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Bras G, Satala D, Juszczak M, Kulig K, Wronowska E, Bednarek A, Zawrotniak M, Rapala-Kozik M, Karkowska-Kuleta J. Secreted Aspartic Proteinases: Key Factors in Candida Infections and Host-Pathogen Interactions. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4775. [PMID: 38731993 PMCID: PMC11084781 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25094775] [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: 03/15/2024] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Extracellular proteases are key factors contributing to the virulence of pathogenic fungi from the genus Candida. Their proteolytic activities are crucial for extracting nutrients from the external environment, degrading host defenses, and destabilizing the internal balance of the human organism. Currently, the enzymes most frequently described in this context are secreted aspartic proteases (Saps). This review comprehensively explores the multifaceted roles of Saps, highlighting their importance in biofilm formation, tissue invasion through the degradation of extracellular matrix proteins and components of the coagulation cascade, modulation of host immune responses via impairment of neutrophil and monocyte/macrophage functions, and their contribution to antifungal resistance. Additionally, the diagnostic challenges associated with Candida infections and the potential of Saps as biomarkers were discussed. Furthermore, we examined the prospects of developing vaccines based on Saps and the use of protease inhibitors as adjunctive therapies for candidiasis. Given the complex biology of Saps and their central role in Candida pathogenicity, a multidisciplinary approach may pave the way for innovative diagnostic strategies and open new opportunities for innovative clinical interventions against candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grazyna Bras
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Dorota Satala
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Magdalena Juszczak
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Kamila Kulig
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Ewelina Wronowska
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Aneta Bednarek
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
- Doctoral School of Exact and Natural Sciences, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland
| | - Marcin Zawrotniak
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Maria Rapala-Kozik
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
| | - Justyna Karkowska-Kuleta
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Gronostajowa 7, 30-387 Kraków, Poland (M.Z.); (J.K.-K.)
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Santos ALS, Braga-Silva LA, Gonçalves DS, Ramos LS, Oliveira SSC, Souza LOP, Oliveira VS, Lins RD, Pinto MR, Muñoz JE, Taborda CP, Branquinha MH. Repositioning Lopinavir, an HIV Protease Inhibitor, as a Promising Antifungal Drug: Lessons Learned from Candida albicans-In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060424. [PMID: 34071195 PMCID: PMC8229492 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The repurposing strategy was applied herein to evaluate the effects of lopinavir, an aspartic protease inhibitor currently used in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals, on the globally widespread opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans by using in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches in order to decipher its targets on fungal cells and its antifungal mechanisms of action. Secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) are the obviously main target of lopinavir. To confirm this hypothesis, molecular docking assays revealed that lopinavir bound to the Sap2 catalytic site of C. albicans as well as inhibited the Sap hydrolytic activity in a typically dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of Saps culminated in the inability of C. albicans yeasts to assimilate the unique nitrogen source (albumin) available in the culture medium, culminating with fungal growth inhibition (IC50 = 39.8 µM). The antifungal action of lopinavir was corroborated by distinct microscopy analyses, which evidenced drastic and irreversible changes in the morphology that justified the fungal death. Furthermore, our results revealed that lopinavir was able to (i) arrest the yeasts-into-hyphae transformation, (ii) disturb the synthesis of neutral lipids, including ergosterol, (iii) modulate the surface-located molecules, such as Saps and mannose-, sialic acid- and N-acetylglucosamine-containing glycoconjugates, (iv) diminish the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, such as Saps and esterase, (v) negatively influence the biofilm formation on polystyrene surface, (vi) block the in vitro adhesion to epithelial cells, (vii) contain the in vivo infection in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice and (viii) reduce the Sap production by yeasts recovered from kidneys of infected animals. Conclusively, the exposed results highlight that lopinavir may be used as a promising repurposing drug against C. albicans infection as well as may be used as a lead compound for the development of novel antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- André L. S. Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica (PPGBq), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
- Correspondence: (A.L.S.S.); (M.H.B.); Tel.: +55-21-3938-0366 (A.L.S.S.)
| | - Lys A. Braga-Silva
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica (PPGBq), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Diego S. Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica (PPGBq), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Lívia S. Ramos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
| | - Simone S. C. Oliveira
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
| | - Lucieri O. P. Souza
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
| | - Vanessa S. Oliveira
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 50740-465, Brazil; (V.S.O.); (R.D.L.)
| | - Roberto D. Lins
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 50740-465, Brazil; (V.S.O.); (R.D.L.)
| | - Marcia R. Pinto
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24210-130, Brazil;
| | - Julian E. Muñoz
- MICROS Group, Medicine Traslacional Institute, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | - Carlos P. Taborda
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil;
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica—LIM53/IMTSP, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Marta H. Branquinha
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Correspondence: (A.L.S.S.); (M.H.B.); Tel.: +55-21-3938-0366 (A.L.S.S.)
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Abstract
Candida albicans is a fungal species that is part of the normal human microbiota and also an opportunistic pathogen capable of causing mucosal and systemic infections. C. albicans cells proliferate in a planktonic (suspension) state, but they also form biofilms, organized and tightly packed communities of cells attached to a solid surface. Biofilms colonize many niches of the human body and persist on implanted medical devices, where they are a major source of new C. albicans infections. Here, we used an unbiased and global substrate-profiling approach to discover proteolytic activities produced specifically by C. albicans biofilms, compared to planktonic cells, with the goal of identifying potential biofilm-specific diagnostic markers and targets for therapeutic intervention. This activity-based profiling approach, coupled with proteomics, identified Sap5 (Candidapepsin-5) and Sap6 (Candidapepsin-6) as major biofilm-specific proteases secreted by C. albicans. Fluorogenic peptide substrates with selectivity for Sap5 or Sap6 confirmed that their activities are highly upregulated in C. albicans biofilms; we also show that these activities are upregulated in other Candida clade pathogens. Deletion of the SAP5 and SAP6 genes in C. albicans compromised biofilm development in vitro in standard biofilm assays and in vivo in a rat central venous catheter biofilm model. This work establishes secreted proteolysis as a promising enzymatic marker and potential therapeutic target for Candida biofilm formation. Biofilm formation by the opportunistic fungal pathogen C. albicans is a major cause of life-threatening infections. This work provides a global characterization of secreted proteolytic activity produced specifically by C. albicans biofilms. We identify activity from the proteases Sap5 and Sap6 as highly upregulated during C. albicans biofilm formation and develop Sap-cleavable fluorogenic substrates that enable the detection of biofilms from C. albicans and also from additional pathogenic Candida species. Furthermore, SAP5 and SAP6 deletions confirm that both proteases are required for proper biofilm development in vitro and in vivo. We propose that secreted proteolysis is a promising marker for the diagnosis and potential therapeutic targeting of Candida biofilm-associated infections.
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Russell MW, Whittum-Hudson J, Fidel PL, Hook EW, Mestecky J. Immunity to Sexually Transmitted Infections. Mucosal Immunol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-415847-4.00112-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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White RE, Powell DJ, Berry C. HIV proteinase inhibitors target the Ddi1-like protein of Leishmania parasites. FASEB J 2011; 25:1729-36. [PMID: 21266539 PMCID: PMC3739880 DOI: 10.1096/fj.10-178947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
HIV proteinase inhibitors reduce the levels of Leishmania parasites in vivo and in vitro, but their biochemical target is unknown. We have identified an ortholog of the yeast Ddi1 protein as the only member of the aspartic proteinase family in Leishmania parasites, and in this study we investigate this protein as a potential target for the drugs. To date, no enzyme assay has been developed for the Ddi1 proteins, but Saccharomyces cerevisiae lacking the DDI1 gene secrete high levels of protein into the medium. We developed an assay in which these knockout yeast were functionally complemented to low secretion by introduction of genes encoding Ddi1 orthologs from Leishmania major or humans. Plasmid alone controls gave no complementation. Treatment of the Ddi1 transformants with HIV proteinase inhibitors showed differential effects dependent on the origin of the Ddi1. Dose responses allowed calculation of IC50 values; e.g., for nelfinavir, of 3.4 μM (human Ddi1) and 0.44 μM (Leishmania Ddi1). IC50 values with Leishmania constructs mirror the potency of inhibitors against parasites. Our results show that Ddi1 proteins are targets of HIV proteinase inhibitors and indicates the Leishmania Ddi1 as the likely target for these drugs and a potential target for antiparasitic therapy.—White, R. E., Powell, D. J., Berry, C. HIV proteinase inhibitors target the Ddi1-Like protein of Leishmania parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhian E White
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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Haq SK, Rabbani G, Ahmad E, Atif SM, Khan RH. Protease inhibitors: a panacea? J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2010; 24:270-7. [PMID: 20135636 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.20335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
With the increasing evidence of protease involvement in several diseases, novel strategies for drug development involve the use of protease inhibitors (PIs). The local balance between protease inhibitors and proteases is an important determinant of the occurrence and progression of a particular disease. Hence, enzymes and their cognate inhibitors are finding their applications as diagnostic and prognostic markers. PIs are widely implicated for their use in host defense against infection, tissue repair and matrix production, blood coagulation, cancer, and they are, therefore, the current focus as therapeutic alternatives for major diseases such as AIDS and Alzheimer's diseases. This review is a brief summary of the varied role of protein protease inhibitors in controlling the activity of aberrant enzymes in several diseases afflicting mankind today.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soghra Khatun Haq
- Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India
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Savarino A, Pistello M, D'Ostilio D, Zabogli E, Taglia F, Mancini F, Ferro S, Matteucci D, De Luca L, Barreca ML, Ciervo A, Chimirri A, Ciccozzi M, Bendinelli M. Human immunodeficiency virus integrase inhibitors efficiently suppress feline immunodeficiency virus replication in vitro and provide a rationale to redesign antiretroviral treatment for feline AIDS. Retrovirology 2007; 4:79. [PMID: 17971219 PMCID: PMC2244644 DOI: 10.1186/1742-4690-4-79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2007] [Accepted: 10/30/2007] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Treatment of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infection has been hampered by the absence of a specific combination antiretroviral treatment (ART). Integrase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) are emerging as a promising new drug class for HIV-1 treatment, and we evaluated the possibility of inhibiting FIV replication using INSTIs. METHODS Phylogenetic analysis of lentiviral integrase (IN) sequences was carried out using the PAUP* software. A theoretical three-dimensional structure of the FIV IN catalytic core domain (CCD) was obtained by homology modeling based on a crystal structure of HIV-1 IN CCD. The interaction of the transferred strand of viral DNA with the catalytic cavity of FIV IN was deduced from a crystal structure of a structurally similar transposase complexed with transposable DNA. Molecular docking simulations were conducted using a genetic algorithm (GOLD). Antiviral activity was tested in feline lymphoblastoid MBM cells acutely infected with the FIV Petaluma strain. Circular and total proviral DNA was quantified by real-time PCR. RESULTS The calculated INSTI-binding sites were found to be nearly identical in FIV and HIV-1 IN CCDs. The close similarity of primate and feline lentivirus IN CCDs was also supported by phylogenetic analysis. In line with these bioinformatic analyses, FIV replication was efficiently inhibited in acutely infected cell cultures by three investigational INSTIs, designed for HIV-1 and belonging to different classes. Of note, the naphthyridine carboxamide INSTI, L-870,810 displayed an EC50 in the low nanomolar range. Inhibition of FIV integration in situ was shown by real-time PCR experiments that revealed accumulation of circular forms of FIV DNA within cells treated with L-870,810. CONCLUSION We report a drug class (other than nucleosidic reverse transcriptase inhibitors) that is capable of inhibiting FIV replication in vitro. The present study helped establish L-870,810, a compound successfully tested in human clinical trials, as one of the most potent anti-FIV agents ever tested in vitro. This finding may provide new avenues for treating FIV infection and contribute to the development of a small animal model mimicking the effects of ART in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Savarino
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Pistello
- Dept. of Experimental Pathology, Univ. of Pisa, Via San Zeno 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Daniela D'Ostilio
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Zabogli
- Dept. of Experimental Pathology, Univ. of Pisa, Via San Zeno 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Fabiana Taglia
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabiola Mancini
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Stefania Ferro
- Pharmaco-chemical Dept., Univ. of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Donatella Matteucci
- Dept. of Experimental Pathology, Univ. of Pisa, Via San Zeno 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy
| | - Laura De Luca
- Pharmaco-chemical Dept., Univ. of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Ciervo
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Alba Chimirri
- Pharmaco-chemical Dept., Univ. of Messina, Viale Annunziata, 98168 Messina, Italy
| | - Massimo Ciccozzi
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Mauro Bendinelli
- Dept. of Experimental Pathology, Univ. of Pisa, Via San Zeno 37, 56127 Pisa, Italy
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Di Trani L, Savarino A, Campitelli L, Norelli S, Puzelli S, D'Ostilio D, Vignolo E, Donatelli I, Cassone A. Different pH requirements are associated with divergent inhibitory effects of chloroquine on human and avian influenza A viruses. Virol J 2007; 4:39. [PMID: 17477867 PMCID: PMC1878474 DOI: 10.1186/1743-422x-4-39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2007] [Accepted: 05/03/2007] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Chloroquine is a 4-aminoquinoline previously used in malaria therapy and now becoming an emerging investigational antiviral drug due to its broad spectrum of antiviral activities. To explore whether the low pH-dependency of influenza A viruses might affect the antiviral effects of chloroquine at clinically achievable concentrations, we tested the antiviral effects of this drug on selected human and avian viruses belonging to different subtypes and displaying different pH requirements. Results showed a correlation between the responses to chloroquine and NH4Cl, a lysosomotropic agent known to increase the pH of intracellular vesicles. Time-of-addition experiments showed that the inhibitory effect of chloroquine was maximal when the drug had been added at the time of infection and was lost after 2 h post-infection. This timing approximately corresponds to that of virus/cell fusion. Moreover, there was a clear correlation between the EC50 of chloroquine in vitro and the electrostatic potential of the HA subunit (HA2) mediating the virus/cell fusion process. Overall, the present study highlights the critical importance of a host cell factor such as intravesicular pH in determining the anti-influenza activity of chloroquine and other lysosomotropic agents.
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MESH Headings
- Ammonium Chloride/metabolism
- Ammonium Chloride/pharmacology
- Animals
- Antiviral Agents/pharmacology
- Cell Line
- Cell Survival
- Chloroquine/pharmacology
- Cytopathogenic Effect, Viral/drug effects
- Dogs
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/chemistry
- Hemagglutinin Glycoproteins, Influenza Virus/physiology
- Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/drug effects
- Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/physiology
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/drug effects
- Influenza A Virus, H3N2 Subtype/physiology
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/drug effects
- Influenza A Virus, H5N1 Subtype/physiology
- Influenza A virus/drug effects
- Influenza A virus/physiology
- Lysosomes/metabolism
- Poultry
- RNA, Viral/biosynthesis
- Time Factors
- Virus Replication/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Livia Di Trani
- Dept. of Food and Animal Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Savarino
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic, and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Campitelli
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic, and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Sandro Norelli
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic, and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Puzelli
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic, and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Daniela D'Ostilio
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic, and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Edoardo Vignolo
- Dept. of Food and Animal Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Donatelli
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic, and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Cassone
- Dept. of Infectious, Parasitic, and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
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Fungal Vaccines and Vaccination: Problems and Perspectives. IMMUNOLOGY OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS 2007. [PMCID: PMC7121605 DOI: 10.1007/1-4020-5492-0_21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Vaccines against human pathogenic fungi, a rather neglected medical need until few years ago, are now gaining steps in the public health priority scale. The awareness of the rising medical threat represented by the opportunistic fungal infections among the health care-associated infections, the advances in the knowledge of fungal pathogenicity and immune response and the extraordinary progress of biotechnology have generated enthusiasm and critical new tools for active and passive anti-fungal vaccination. The discovery that antibodies play a critical role for protection against fungal infection has greatly contributed to the advancements in this field, in recognition that almost all useful vaccines against viral and bacterial pathogens owe their protective efficacy to neutralizing, opsonizing or otherwise effective antibodies. Overall, there is more hope now than few years ago about the chances of generating and having approved by the regulatory authorities one or more antifungal vaccines, be active or passive, for use in humans in the next few years. In particular, the possibility of protecting against multiple opportunistic mycoses in immuno-depressed subjects with a single, well-defined glucan-conjugate vaccine eliciting directly anti-fungal antibodies may be an important step to achieve this public health goal
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Mondello F, De Bernardis F, Girolamo A, Cassone A, Salvatore G. In vivo activity of terpinen-4-ol, the main bioactive component of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (tea tree) oil against azole-susceptible and -resistant human pathogenic Candida species. BMC Infect Dis 2006; 6:158. [PMID: 17083732 PMCID: PMC1637110 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-6-158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2006] [Accepted: 11/03/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recent investigations on the antifungal properties of essential oil of Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel (Tea Tree Oil, TTO) have been performed with reference to the treatment of vaginal candidiasis. However, there is a lack of in vivo data supporting in vitro results, especially regarding the antifungal properties of TTO constituents. Thus, the aim of our study was to investigate the in vitro and the in vivo anti-Candida activity of two critical bioactive constituents of TTO, terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole. METHODS Oophorectomized, pseudoestrus rats under estrogen treatment were used for experimental vaginal infection with azole (fluconazole, itraconazole) -susceptible or -resistant strains of C. albicans. All these strains were preliminarily tested for in vitro susceptibility to TTO, terpinen-4-ol and 1,8-cineole for their antifungal properties, using a modification of the CLSI (formerly NCCLS) reference M27-A2 broth micro-dilution method. RESULTS In vitro minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC90) values were 0.06% (volume/volume) for terpinen-4-ol and 4% (volume/volume) for 1,8-cineole, regardless of susceptibility or resistance of the strains to fluconazole and itraconazole. Fungicidal concentrations of terpinen-4-ol were equivalent to the candidastatic activity. In the rat vaginal infection model, terpinen-4-ol was as active as TTO in accelerating clearance from the vagina of all Candida strains examined. CONCLUSION Our data suggest that terpinen-4-ol is a likely mediator of the in vitro and in vivo activity of TTO. This is the first in vivo demonstration that terpinen-4-ol could control C. albicans vaginal infections. The purified compound holds promise for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis, and particularly the azole-resistant forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Mondello
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Flavia De Bernardis
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonietta Girolamo
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonio Cassone
- Department of Infectious, Parasitic and Immune-mediated Diseases, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Salvatore
- Department of Environment and Primary Prevention, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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Ribeiro MA, Miranda AE, Gambale W, Paula CR. Prevalence and exoenzyme secretion by Candida albicans isolates from oral and vaginal mucosas of HIV-infected women. Mycopathologia 2004; 157:255-61. [PMID: 15180151 DOI: 10.1023/b:myco.0000024173.02010.a5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the prevalence and the aetiology of forms of mucosal fungal infections of HIV-negative and HIV-positive women. Candida albicans was the predominate specie isolated from both groups of patients, with remarkable proportion of isolation from symptomatic women. All 239 C. albicans isolates, regardless of their source, showed activity of proteinase and phospholipase. It was verified that isolates with particularly higher levels of exoenzymes production were significantly more common in HIV-positive patients. However, isolates obtained from the HIV-positive patients in use of HAART, with protease inhibitor, presented lower levels of these exoenzymes, similar to the levels observed in the isolates from HIV-negative patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariceli Araujo Ribeiro
- Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Centro Biomedico da Universidade Federal do Espirito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil.
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Gow NAR, Knox Y, Munro CA, Thompson WD. Infection of chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) as a model for invasive hyphal growth and pathogenesis of Candida albicans. Med Mycol 2003; 41:331-8. [PMID: 12964726 DOI: 10.1080/13693780310001600859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the development of a simple model for assessing the ability of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans to invade the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) of fertilized hens' eggs. Wild-type and mutant strains of C. albicans were inoculated onto CAM surfaces either as a liquid suspension or on a sterile filter disc. Invasion of the membrane led to death of the embryo due to damage of the CAM, which could be examined histologically to show cell distribution and morphology, and by RT-PCR for assessment of patterns of fungal gene expression in vivo. Prophylactic or co-administration of fluconazole with the inoculum protected the embryo from infection. Secretory aspartyl protease (Sap) mutant strains with reported attenuation of virulence were virulent in the CAM model. However, a C. albicans strain with mutations in two transcription factors Efg1 and Cph1 was unable to form hyphae on the CAM or to penetrate it. The chick CAM, therefore, represents an experimentally tractable and inexpensive alternative to rodent or tissue culture-based invasion models, and can be used to investigate fungal pathogenesis and the genetic regulation of infection and membrane penetration of C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- N A R Gow
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Institute of Medical Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2QS, UK.
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