in C. auris clades I and IV and CauMdr1 in C. auris clade III.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Toepfer
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Michaela Lackner
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Mikhail V Keniya
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
- Hackensack Meridian Health Center for Discovery and Innovation, Nutley, NJ 07110, USA
| | - Lisa-Maria Zenz
- Institute of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Marianne Friemert
- Center for Drug Research, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Franz Bracher
- Center for Drug Research, Department of Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich, 81377 Munich, Germany
| | - Brian C Monk
- Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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Saied M, Hasanin M, Abdelghany TM, Amin BH, Hashem AH. Anticandidal activity of nanocomposite based on nanochitosan, nanostarch and mycosynthesized copper oxide nanoparticles against multidrug-resistant Candida. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 242:124709. [PMID: 37141971 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.124709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2022] [Revised: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Recently, antimicrobial resistance has increased globally particularly Candida infections. Most of antifungal drugs used for treating candidiasis became resistant to most of Candida species. In the current study, a nanocomposite based on mycosynthesized copper oxide nanoparticles (CuONPs), nanostarch, nanochitosan was prepared. Results illustrated that twenty-four Candida isolates were isolated from clinical samples. Furthermore, three Candida strains were selected as the most resistant among others toward commercial antifungal drugs; these selected strains were identified genetically as C. glabrata MTMA 19, C. glabrata MTMA 21 and C. tropicalis MTMA 24. Characterization of the prepared nanocomposite was carried out using physiochemical analysis included Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (Uv-Vis), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the nanocomposite exhibited promising anticandidal activity against C. glabrata MTMA 19, C. glabrata MTMA 21 and C. tropicalis MTMA 24, where the inhibition zones were 15.3, 27 and 28 mm, respectively. Ultrastructure changes observed in nanocomposite-treated C. tropicalis demonstrated disruption of the cell wall which led to cell death. In conclusion, our results confirmed that the novel biosynthesized nanocomposite based on mycosynthesized CuONPs, nanostarch and nanochitosan is a promising anticandidal agent to fight multidrug-resistant Candida.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Saied
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Mohamed Hasanin
- Cellulose and Paper Department, National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo 12622, Egypt.
| | - Tarek M Abdelghany
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11884, Egypt
| | - Basma H Amin
- Regional Center for Mycology and Biotechnology, Al-Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amr H Hashem
- Department of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City, Cairo 11884, Egypt.
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12
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Incebay H, UCAR A. An electrochemical sensor fabricated by sonochemical approach for determination of the antipsychotic drug haloperidol. ELECTROANAL 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/elan.202200235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
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13
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Encephalartos villosus Lem. Displays a Strong In Vivo and In Vitro Antifungal Potential against Candida glabrata Clinical Isolates. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050521. [PMID: 35628776 PMCID: PMC9146621 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recently, Candida glabrata has been recognized as one of the most common fungal species that is highly associated with invasive candidiasis. Its spread could be attributed to its increasing resistance to antifungal drugs. Thus, there is a high need for safer and more efficient therapeutic alternatives such as plant extracts. Here, we investigated the antifungal potential of Encephalartos villosus leaves methanol extract (EVME) against C. glabrata clinical isolates. Tentative phytochemical identification of 51 metabolites was conducted in EVME using LC–MS/MS. EVME demonstrated antifungal activity with minimum inhibitory concentrations that ranged from 32 to 256 µg/mL. The mechanism of the antifungal action was studied by investigating the impact of EVME on nucleotide leakage. Additionally, a sorbitol bioassay was performed, and we found that EVME affected the fungal cell wall. In addition, the effect of EVME was elucidated on the efflux activity of C. glabrata isolates using acridine orange assay and quantitative real-time PCR. EVME resulted in downregulation of the expression of the efflux pump genes CDR1, CDR2, and ERG11 in the tested isolates with percentages of 33.33%, 41.67%, and 33.33%, respectively. Moreover, we investigated the in vivo antifungal activity of EVME using a murine model with systemic infection. The fungal burden was determined in the kidney tissues. Histological and immunohistochemical studies were carried out to investigate the effect of EVME. We noticed that EVME reduced the congestion of the glomeruli and tubules of the kidney tissues of the rats infected with C. glabrata. Furthermore, it decreased both the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-alpha and the abnormal collagen fibers. Our results reveal, for the first time, the potential in vitro (by inhibition of the efflux activity) and in vivo (by decreasing the congestion and inflammation of the kidney tissues) antifungal activity of EVME against C. glabrata isolates.
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Negm WA, El-Aasr M, Attia G, Alqahtani MJ, Yassien RI, Abo Kamer A, Elekhnawy E. Promising Antifungal Activity of Encephalartos laurentianus de Wild against Candida albicans Clinical Isolates: In Vitro and In Vivo Effects on Renal Cortex of Adult Albino Rats. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8050426. [PMID: 35628682 PMCID: PMC9144060 DOI: 10.3390/jof8050426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans can cause various infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. Its ability to develop resistance to the current antifungal drugs as well as its multiple virulence factors have rendered the problem even more complicated. Thus, in the present investigation, we elucidated an in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of Encephalartos laurentianus methanol extract (ELME) against C. albicans clinical isolates for the first time. A phytochemical identification of 64 compounds was conducted in ELME using LC-MS/MS. Interestingly, ELME exhibited antifungal activity with MIC values that ranged from 32–256 µg/mL. Furthermore, we investigated the antibiofilm activity of ELME against the biofilms formed by C. albicans isolates. ELME displayed antibiofilm activity using a crystal violet assay as it decreased the percentages of cells, moderately and strongly forming biofilms from 62.5% to 25%. Moreover, the antibiofilm impact of ELME was elucidated using SEM and fluorescent microscope. A significant reduction in the biofilm formation by C. albicans isolates was observed. In addition, we observed that ELME resulted in the downregulation of the biofilm-related tested genes (ALS1, BCR1, PLB2, and SAP5) in 37.5% of the isolates using qRT-PCR. Besides, the in vivo antifungal activity of ELME on the kidney tissues of rats infected with C. albicans was investigated using histological and immunohistochemical studies. ELME was found to protect against C. albicans induced renal damage, decrease desmin and inducible nitric oxide synthase, increase alkaline phosphatase, and increase infected rats’ survival rate. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of ELME was elucidated on Human Skin Fibroblast normal cells using MTT assay. ELME had an IC50 of 31.26 µg/mL. Thus, we can conclude that ELME might be a promising future source for antifungal compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walaa A. Negm
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt; (M.E.-A.); (G.A.)
- Correspondence: (W.A.N.); (E.E.)
| | - Mona El-Aasr
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt; (M.E.-A.); (G.A.)
| | - Ghada Attia
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt; (M.E.-A.); (G.A.)
| | - Moneerah J. Alqahtani
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia;
- Department of BioMolecular Sciences, Division of Pharmacognosy, School of Pharmacy, University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Rania Ibrahim Yassien
- Department of Histology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Menoufia University, Shebin El-Kom 32511, Egypt;
| | - Amal Abo Kamer
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt;
| | - Engy Elekhnawy
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta 31527, Egypt;
- Correspondence: (W.A.N.); (E.E.)
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