1
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Huang Y, Shan X, Zhang C, Duan Y. Pseudomonas protegens volatile organic compounds inhibited brown rot of postharvest peach fruit by repressing the pathogenesis-related genes in Monilinia fructicola. Food Microbiol 2024; 122:104551. [PMID: 38839219 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2024.104551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024]
Abstract
Brown rot, caused by Monilinia fructicola, is considered one of the devasting diseases of pre-harvest and post-harvest peach fruits, restricting the yield and quality of peach fruits and causing great economic losses to the peach industry every year. Presently, the management of the disease relies heavily on chemical control. In the study, we demonstrated that the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of endophyte bacterial Pseudomonas protegens QNF1 inhibited the mycelial growth of M. fructicola by 95.35% compared to the control, thereby reducing the brown rot on postharvest fruits by 98.76%. Additionally, QNF1 VOCs severely damaged the mycelia of M. fructicola. RNA-seq analysis revealed that QNF1 VOCs significantly repressed the expressions of most of the genes related to pathogenesis (GO:0009405) and integral component of plasma membrane (GO:0005887), and further analysis revealed that QNF1 VOCs significantly altered the expressions of the genes involved in various metabolism pathways including Amino acid metabolism, Carbohydrate metabolism, and Lipid metabolism. The findings of the study indicated that QNF1 VOCs displayed substantial control efficacy by disrupting the mycelial morphology of M. fructicola, weakening its pathogenesis, and causing its metabolic disorders. The study provided a potential way and theoretical support for the management of the brown rot of peach fruits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghong Huang
- College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Fruit (Qingdao), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Qingdao, China; National Technology Centre for Whole Process Quality Control of FSEN Horticultural Products (Qingdao), Qingdao, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Modern Agriculture Quality and Safety Engineering, Qingdao, China.
| | - Xiaoying Shan
- College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Fruit (Qingdao), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Qingdao, China; National Technology Centre for Whole Process Quality Control of FSEN Horticultural Products (Qingdao), Qingdao, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Modern Agriculture Quality and Safety Engineering, Qingdao, China
| | - Cuifang Zhang
- College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Fruit (Qingdao), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Qingdao, China; National Technology Centre for Whole Process Quality Control of FSEN Horticultural Products (Qingdao), Qingdao, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Modern Agriculture Quality and Safety Engineering, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanxin Duan
- College of Horticulture, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, China; Laboratory of Quality & Safety Risk Assessment for Fruit (Qingdao), Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Qingdao, China; National Technology Centre for Whole Process Quality Control of FSEN Horticultural Products (Qingdao), Qingdao, China; Qingdao Key Laboratory of Modern Agriculture Quality and Safety Engineering, Qingdao, China.
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2
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Palma F, Acunzo M, Della Marca R, Dell'Annunziata F, Folliero V, Chianese A, Zannella C, Franci G, De Filippis A, Galdiero M. Evaluation of antifungal spectrum of Cupferron against Candida albicans. Microb Pathog 2024; 194:106835. [PMID: 39117014 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2024.106835] [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: 04/23/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast accounting for about 50-90 % of all cases of candidiasis in humans, ranging from superficial to systemic potentially life-threatening infections. The presence of several virulence factors, including biofilm, hyphal transition, and proteolytic enzymes production, worsens the fungal infections burden on healthcare system resources. Hence, developing new bioactive compounds with antifungal activity is a pressing urgence for the scientific community. In this perspective, we evaluated the anti-Candida potential of the N-Nitroso-N-phenylhydroxylamine ammonium salt (cupferron) against standard and clinical C. albicans strains. Firstly, the in vitro cytotoxicity of cupferron was checked in the range 400-12.5 μg/mL against human microglial cells (HMC-3). Secondly, its antifungal spectrum was explored via disk diffusion test, broth-microdilution method, and time-killing curve analysis, validating the obtained results through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observations. Additionally, we evaluated the cupferron impact on the main virulence determinants of Candida albicans. At non-toxic concentrations (100-12.5 μg/mL), the compound exerted interesting anti-Candida activity, registering a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) between 50 and 100 μg/mL against the tested strains, with a fungistatic effect until 100 μg/mL. Furthermore, cupferron was able to counteract fungal virulence at MIC and sub-MIC values (50-12.5 μg/mL). These findings may propose cupferron as a new potential antifungal option for the treatment of Candida albicans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Palma
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Marina Acunzo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Roberta Della Marca
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Federica Dell'Annunziata
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Veronica Folliero
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081, Baronissi, Italy
| | - Annalisa Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Carla Zannella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Gianluigi Franci
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, 84081, Baronissi, Italy
| | - Anna De Filippis
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy
| | - Massimiliano Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", 80138, Naples, Italy.
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3
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Tanwar M, Singh A, Singh TP, Sharma S, Sharma P. Comprehensive Review on the Virulence Factors and Therapeutic Strategies with the Aid of Artificial Intelligence against Mucormycosis. ACS Infect Dis 2024; 10:1431-1457. [PMID: 38682683 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00082] [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: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Mucormycosis, a rare but deadly fungal infection, was an epidemic during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rise in cases (COVID-19-associated mucormycosis, CAM) is attributed to excessive steroid and antibiotic use, poor hospital hygiene, and crowded settings. Major contributing factors include diabetes and weakened immune systems. The main manifesting forms of CAM─cutaneous, pulmonary, and the deadliest, rhinocerebral─and disseminated infections elevated mortality rates to 85%. Recent focus lies on small-molecule inhibitors due to their advantages over standard treatments like surgery and liposomal amphotericin B (which carry several long-term adverse effects), offering potential central nervous system penetration, diverse targets, and simpler dosing owing to their small size, rendering the ability to traverse the blood-brain barrier via passive diffusion facilitated by the phospholipid membrane. Adaptation and versatility in mucormycosis are facilitated by a multitude of virulence factors, enabling the pathogen to dynamically respond to various environmental stressors. A comprehensive understanding of these virulence mechanisms is imperative for devising effective therapeutic interventions against this highly opportunistic pathogen that thrives in immunocompromised individuals through its angio-invasive nature. Hence, this Review delineates the principal virulence factors of mucormycosis, the mechanisms it employs to persist in challenging host environments, and the current progress in developing small-molecule inhibitors against them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mansi Tanwar
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Anamika Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Tej Pal Singh
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Sujata Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Pradeep Sharma
- Department of Biophysics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
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4
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Zhang Y, Gao Z, Lei Y, Song L, He W, Liu J, Song M, Dai Y, Yang G, Gong A. FgFAD12 Regulates Vegetative Growth, Pathogenicity and Linoleic Acid Biosynthesis in Fusarium graminearum. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:288. [PMID: 38667959 PMCID: PMC11051453 DOI: 10.3390/jof10040288] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), as important components of lipids, play indispensable roles in the development of all organisms. ∆12 fatty acid desaturase (FAD12) is a speed-determining step in the biosynthesis of PUFAs. Here, we report the characterization of FAD12 in Fusarium graminearum, which is the prevalent agent of Fusarium head blight, a destructive plant disease worldwide. The results demonstrated that deletion of the FgFAD12 gene resulted in defects in vegetative growth, conidial germination and plant pathogenesis but not sexual reproduction. A fatty acid analysis further proved that the deletion of FgFAD12 restrained the reaction of oleic acid to linoleic acid, and a large amount of oleic acid was detected in the cells. Moreover, the ∆Fgfad12 mutant showed increased resistance to osmotic stress and reduced tolerance to oxidative stress. The expression of FgFAD12 did show a temperature-dependent manner, which was not affected at a low temperature of 10 °C when compared to 25 °C. RNA-seq analysis further demonstrated that most genes enriched in fatty acid metabolism, the biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, fatty acid biosynthesis, fatty acid degradation, steroid biosynthesis and fatty acid elongation pathways were significantly up-regulated in the ∆Fgfad12 mutants. Overall, our results indicate that FgFAD12 is essential for linoleic acid biosynthesis and plays an important role in the infection process of F. graminearum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yimei Zhang
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Zhen Gao
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Yinyu Lei
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Liuye Song
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Weijie He
- College of Plant Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultura University, Wuhan 430070, China;
| | - Jingrong Liu
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Mengge Song
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Yafeng Dai
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Guang Yang
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
| | - Andong Gong
- College of Life Science, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; (Z.G.); (Y.L.); (L.S.); (J.L.); (M.S.); (Y.D.); (G.Y.)
- Henan Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology, Xinyang 464000, China
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5
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Puumala E, Fallah S, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Advancements and challenges in antifungal therapeutic development. Clin Microbiol Rev 2024; 37:e0014223. [PMID: 38294218 PMCID: PMC10938895 DOI: 10.1128/cmr.00142-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Over recent decades, the global burden of fungal disease has expanded dramatically. It is estimated that fungal disease kills approximately 1.5 million individuals annually; however, the true worldwide burden of fungal infection is thought to be higher due to existing gaps in diagnostics and clinical understanding of mycotic disease. The development of resistance to antifungals across diverse pathogenic fungal genera is an increasingly common and devastating phenomenon due to the dearth of available antifungal classes. These factors necessitate a coordinated response by researchers, clinicians, public health agencies, and the pharmaceutical industry to develop new antifungal strategies, as the burden of fungal disease continues to grow. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the new antifungal therapeutics currently in clinical trials, highlighting their spectra of activity and progress toward clinical implementation. We also profile up-and-coming intracellular proteins and pathways primed for the development of novel antifungals targeting their activity. Ultimately, we aim to emphasize the importance of increased investment into antifungal therapeutics in the current continually evolving landscape of infectious disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Puumala
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sara Fallah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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6
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Ostroumova OS, Efimova SS. Lipid-Centric Approaches in Combating Infectious Diseases: Antibacterials, Antifungals and Antivirals with Lipid-Associated Mechanisms of Action. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1716. [PMID: 38136750 PMCID: PMC10741038 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12121716] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the global challenges of the 21st century is the increase in mortality from infectious diseases against the backdrop of the spread of antibiotic-resistant pathogenic microorganisms. In this regard, it is worth targeting antibacterials towards the membranes of pathogens that are quite conservative and not amenable to elimination. This review is an attempt to critically analyze the possibilities of targeting antimicrobial agents towards enzymes involved in pathogen lipid biosynthesis or towards bacterial, fungal, and viral lipid membranes, to increase the permeability via pore formation and to modulate the membranes' properties in a manner that makes them incompatible with the pathogen's life cycle. This review discusses the advantages and disadvantages of each approach in the search for highly effective but nontoxic antimicrobial agents. Examples of compounds with a proven molecular mechanism of action are presented, and the types of the most promising pharmacophores for further research and the improvement of the characteristics of antibiotics are discussed. The strategies that pathogens use for survival in terms of modulating the lipid composition and physical properties of the membrane, achieving a balance between resistance to antibiotics and the ability to facilitate all necessary transport and signaling processes, are also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga S. Ostroumova
- Laboratory of Membrane and Ion Channel Modeling, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Tikhoretsky Ave. 4, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia;
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7
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Balla N, Jakab Á, Kovács F, Ragyák Á, Tóth Z, Balázsi D, Forgács L, Bozó A, Al Refai F, Borman AM, Majoros L, Kovács R. Total transcriptome analysis of Candida auris planktonic cells exposed to tyrosol. AMB Express 2023; 13:81. [PMID: 37532970 PMCID: PMC10397170 DOI: 10.1186/s13568-023-01586-z] [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: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Tyrosol, a secondary metabolite of Candida species, regulates fungal morphogenesis, and its application may represent a novel innovative therapy against emerging multi-resistant fungal superbug such as Candida auris. In the current study, the effects of tyrosol on growth, redox homeostasis, intracellular microelement contents and activities of virulence-related enzymes released by C. auris were examined. To gain further information about the effect of tyrosol exposure, we revealed gene transcriptional changes using total transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). At a concentration of 15 mM, tyrosol significantly decrease the growth of fungal cells within 2 h of its addition (5.6 × 107±1.2 × 107 and 2.5 × 107±0.6 × 107 colony forming unit/mL for control and tyrosol-treated cells, respectively). Furthermore, it enhanced the release of reactive oxygen species as confirmed by a dichlorofluorescein (DCF) assay (7.3 ± 1.8 [nmol DCF (OD640)-1] versus 16.8 ± 3.9 [nmol DCF (OD640)-1]), which was coincided with elevated superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities. Tyrosol exerted in a 37%, 25%, 34% and 55% decrease in intracellular manganese, iron, zinc and copper contents, respectively, compared to control cells. The tyrosol treatment led to a 142 and 108 differentially transcripted genes with at least a 1.5-fold increase or decrease in transcription, respectively. Genes related to iron and fatty acid metabolism as well as nucleic acid synthesis were down-regulated, whereas those related to the antioxidative defence, adhesion and oxoacid metabolic processes were up-regulated. This study shows that tyrosol significantly influences growth, intracellular physiological processes and gene transcription in C. auris, which could highly support the development of novel treatment approaches against this important pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noémi Balla
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Ágnes Jakab
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Microbiology, Institute of Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Fruzsina Kovács
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Ágota Ragyák
- Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry, Agilent Atomic Spectroscopy Partner Laboratory, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Tóth
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Dávid Balázsi
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Lajos Forgács
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
- Doctoral School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Aliz Bozó
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Farah Al Refai
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Andrew M Borman
- UK National Mycology Reference Laboratory, Public Health England, Science Quarter, Southmead Hospital, Bristol, BS10 5NB, UK
- Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRCCMM), University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QD, UK
| | - László Majoros
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary
| | - Renátó Kovács
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Nagyerdei krt. 98, Debrecen, 4032, Hungary.
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8
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Iyer KR, Li SC, Revie NM, Lou JW, Duncan D, Fallah S, Sanchez H, Skulska I, Ušaj MM, Safizadeh H, Larsen B, Wong C, Aman A, Kiyota T, Yoshimura M, Kimura H, Hirano H, Yoshida M, Osada H, Gingras AC, Andes DR, Shapiro RS, Robbins N, Mazhab-Jafari MT, Whitesell L, Yashiroda Y, Boone C, Cowen LE. Identification of triazenyl indoles as inhibitors of fungal fatty acid biosynthesis with broad-spectrum activity. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:795-810.e8. [PMID: 37369212 PMCID: PMC11016341 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Rising drug resistance among pathogenic fungi, paired with a limited antifungal arsenal, poses an increasing threat to human health. To identify antifungal compounds, we screened the RIKEN natural product depository against representative isolates of four major human fungal pathogens. This screen identified NPD6433, a triazenyl indole with broad-spectrum activity against all screening strains, as well as the filamentous mold Aspergillus fumigatus. Mechanistic studies indicated that NPD6433 targets the enoyl reductase domain of fatty acid synthase 1 (Fas1), covalently inhibiting its flavin mononucleotide-dependent NADPH-oxidation activity and arresting essential fatty acid biosynthesis. Robust Fas1 inhibition kills Candida albicans, while sublethal inhibition impairs diverse virulence traits. At well-tolerated exposures, NPD6433 extended the lifespan of nematodes infected with azole-resistant C. albicans. Overall, identification of NPD6433 provides a tool with which to explore lipid homeostasis as a therapeutic target in pathogenic fungi and reveals a mechanism by which Fas1 function can be inhibited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kali R Iyer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheena C Li
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Nicole M Revie
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jennifer W Lou
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Dustin Duncan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sara Fallah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hiram Sanchez
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Iwona Skulska
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Mojca Mattiazzi Ušaj
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Toronto Metropolitan University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hamid Safizadeh
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering and Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Brett Larsen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Cassandra Wong
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Ahmed Aman
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Taira Kiyota
- Drug Discovery Program, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mami Yoshimura
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Hiromi Kimura
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | | | - Minoru Yoshida
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Osada
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan
| | - Anne-Claude Gingras
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Lunenfeld-Tanenbaum Research Institute, Sinai Health, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David R Andes
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Rebecca S Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mohammad T Mazhab-Jafari
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yoko Yashiroda
- RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan.
| | - Charles Boone
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource Science, Wako, Japan.
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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9
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The Trisubstituted Isoxazole MMV688766 Exerts Broad-Spectrum Activity against Drug-Resistant Fungal Pathogens through Inhibition of Lipid Homeostasis. mBio 2022; 13:e0273022. [PMID: 36300931 PMCID: PMC9765174 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02730-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida species are among the most prevalent causes of systemic fungal infection, posing a growing threat to public health. While Candida albicans is the most common etiological agent of systemic candidiasis, the frequency of infections caused by non-albicans Candida species is rising. Among these is Candida auris, which has emerged as a particular concern. Since its initial discovery in 2009, it has been identified worldwide and exhibits resistance to all three principal antifungal classes. Here, we endeavored to identify compounds with novel bioactivity against C. auris from the Medicines for Malaria Venture's Pathogen Box library. Of the five hits identified, the trisubstituted isoxazole MMV688766 emerged as the only compound displaying potent fungicidal activity against C. auris, as well as other evolutionarily divergent fungal pathogens. Chemogenomic profiling, as well as subsequent metabolomic and phenotypic analyses, revealed that MMV688766 disrupts cellular lipid homeostasis, driving a decrease in levels of early sphingolipid intermediates and fatty acids and a concomitant increase in lysophospholipids. Experimental evolution to further probe MMV688766's mode of action in the model fungus Saccharomyces cerevisiae revealed that loss of function of the transcriptional regulator HAL9 confers resistance to MMV688766, in part through the upregulation of the lipid-binding chaperone HSP12, a response that appears to assist in tolerating MMV688766-induced stress. The novel mode of action we have uncovered for MMV688766 against drug-resistant fungal pathogens highlights the broad utility of targeting lipid homeostasis to disrupt fungal growth and how screening structurally-diverse chemical libraries can provide new insights into resistance-conferring stress responses of fungi. IMPORTANCE As widespread antimicrobial resistance threatens to propel the world into a postantibiotic era, there is a pressing need to identify mechanistically distinct antimicrobial agents. This is of particular concern when considering the limited arsenal of drugs available to treat fungal infections, coupled with the emergence of highly drug-resistant fungal pathogens, including Candida auris. In this work, we demonstrate that existing libraries of drug-like chemical matter can be rich resources for antifungal molecular scaffolds. We discovered that the small molecule MMV688766, from the Pathogen Box library, displays previously undescribed broad-spectrum fungicidal activity through perturbation of lipid homeostasis. Characterization of the mode of action of MMV688766 provided new insight into the protective mechanisms fungi use to cope with the disruption of lipid homeostasis. Our findings highlight that elucidating the genetic circuitry required to survive in the presence of cellular stress offers powerful insights into the biological pathways that govern this important phenotype.
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Bouz G, Doležal M. Advances in Antifungal Drug Development: An Up-To-Date Mini Review. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:1312. [PMID: 34959712 PMCID: PMC8706862 DOI: 10.3390/ph14121312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 12/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The utility of clinically available antifungals is limited by their narrow spectrum of activity, high toxicity, and emerging resistance. Antifungal drug discovery has always been a challenging area, since fungi and their human host are eukaryotes, making it difficult to identify unique targets for antifungals. Novel antifungals in clinical development include first-in-class agents, new structures for an established target, and formulation modifications to marketed antifungals, in addition to repurposed agents. Membrane interacting peptides and aromatherapy are gaining increased attention in the field. Immunotherapy is another promising treatment option, with antifungal antibodies advancing into clinical trials. Novel targets for antifungal therapy are also being discovered, allowing the design of new promising agents that may overcome the resistance issue. In this mini review, we will summarize the current status of antifungal drug pipelines in clinical stages, and the most recent advancements in preclinical antifungal drug development, with special focus on their chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ghada Bouz
- Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
| | - Martin Doležal
- Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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