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Khodavaisy S, Xu J. Hope on the Horizon? Aptamers in Diagnosis of Invasive Fungal Infections. Genes (Basel) 2024; 15:733. [PMID: 38927669 PMCID: PMC11202631 DOI: 10.3390/genes15060733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2024] [Revised: 05/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite remarkable advances in the diagnosis of invasive fungal infections (IFIs), rapid, specific, sensitive, and cost-effective detection methods remain elusive. Due to their stability, ease of production, and specificity to signature molecules of fungal pathogens, short single-stranded sequences of DNA, RNA, and XNA, collectively called aptamers, have emerged as promising diagnostic markers. In this perspective, we summarize recent progress in aptamer-based diagnostic tools for IFIs and discuss how these tools could potentially meet the needs and provide economical and simple solutions for point-of-care for better management of IFIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadegh Khodavaisy
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1417613151, Iran
| | - Jianping Xu
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada;
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Thambugala KM, Daranagama DA, Tennakoon DS, Jayatunga DPW, Hongsanan S, Xie N. Humans vs. Fungi: An Overview of Fungal Pathogens against Humans. Pathogens 2024; 13:426. [PMID: 38787278 PMCID: PMC11124197 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13050426] [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: 03/28/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Human fungal diseases are infections caused by any fungus that invades human tissues, causing superficial, subcutaneous, or systemic diseases. Fungal infections that enter various human tissues and organs pose a significant threat to millions of individuals with weakened immune systems globally. Over recent decades, the reported cases of invasive fungal infections have increased substantially and research progress in this field has also been rapidly boosted. This review provides a comprehensive list of human fungal pathogens extracted from over 850 recent case reports, and a summary of the relevant disease conditions and their origins. Details of 281 human fungal pathogens belonging to 12 classes and 104 genera in the divisions ascomycota, basidiomycota, entomophthoromycota, and mucoromycota are listed. Among these, Aspergillus stands out as the genus with the greatest potential of infecting humans, comprising 16 species known to infect humans. Additionally, three other genera, Curvularia, Exophiala, and Trichophyton, are recognized as significant genera, each comprising 10 or more known human pathogenic species. A phylogenetic analysis based on partial sequences of the 28S nrRNA gene (LSU) of human fungal pathogens was performed to show their phylogenetic relationships and clarify their taxonomies. In addition, this review summarizes the recent advancements in fungal disease diagnosis and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kasun M. Thambugala
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka; (K.M.T.); (D.P.W.J.)
- Center for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
- Center for Plant Materials and Herbal Products Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Dinushani A. Daranagama
- Department of Plant and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya 11300, Sri Lanka;
| | - Danushka S. Tennakoon
- Bioengineering and Technological Research Centre for Edible and Medicinal Fungi, Jiangxi Agricultural University, Nanchang 330045, China;
| | - Dona Pamoda W. Jayatunga
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Unit, Faculty of Applied Sciences, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Gangodawila, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka; (K.M.T.); (D.P.W.J.)
- Center for Biotechnology, Department of Zoology, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
- Center for Plant Materials and Herbal Products Research, University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Nugegoda 10250, Sri Lanka
| | - Sinang Hongsanan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
| | - Ning Xie
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Microbial Genetic Engineering, College of Life Science and Oceanography, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
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Kola NS, Patel D, Thakur A. RNA-Based Vaccines and Therapeutics Against Intracellular Pathogens. Methods Mol Biol 2024; 2813:321-370. [PMID: 38888787 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3890-3_21] [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: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
RNA-based vaccines have sparked a paradigm shift in the treatment and prevention of diseases by nucleic acid medicines. There has been a notable surge in the development of nucleic acid therapeutics and vaccines following the global approval of the two messenger RNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. This growth is fueled by the exploration of numerous RNA products in preclinical stages, offering several advantages over conventional methods, i.e., safety, efficacy, scalability, and cost-effectiveness. In this chapter, we provide an overview of various types of RNA and their mechanisms of action for stimulating immune responses and inducing therapeutic effects. Furthermore, this chapter delves into the varying delivery systems, particularly emphasizing the use of nanoparticles to deliver RNA. The choice of delivery system is an intricate process involved in developing nucleic acid medicines that significantly enhances their stability, biocompatibility, and site-specificity. Additionally, this chapter sheds light on the current landscape of clinical trials of RNA therapeutics and vaccines against intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naga Suresh Kola
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Dhruv Patel
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Aneesh Thakur
- Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
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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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Chen L, Zhang L, Xie Y, Wang Y, Tian X, Fang W, Xue X, Wang L. Confronting antifungal resistance, tolerance, and persistence: Advances in drug target discovery and delivery systems. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 200:115007. [PMID: 37437715 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.115007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Human pathogenic fungi pose a serious threat to human health and safety. Unfortunately, the limited number of antifungal options is exacerbated by the continuous emergence of drug-resistant variants, leading to frequent drug treatment failures. Recent studies have also highlighted the clinical importance of other modes of fungal survival of antifungal treatment, including drug tolerance and persistence, pointing to the complexity of the fungal response to antifungal drugs. A lack of understanding of the fungal drug response has hampered the identification of new targets, the development of alternative antifungal strategies and the design of appropriate delivery systems. In this review we summarize recent advances in the study of antifungal resistance, tolerance and persistence, with an emphasis on promising drug targets and drug delivery systems that may yield important insights into the development of new or improved antifungal therapies against fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lanyue Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiting Wang
- College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei 071002, China
| | - Xiuyun Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wenxia Fang
- Institute of Biological Science and Technology, Guangxi Academy of Sciences, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi, China
| | - Xinying Xue
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care, Beijing Shijitan Hospital, Capital Medical University; Peking University Ninth School of Clinical Medicine, Beijing 100038, China; Department of Respiratory and Critical Care, Weifang Medical College, 261053, Weifang, Shandong, China.
| | - Linqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
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Kumar R, Srivastava V. Application of anti-fungal vaccines as a tool against emerging anti-fungal resistance. FRONTIERS IN FUNGAL BIOLOGY 2023; 4:1241539. [PMID: 37746132 PMCID: PMC10512234 DOI: 10.3389/ffunb.2023.1241539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
After viruses and bacteria, fungal infections remain a serious threat to the survival and well-being of society. The continuous emergence of resistance against commonly used anti-fungal drugs is a serious concern. The eukaryotic nature of fungal cells makes the identification of novel anti-fungal agents slow and difficult. Increasing global temperature and a humid environment conducive to fungal growth may lead to a fungal endemic or a pandemic. The continuous increase in the population of immunocompromised individuals and falling immunity forced pharmaceutical companies to look for alternative strategies for better managing the global fungal burden. Prevention of infectious diseases by vaccines can be the right choice. Recent success and safe application of mRNA-based vaccines can play a crucial role in our quest to overcome anti-fungal resistance. Expressing fungal cell surface proteins in human subjects using mRNA technology may be sufficient to raise immune response to protect against future fungal infection. The success of mRNA-based anti-fungal vaccines will heavily depend on the identification of fungal surface proteins which are highly immunogenic and have no or least side effects in human subjects. The present review discusses why it is essential to look for anti-fungal vaccines and how vaccines, in general, and mRNA-based vaccines, in particular, can be the right choice in tackling the problem of rising anti-fungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder Kumar
- Department of Pathology, Collage of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, United States
| | - Vartika Srivastava
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, School of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa
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Lee Y, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Molecular mechanisms governing antifungal drug resistance. NPJ ANTIMICROBIALS AND RESISTANCE 2023; 1:5. [PMID: 38686214 PMCID: PMC11057204 DOI: 10.1038/s44259-023-00007-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens are a severe public health problem. The leading causative agents of systemic fungal infections include species from the Candida, Cryptococcus, and Aspergillus genera. As opportunistic pathogens, these fungi are generally harmless in healthy hosts; however, they can cause significant morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. Despite the profound impact of pathogenic fungi on global human health, the current antifungal armamentarium is limited to only three major classes of drugs, all of which face complications, including host toxicity, unfavourable pharmacokinetics, or limited spectrum of activity. Further exacerbating this issue is the growing prevalence of antifungal-resistant infections and the emergence of multidrug-resistant pathogens. In this review, we discuss the diverse strategies employed by leading fungal pathogens to evolve antifungal resistance, including drug target alterations, enhanced drug efflux, and induction of cellular stress response pathways. Such mechanisms of resistance occur through diverse genetic alterations, including point mutations, aneuploidy formation, and epigenetic changes given the significant plasticity observed in many fungal genomes. Additionally, we highlight recent literature surrounding the mechanisms governing resistance in emerging multidrug-resistant pathogens including Candida auris and Candida glabrata. Advancing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms by which fungi adapt to the challenge of antifungal exposure is imperative for designing therapeutic strategies to tackle the emerging threat of antifungal resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunjin Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1 Canada
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Kelani AA, Bruch A, Rivieccio F, Visser C, Krüger T, Weaver D, Pan X, Schäuble S, Panagiotou G, Kniemeyer O, Bromley MJ, Bowyer P, Barber AE, Brakhage AA, Blango MG. Disruption of the Aspergillus fumigatus RNA interference machinery alters the conidial transcriptome. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1033-1050. [PMID: 37019633 PMCID: PMC10275271 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079350.122] [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: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The RNA interference (RNAi) pathway has evolved numerous functionalities in eukaryotes, with many on display in Kingdom Fungi. RNAi can regulate gene expression, facilitate drug resistance, or even be altogether lost to improve growth potential in some fungal pathogens. In the WHO fungal priority pathogen, Aspergillus fumigatus, the RNAi system is known to be intact and functional. To extend our limited understanding of A. fumigatus RNAi, we first investigated the genetic variation in RNAi-associated genes in a collection of 217 environmental and 83 clinical genomes, where we found that RNAi components are conserved even in clinical strains. Using endogenously expressed inverted-repeat transgenes complementary to a conditionally essential gene (pabA) or a nonessential gene (pksP), we determined that a subset of the RNAi componentry is active in inverted-repeat transgene silencing in conidia and mycelium. Analysis of mRNA-seq data from RNAi double-knockout strains linked the A. fumigatus dicer-like enzymes (DclA/B) and RNA-dependent RNA polymerases (RrpA/B) to regulation of conidial ribosome biogenesis genes; however, surprisingly few endogenous small RNAs were identified in conidia that could explain this broad change. Although RNAi was not clearly linked to growth or stress response defects in the RNAi knockouts, serial passaging of RNAi knockout strains for six generations resulted in lineages with diminished spore production over time, indicating that loss of RNAi can exert a fitness cost on the fungus. Cumulatively, A. fumigatus RNAi appears to play an active role in defense against double-stranded RNA species alongside a previously unappreciated housekeeping function in regulation of conidial ribosomal biogenesis genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulrahman A Kelani
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Alexander Bruch
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Flora Rivieccio
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Corissa Visser
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Danielle Weaver
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Xiaoqing Pan
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Sascha Schäuble
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Gianni Panagiotou
- Department of Microbiome Dynamics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Michael J Bromley
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Bowyer
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group, Division of Infection, Immunity and Respiratory Medicine, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, United Kingdom
| | - Amelia E Barber
- Junior Research Group Fungal Informatics, Friedrich Schiller University, 07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Biology, Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, 07743 Jena, Germany
| | - Matthew G Blango
- Junior Research Group RNA Biology of Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI), 07745 Jena, Germany
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Lindsø Andersen P, Jemec GBE, Erikstrup C, Didriksen M, Dinh KM, Mikkelsen S, Bruun MT, Hjalgrim H, Hansen TF, Sækmose SG, Ostrowski SR, Pedersen OB, Saunte DM. Two Novel Human Leukocyte Antigen Alleles Are Associated with Decreased Risk of Onychomycosis in a Large Cohort of Danish Blood Donors. Skin Appendage Disord 2023; 9:195-202. [PMID: 37325286 PMCID: PMC10264904 DOI: 10.1159/000529092] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Antigen presentation and antimicrobial immune responses involve the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) system. Onychomycosis is primarily caused by dermatophytes and affects around 5.5% of the population worldwide. Yet, only limited data exist on the associations between the HLA system and onychomycosis. Thus, the objective of the study was to investigate if there is an association between HLA alleles and onychomycosis. Methods Participants in the Danish Blood Donor Study were defined as cases of onychomycosis and controls based on antifungal prescriptions in the national prescription registry. Associations were investigated using logistic regressions adjusted for confounders and were Bonferroni corrected for multiple tests. Results A total of 3,665 participants were considered onychomycosis cases, and 24,144 participants were considered controls. We found two protective HLA alleles of onychomycosis: DQB1*06:04, odds ratios (OR) 0.80 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.71-0.90), and DRB1*13:02, OR 0.79 (95% CI: 0.71-0.89). Conclusion The finding of two novel protective alleles of onychomycosis indicates that certain HLA alleles have certain antigen presentation properties affecting the risk of fungal infection. These findings may provide the basis for future research identifying immunologically relevant antigens of fungi causing onychomycosis, which could ultimately lead to targets of new drugs with antifungal effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pernille Lindsø Andersen
- Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
| | - Gregor Borut Ernst Jemec
- Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Christian Erikstrup
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Maria Didriksen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Khoa Manh Dinh
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Susan Mikkelsen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mie Topholm Bruun
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Henrik Hjalgrim
- Department of Epidemiology Research, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Thomas Folkmann Hansen
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Protein Research, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Neurology, Danish Headache Center, Copenhagen University Hospital, Glostrup, Denmark
| | | | - Sisse Rye Ostrowski
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ole Birger Pedersen
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Zealand University Hospital, Køge, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ditte Marie Saunte
- Department of Dermatology, Zealand University Hospital, Roskilde, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Sartaj Sohrab S, Aly El-Kafrawy S, Mirza Z, Hassan AM, Alsaqaf F, Ibraheem Azhar E. Delivery of siRNAs against MERS-CoV in Vero and HEK-293 cells: A comparative evaluation of transfection reagents. JOURNAL OF KING SAUD UNIVERSITY. SCIENCE 2023; 35:102540. [PMID: 36624781 PMCID: PMC9814285 DOI: 10.1016/j.jksus.2023.102540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 01/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Background A new coronavirus was identified in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia in 2012 and designated as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). To date, this virus has been reported in 27 countries. The virus transmission to humans has already been reported from camels. Currently, there is no vaccine or antiviral therapy available against this virus. Methods The siRNAs were in silico predicted, designed, and chemically synthesized by using the MERS-CoV-orf1ab region as a target. The antiviral activity was experimentally evaluated by delivering the siRNAs with Lipofectamine™ 2000 and JetPRIMER as transfection reagents in both Vero cell and HEK-293-T cell lines at two different concentrations (10.0 nM and 5.0 nM). The Ct value of quantitative Real-Time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to calculate and determine the reduction of viral RNA level in both cell supernatant and cell lysate isolated from both cell lines. Results The sequence alignment resulted in the selection of highly conserved regions. The orf1ab region was used to predict and design the siRNAs and a total of twenty-one siRNAs were finally selected from four hundred and twenty-six siRNAs generated by online software. Inhibition of viral replication and significant reduction of viral RNA was observed against selected siRNAs in both cell lines at both concentrations. Based on the Ct value, the siRNAs # 11, 12, 18, and 20 were observed to be the best performing in both cell lines at both concentrations. Conclusion Based on the results and data analysis, it is concluded that the use of two different transfection reagents was significantly effective. But the Lipofectamine™ 2000 was found to be a better transfection reagent than the JetPRIMER for the delivery of siRNAs in both cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayed Sartaj Sohrab
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherif Aly El-Kafrawy
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zeenat Mirza
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed M Hassan
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fatima Alsaqaf
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Esam Ibraheem Azhar
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
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11
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Computational Design and Experimental Evaluation of MERS-CoV siRNAs in Selected Cell Lines. Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13010151. [PMID: 36611443 PMCID: PMC9818142 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13010151] [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: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) is caused by a well-known coronavirus first identified in a hospitalized patient in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. MERS-CoV is a serious pathogen affecting both human and camel health globally, with camels being known carriers of viruses that spread to humans. In this work, MERS-CoV genomic sequences were retrieved and analyzed by multiple sequence alignment to design and predict siRNAs with online software. The siRNAs were designed from the orf1ab region of the virus genome because of its high sequence conservation and vital role in virus replication. The designed siRNAs were used for experimental evaluation in selected cell lines: Vero cells, HEK-293-T, and Huh-7. Virus inhibition was assessed according to the cycle threshold value during a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. Out of 462 potential siRNAs, we filtered out 21 based on specific selection criteria without off-target effect. The selected siRNAs did not show any cellular toxicity in the tested cell lines at various concentrations. Based on our results, it was obvious that the combined use of siRNAs exhibited a reduction in MERS-CoV replication in the Vero, HEK-293-T, and Huh-7 cell lines, with the highest efficacy displayed in the Vero cells.
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Wu S, Guo W, Li B, Zhou H, Meng H, Sun J, Li R, Guo D, Zhang X, Li R, Qu W. Progress of polymer-based strategies in fungal disease management: Designed for different roles. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1142029. [PMID: 37033476 PMCID: PMC10073610 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1142029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal diseases have posed a great challenge to global health, but have fewer solutions compared to bacterial and viral infections. Development and application of new treatment modalities for fungi are limited by their inherent essential properties as eukaryotes. The microorganism identification and drug sensitivity analyze are limited by their proliferation rates. Moreover, there are currently no vaccines for prevention. Polymer science and related interdisciplinary technologies have revolutionized the field of fungal disease management. To date, numerous advanced polymer-based systems have been developed for management of fungal diseases, including prevention, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring. In this review, we provide an overview of current needs and advances in polymer-based strategies against fungal diseases. We high light various treatment modalities. Delivery systems of antifungal drugs, systems based on polymers' innate antifungal activities, and photodynamic therapies each follow their own mechanisms and unique design clues. We also discuss various prevention strategies including immunization and antifungal medical devices, and further describe point-of-care testing platforms as futuristic diagnostic and monitoring tools. The broad application of polymer-based strategies for both public and personal health management is prospected and integrated systems have become a promising direction. However, there is a gap between experimental studies and clinical translation. In future, well-designed in vivo trials should be conducted to reveal the underlying mechanisms and explore the efficacy as well as biosafety of polymer-based products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyu Wu
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Wenlai Guo
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Bo Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Huidong Zhou
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongqi Meng
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Junyi Sun
- Changchun American International School, Changchun, China
| | - Ruiyan Li
- Orthpoeadic Medical Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Orhtopeadics, Changchun, China
| | - Deming Guo
- Orthpoeadic Medical Center, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Orhtopeadics, Changchun, China
| | - Xi Zhang
- Department of Burn Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Zhang, ; Rui Li, ; Wenrui Qu,
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Zhang, ; Rui Li, ; Wenrui Qu,
| | - Wenrui Qu
- Department of Hand Surgery, The Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Xi Zhang, ; Rui Li, ; Wenrui Qu,
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Amich J. Sulfur Metabolism as a Promising Source of New Antifungal Targets. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:295. [PMID: 35330297 PMCID: PMC8951744 DOI: 10.3390/jof8030295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a growing threat to human health. Despite their clinical relevance, there is a surprisingly limited availability of clinically approved antifungal agents, which is seriously aggravated by the recent appearance and fast spread of drug resistance. It is therefore clear that there is an urgent need for novel and efficient antifungals. In this context, metabolism is recognized as a promising source for new antifungal targets and, indeed, there are new drugs in development that target metabolic pathways. Fungal sulfur metabolism is particularly interesting, as many of its processes are essential for viability and/or pathogenicity and it shows substantial differences with human metabolism. This short-review will summarize our current knowledge of sulfur-related genes and routes that are important for Aspergillus fumigatus virulence, which consequently could be pursued for drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Amich
- Mycology Reference Laboratory, National Centre for Microbiology, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Majadahonda, 28222 Madrid, Spain;
- Manchester Fungal Infection Group (MFIG), Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9NT, UK
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