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Stieber H, Junghanns L, Wilhelm H, Batliner M, Aldejohann AM, Kurzai O, Martin R. The sphingolipid inhibitor myriocin increases Candida auris susceptibility to amphotericin B. Mycoses 2024; 67:e13723. [PMID: 38551121 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13723] [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: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The emergence of the pathogenic yeast Candida auris is of global concern due to its ability to cause hospital outbreaks and develop resistance against all antifungal drug classes. Based on published data for baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, sphingolipid biosynthesis, which is essential for maintaining membrane fluidity and formation of lipid rafts, could offer a target for additive treatment. METHODS We analysed the susceptibility of C. auris to myriocin, which is an inhibitor of the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids in eukaryotic cells in comparison to other Candida species. In addition, we combined sublethal concentrations of myriocin with the antifungal drugs amphotericin B and fluconazole in E-tests. Consequently, the combinatory effects of myriocin and amphotericin B were examined in broth microdilution assays. RESULTS Myriocin-mediated inhibition of the sphingolipid biosynthesis affected the growth of C. auris. Sublethal myriocin concentrations increased fungal susceptibility to amphotericin B. Isolates which are phenotypically resistant (≥2 mg/L) to amphotericin B became susceptible in presence of myriocin. However, addition of myriocin had only limited effects onto the susceptibility of C. auris against fluconazole. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that inhibition of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis increases the susceptibility of C. auris to amphotericin B. This may potentially enhance antifungal treatment options fighting this often resistant yeast pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanna Stieber
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Lara Junghanns
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Hannah Wilhelm
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Maria Batliner
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Alexander Maximilian Aldejohann
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Oliver Kurzai
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
- National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
- Research Group Fungal Septomics, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knoell Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Ronny Martin
- Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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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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Xi Y, Long X, Song M, Liu Y, Yan J, Lv Y, Yang H, Zhang Y, Miao W, Lin C. The fatty acid 2-hydroxylase CsSCS7 is a key hyphal growth factor and potential control target in Colletotrichum siamense. mBio 2024; 15:e0201523. [PMID: 38197633 PMCID: PMC10865788 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02015-23] [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] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
SCS7 is a fatty acid 2-hydroxylase required for the synthesis of inositol phosphorylceramide but is not essential for normal growth in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Here, we demonstrate that the Colletotrichum siamense SCS7 homolog CsSCS7 plays a key role in hyphal growth. The CsSCS7 deletion mutant showed strong hyphal growth inhibition, small conidia, and marginally reduced sporulation and also resulted in a sharp reduction in the full virulence and increasing the fungicide sensitivity. The three protein domains (a cytochrome b5 domain, a transmembrane domain, and a hydroxylase domain) are important to CsSCS7 protein function in hyphal growth. The fatty acid assay results revealed that the CsSCS7 gene is important for balancing the contents of multiple mid-long- and short-chain fatty acids. Additionally, the retarded growth and virulence of C. siamense ΔCsSCS7 can be recovered partly by the reintroduction of homologous sequences from Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium graminearum but not SCS7 of S. cerevisiae. In addition, the spraying of C. siamense with naked CsSCS7-double-stranded RNA (dsRNAs), which leads to RNAi, increases the inhibition of hyphal growth and slightly decreases disease lesions. Then, we used nano material Mg-Al-layered double hydroxide as carriers to deliver dsRNA, which significantly enhanced the control effect of dsRNA, and the lesion area was obviously reduced. These data indicated that CsSCS7 is an important factor for hyphal growth and affects virulence and may be a potential control target in C. siamense and even in filamentous plant pathogenic fungi.IMPORTANCECsSCS7, which is homologous to yeast fatty acid 2-hydroxylase SCS7, was confirmed to play a key role in the hyphal growth of Colletotrichum siamense and affect its virulence. The CsSCS7 gene is involved in the synthesis and metabolism of fatty acids. Homologs from the filamentous fungi Magnaporthe oryzae and Fusarium graminearum can recover the retarded growth and virulence of C. siamense ΔCsSCS7. The spraying of double-stranded RNAs targeting CsSCS7 can inhibit hyphal growth and reduce the disease lesion area to some extent. After using nano material Mg-Al layered double hydroxide as carrier, the inhibition rates were significantly increased. We demonstrated that CsSCS7 is an important factor for hyphal growth and affects virulence and may be a potential control target in C. siamense and even in filamentous plant pathogenic fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitao Xi
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Xiping Long
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Miao Song
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yu Liu
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Jingting Yan
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Yanyun Lv
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Hong Yang
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
- Rubber Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Science, Haikou, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Weiguo Miao
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
| | - Chunhua Lin
- Sanya Institute of Breeding and Mutiplication, Key Laboratory of Green Prevention and Control of Tropical Plant Diseases and Pest (Ministry of Education)/School of Tropical Agriculture and Forestry, Hainan University, Haikou, China
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Vishwakarma M, Haider T, Soni V. Update on fungal lipid biosynthesis inhibitors as antifungal agents. Microbiol Res 2024; 278:127517. [PMID: 37863019 DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2023.127517] [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: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/22/2023]
Abstract
Fungal diseases today represent a world-wide problem. Poor hygiene and decreased immunity are the main reasons behind the manifestation of this disease. After COVID-19, an increase in the rate of fungal infection has been observed in different countries. Different classes of antifungal agents, such as polyenes, azoles, echinocandins, and anti-metabolites, as well as their combinations, are currently employed to treat fungal diseases; these drugs are effective but can cause some side effects and toxicities. Therefore, the identification and development of newer antifungal agents is a current need. The fungal cell comprises many lipids, such as ergosterol, phospholipids, and sphingolipids. Ergosterol is a sterol lipid that is only found in fungal cells. Various pathways synthesize all these lipids, and the activities of multiple enzymes govern these pathways. Inhibiting these enzymes will ultimately impede the lipid synthesis pathway, and this phenomenon could be a potential antifungal therapy. This review will discuss various lipid synthesis pathways and multiple antifungal agents identified as having fungal lipid synthesis inhibition activity. This review will identify novel compounds that can inhibit fungal lipid synthesis, permitting researchers to direct further deep pharmacological investigation and help develop drug delivery systems for such compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Vishwakarma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, M.P., India
| | - Tanweer Haider
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, M.P., India; Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Gwalior, M.P., India
| | - Vandana Soni
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Dr. Harisingh Gour Vishwavidyalaya, Sagar, M.P., India.
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Feng Y, Lu H, Whiteway M, Jiang Y. Understanding fluconazole tolerance in Candida albicans: implications for effective treatment of candidiasis and combating invasive fungal infections. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2023; 35:314-321. [PMID: 37918789 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.10.019] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/22/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Fluconazole (FLC) tolerant phenotypes in Candida species contribute to persistent candidemia and the emergence of FLC resistance. Therefore, making FLC fungicidal and eliminating FLC tolerance are important for treating invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) caused by Candida species. However, the mechanisms of FLC tolerance in Candida species remain to be fully explored. METHODS This review discusses the high incidence of FLC tolerance in Candida species and the importance of successfully clearing FLC tolerance in treating candidiasis. We further define and characterize FLC tolerance in C. albicans. RESULTS This review identifies global factors affecting FLC tolerance and suggest that FLC tolerance is a strategy of C. albicans response to FLC damage whose mechanism differs from FLC resistance. CONCLUSIONS This review highlights the significance of the cell membrane and cell wall integrity in FLC tolerance, guiding approaches to combat IFDs caused by Candida species..
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanru Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | | | - Yuanying Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
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Rollin-Pinheiro R, de Moraes DC, Bayona-Pacheco B, Curvelo JADR, dos Santos-Freitas GMP, Xisto MIDDS, Borba-Santos LP, Rozental S, Ferreira-Pereira A, Barreto-Bergter E. Structural and Functional Alterations Caused by Aureobasidin A in Clinical Resistant Strains of Candida spp. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1115. [PMID: 37998920 PMCID: PMC10672136 DOI: 10.3390/jof9111115] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida species are one of the most concerning causative agents of fungal infections in humans. The treatment of invasive Candida infections is based on the use of fluconazole, but the emergence of resistant isolates has been an increasing concern which has led to the study of alternative drugs with antifungal activity. Sphingolipids have been considered a promising target due to their roles in fungal growth and virulence. Inhibitors of the sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway have been described to display antifungal properties, such as myriocin and aureobasidin A, which are active against resistant Candida isolates. In the present study, aureobasidin A did not display antibiofilm activity nor synergism with amphotericin B, but its combination with fluconazole was effective against Candida biofilms and protected the host in an in vivo infection model. Alterations in treated cells revealed increased oxidative stress, reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and chitin content, as well as altered morphology, enhanced DNA leakage and a greater susceptibility to sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS). In addition, it seems to inhibit the efflux pump CaCdr2p. All these data contribute to elucidating the role of aureobasidin A on fungal cells, especially evidencing its promising use in clinical resistant isolates of Candida species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Rollin-Pinheiro
- Laboratório de Química Biológica de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (G.M.P.d.S.-F.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.)
| | - Daniel Clemente de Moraes
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.C.d.M.); (B.B.-P.); (J.A.d.R.C.); (A.F.-P.)
| | - Brayan Bayona-Pacheco
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.C.d.M.); (B.B.-P.); (J.A.d.R.C.); (A.F.-P.)
- Departamento de Medicina, División Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Norte, Km 5, Vía Puerto Colombia, Área Metropolitana de Barranquilla, Barranquilla 081007, Colombia
| | - Jose Alexandre da Rocha Curvelo
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.C.d.M.); (B.B.-P.); (J.A.d.R.C.); (A.F.-P.)
| | - Giulia Maria Pires dos Santos-Freitas
- Laboratório de Química Biológica de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (G.M.P.d.S.-F.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.)
| | - Mariana Ingrid Dutra da Silva Xisto
- Laboratório de Química Biológica de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (G.M.P.d.S.-F.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.)
| | - Luana Pereira Borba-Santos
- Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.P.B.-S.); (S.R.)
| | - Sonia Rozental
- Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.P.B.-S.); (S.R.)
| | - Antonio Ferreira-Pereira
- Laboratório de Bioquímica Microbiana, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (D.C.d.M.); (B.B.-P.); (J.A.d.R.C.); (A.F.-P.)
| | - Eliana Barreto-Bergter
- Laboratório de Química Biológica de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (G.M.P.d.S.-F.); (M.I.D.d.S.X.)
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Sokołowska B, Orłowska M, Okrasińska A, Piłsyk S, Pawłowska J, Muszewska A. What can be lost? Genomic perspective on the lipid metabolism of Mucoromycota. IMA Fungus 2023; 14:22. [PMID: 37932857 PMCID: PMC10629195 DOI: 10.1186/s43008-023-00127-4] [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: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucoromycota is a phylum of early diverging fungal (EDF) lineages, of mostly plant-associated terrestrial fungi. Some strains have been selected as promising biotechnological organisms due to their ability to produce polyunsaturated fatty acids and efficient conversion of nutrients into lipids. Others get their lipids from the host plant and are unable to produce even the essential ones on their own. Following the advancement in EDF genome sequencing, we carried out a systematic survey of lipid metabolism protein families across different EDF lineages. This enabled us to explore the genomic basis of the previously documented ability to produce several types of lipids within the fungal tree of life. The core lipid metabolism genes showed no significant diversity in distribution, however specialized lipid metabolic pathways differed in this regard among different fungal lineages. In total 165 out of 202 genes involved in lipid metabolism were present in all tested fungal lineages, while remaining 37 genes were found to be absent in some of fungal lineages. Duplications were observed for 69 genes. For the first time we demonstrate that ergosterol is not being produced by several independent groups of plant-associated fungi due to the losses of different ERG genes. Instead, they possess an ancestral pathway leading to the synthesis of cholesterol, which is absent in other fungal lineages. The lack of diacylglycerol kinase in both Mortierellomycotina and Blastocladiomycota opens the question on sterol equilibrium regulation in these organisms. Early diverging fungi retained most of beta oxidation components common with animals including Nudt7, Nudt12 and Nudt19 pointing at peroxisome divergence in Dikarya. Finally, Glomeromycotina and Mortierellomycotina representatives have a similar set of desaturases and elongases related to the synthesis of complex, polyunsaturated fatty acids pointing at an ancient expansion of fatty acid metabolism currently being explored by biotechnological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blanka Sokołowska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Orłowska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Alicja Okrasińska
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sebastian Piłsyk
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Julia Pawłowska
- Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Institute of Evolutionary Biology, University of Warsaw, Zwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Muszewska
- Institute of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Pawinskiego 5A, 02-106, Warsaw, Poland.
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Mucke HA. Patent Highlights April-May 2023. Pharm Pat Anal 2023; 12:253-259. [PMID: 38197382 DOI: 10.4155/ppa-2023-0028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
A snapshot of noteworthy recent developments in the patent literature of relevance to pharmaceutical and medical research and development.
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Matos GS, Fernandes CM, Del Poeta M. Role of sphingolipids in the host-pathogen interaction. Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids 2023; 1868:159384. [PMID: 37673393 PMCID: PMC11218662 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159384] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens have been under the spotlight as their expanding geographic range combined with their potential harm to vulnerable populations turns them into increasingly threats to public health. Therefore, it is ultimately important to unveil the mechanisms associated with their infection process for further new treatment discovery. With this purpose, sphingolipid-based research has gained attention over the last years as these molecules have key properties that can regulate fungal pathogenicity. Here we discuss some of these properties as well as their role in fungal diseases, focusing on the subgroup of glycosphingolipids, as they represent promising molecules for drug discovery and for the development of fungal vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Soares Matos
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA
| | | | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Institute of Chemical Biology and Drug Discovery (ICB&DD), Stony Brook, NY, USA; Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, USA; Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY, USA.
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10
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Zhu XM, Li L, Bao JD, Wang JY, Daskalov A, Liu XH, Del Poeta M, Lin FC. The biological functions of sphingolipids in plant pathogenic fungi. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011733. [PMID: 37943805 PMCID: PMC10635517 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are critically significant in a range of biological processes in animals, plants, and fungi. In mammalian cells, they serve as vital components of the plasma membrane (PM) in maintaining its structure, tension, and fluidity. They also play a key role in a wide variety of biological processes, such as intracellular signal transduction, cell polarization, differentiation, and migration. In plants, sphingolipids are important for cell development and for cell response to environmental stresses. In pathogenic fungi, sphingolipids are crucial for the initiation and the development of infection processes afflicting humans. However, our knowledge on the metabolism and function of the sphingolipid metabolic pathway of pathogenic fungi affecting plants is still very limited. In this review, we discuss recent developments on sphingolipid pathways of plant pathogenic fungi, highlighting their uniqueness and similarity with plants and animals. In addition, we discuss recent advances in the research and development of fungal-targeted inhibitors of the sphingolipid pathway, to gain insights on how we can better control the infection process occurring in plants to prevent or/and to treat fungal infections in crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue-Ming Zhu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jian-Dong Bao
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiao-Yu Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Asen Daskalov
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xiao-Hong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Maurizio Del Poeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, United States of America
- Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Northport, New York, United States of America
| | - Fu-Cheng Lin
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Treats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Institute of Plant Protection and Microbiology, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Rice Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Wang X, Zhang Z, Peng W, Huang J, Yan X, Yao W, Ouyang J, Li S. Inositolphosphorylceramide synthases, OsIPCSs, regulate plant height in rice. PLANT SCIENCE : AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL PLANT BIOLOGY 2023; 335:111798. [PMID: 37467787 DOI: 10.1016/j.plantsci.2023.111798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/16/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Inositolphosphorylceramide synthase (IPCS) catalyses ceramides and phosphatidylinositol (PI) into inositolphosphorylceramide (IPC), which is involved in the regulation of plant growth and development. A total of three OsIPCS family genes have been identified in rice. However, most of their functions remain unknown. Here, the functions of OsIPCSs were analyzed by CRISPR/Cas9 technology, lipidomics analysis, and transcriptomics analysis. Single-gene mutation of OsIPCSs resulted in dwarf phenotype. Among them, the phenotype of osipcs3 mutant was more severe. Multi-gene mutation of OsIPCS genes led to more severe phenotypes, indicating the additive effects of OsIPCSs. We further determined that a significant decrease in epidermal cell elongation of internode in the mutants. There was a significant decrease in the content of IPC detected in the osipcs2/3 and osipcs1/2/3 mutants. The contents of glycosyl inositol phosphoryl ceramide (GIPC) were also decreased by 20% and 10% in osipcs2/3 and osipcs1/2/3, respectively. The results of RNA-seq showed that numerous DEGs found to be associated with cellular component organization, anatomical structure morphogenesis, and cell growth in the osipcs2, osipcs2/3, and osipcs1/2/3. Taken together, OsIPCSs may be involved in the regulation of plant height through affecting cell growth and sphingolipid metabolism in rice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China; Research Faculty of Agriculture, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-8589, Japan
| | - Zongfei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Wei Peng
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Jinqiu Huang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Xin Yan
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China
| | - Wen Yao
- National Key Laboratory of Wheat and Maize Crop Science, College of Life Sciences, Henan Agricultural University, Zhengzhou 450002, China
| | - Jiexiu Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
| | - Shaobo Li
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology and Genetic Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Life Sciences, Nanchang University, Nanchang 330031, China.
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12
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Usmani SA, Kumar M, Arya K, Ali B, Bhardwaj N, Gaur NA, Prasad R, Singh A. Beyond membrane components: uncovering the intriguing world of fungal sphingolipid synthesis and regulation. Res Microbiol 2023; 174:104087. [PMID: 37328042 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2023.104087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 06/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Sphingolipids (SLs) are essential to fungal survival and represent a major class of structural and signaling lipids. Unique SL structures and their biosynthetic enzymes in filamentous fungi make them an ideal drug target. Several studies have contributed towards the functional characterization of specific SL metabolism genes, which have been complemented by advanced lipidomics methods which allow accurate identification and quantification of lipid structures and pathway mapping. These studies have provided a better understanding of SL biosynthesis, degradation and regulation networks in filamentous fungi, which are discussed and elaborated here.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Akhtar Usmani
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226024, India
| | - Mohit Kumar
- Amity Institute of Integrative Science and Health and Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Gurgaon, Haryana, India; International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Khushboo Arya
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226024, India
| | - Basharat Ali
- Amity Institute of Integrative Science and Health and Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Gurgaon, Haryana, India
| | - Nitin Bhardwaj
- Department of Zoology and Environmental Science, Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Haridwar, Uttarakhand 249404, India
| | - Naseem Akhtar Gaur
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, New Delhi 110067, India
| | - Rajendra Prasad
- Amity Institute of Integrative Science and Health and Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Gurgaon, Haryana, India
| | - Ashutosh Singh
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, 226024, India.
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13
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Shoma JF, Ernan B, Keiser G, Heiss C, Azadi P, Free SJ. Genetic Characterization of the Acidic and Neutral Glycosphingolipid Biosynthetic Pathways in Neurospora crassa. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2093. [PMID: 37630653 PMCID: PMC10457978 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082093] [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: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal glycosphingolipids (GSLs) are important membrane components which play a key role in vesicle trafficking. To assess the importance of GSLs in the fungal life cycle, we performed a mutant phenotypic study of the acidic and neutral GSL biosynthetic pathways in Neurospora crassa. GSL biosynthesis begins with two reactions leading up to the formation of dihydrosphingosine. The first of these reactions is catalyzed by serine palmitoyltransferase and generates 3-keto dihydrosphinganine. In N. crassa, this reaction is catalyzed by GSL-1 and GSL-2 and is required for viability. The second reaction is carried out by GSL-3, a 3-keto dihydrosphinoganine reductase to generate dihydrosphingosine, which is used for the synthesis of neutral and acidic GSLs. We found that deletion mutations in the acidic GSL pathway leading up to the formation of mannosylinositol-phosphoceramide are lethal, indicating that acidic GSLs are essential for viability in N. crassa. Once mannosylinositol-phosphoceramide is made, it is further modified by GSL-5, an inositol-phosphoceramide-B C26 hydroxylase, which adds a hydroxyl group to the amide-linked fatty acid. GSL-5 is not required for viability but gives a clear mutant phenotype affecting all stages of the life cycle. Our results show that the synthesis of mannosylinositol-phosphoceramide is required for viability and that the modification of the amide-linked fatty acid is important for acidic GSL functionality. We also examined the neutral GSL biosynthetic pathway and identified the presence of glucosylceramide. The deletion of neutral GSL biosynthetic genes affected hyphal morphology, vegetative growth rate, conidiation, and female development. Our results indicate that the synthesis of neutral GSLs is essential for normal growth and development of N. crassa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jannatul F. Shoma
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Cooke Hall Room 109, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Ben Ernan
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Cooke Hall Room 109, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Griffin Keiser
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (P.A.)
| | - Christian Heiss
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (P.A.)
| | - Parastoo Azadi
- Complex Carbohydrate Research Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (P.A.)
| | - Stephen J. Free
- Department of Biological Sciences, SUNY University at Buffalo, Cooke Hall Room 109, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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14
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Zhao P, Zhuang Z, Guan X, Yang J, Wang W, Kuang Z. Crystal structure of the 3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase TSC10 from Cryptococcus neoformans. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 670:73-78. [PMID: 37285720 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.05.109] [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: 05/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The second step in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis is the reduction of 3-ketodihydrosphingosine by 3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductase (KDSR) to produce dihydrosphingosine (sphinganine). Fungal TSC10 and mammalian KDSR (also named FVT-1) proteins are the enzymes responsible for this process and they belong to the short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) superfamily. Albeit that both fungal and mammalian 3-ketodihydrosphingosine reductases were identified more than a decade ago, no structure of these enzymes from any species has been experimentally determined. Here we report the crystal structure of the catalytic domain of TSC10 from Cryptococcus neoformans in complex with NADPH. cnTSC10 adopts a Rossmann fold with a central seven-stranded β-sheet flanked by α-helices on both sides. Several regions are disordered that include the segment connecting the serine and tyrosine residues of the catalytic triad, the so-called 'substrate loop', and the C-terminal region that often participates in homo-tetramerization in other SDRs. In addition, the cofactor NADPH is not fully ordered. These structural features indicate that the catalytic site of cnTSC10 possesses significant flexibility. cnTSC10 is predominantly dimeric in solution while a minor portion of the protein forms homo-tetramer. The crystal structure reveals that the homo-dimer interface involves both hydrophobic and hydrophilic interactions mediated by helices α4 and α5, as well as the loop connecting strand β4 and helix α4. Because residues forming hydrogen bonds and salt bridges in the dimer interface are not conserved between fungal TSC10 and mammalian KDSR proteins, it might be possible to develop inhibitors that selectively target fungal TSC10 dimerization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Panqi Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510632, China; National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zewen Zhuang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510632, China; National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Xueyan Guan
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510632, China; National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Jinjin Yang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510632, China; National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility, Shanghai Advanced Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Zhihe Kuang
- Department of Cell Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Bioengineering Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China; Guangdong Provincial Biotechnology Drug & Engineering Technology Research Center, Guangzhou, 510632, China; National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Guangzhou, 510632, China.
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15
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Tezcan EF, Demirtas Y, Cakar ZP, Ulgen KO. Comprehensive genome-scale metabolic model of the human pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans: A platform for understanding pathogen metabolism and identifying new drug targets. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2023; 3:1121409. [PMID: 36714093 PMCID: PMC9880062 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2023.1121409] [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: 12/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The fungal priority pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans causes cryptococcal meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised individuals and leads to hundreds of thousands of deaths per year. The undesirable side effects of existing treatments, the need for long application times to prevent the disease from recurring, the lack of resources for these treatment methods to spread over all continents necessitate the search for new treatment methods. Methods: Genome-scale models have been shown to be valuable in studying the metabolism of many organisms. Here we present the first genome-scale metabolic model for C. neoformans, iCryptococcus. This comprehensive model consists of 1,270 reactions, 1,143 metabolites, 649 genes, and eight compartments. The model was validated, proving accurate when predicting the capability of utilizing different carbon and nitrogen sources and growth rate in comparison to experimental data. Results and Discussion: The compatibility of the in silico Cryptococcus metabolism under infection conditions was assessed. The steroid and amino acid metabolisms found in the essentiality analyses have the potential to be drug targets for the therapeutic strategies to be developed against Cryptococcus species. iCryptococcus model can be applied to explore new targets for antifungal drugs along with essential gene, metabolite and reaction analyses and provides a promising platform for elucidation of pathogen metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enes Fahri Tezcan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Yigit Demirtas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Zeynep Petek Cakar
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Istanbul Technical University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Kutlu O. Ulgen
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey,*Correspondence: Kutlu O. Ulgen,
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16
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Systematic Metabolic Profiling Identifies De Novo Sphingolipid Synthesis as Hypha Associated and Essential for Candida albicans Filamentation. mSystems 2022; 7:e0053922. [PMID: 36264075 PMCID: PMC9765226 DOI: 10.1128/msystems.00539-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The yeast-to-hypha transition is a key virulence attribute of the opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, since it is closely tied to infection-associated processes such as tissue invasion and escape from phagocytes. While the nature of hypha-associated gene expression required for fungal virulence has been thoroughly investigated, potential morphotype-dependent activity of metabolic pathways remained unclear. Here, we combined global transcriptome and metabolome analyses for the wild-type SC5314 and the hypha-defective hgc1Δ and cph1Δefg1Δ strains under three hypha-inducing (human serum, N-acetylglucosamine, and alkaline pH) and two yeast-promoting conditions to identify metabolic adaptions that accompany the filamentation process. We identified morphotype-related activities of distinct pathways and a metabolic core signature of 26 metabolites with consistent depletion or enrichment during the yeast-to-hypha transition. Most strikingly, we found a hypha-associated activation of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis, indicating a connection of this pathway and filamentous growth. Consequently, pharmacological inhibition of this partially fungus-specific pathway resulted in strongly impaired filamentation, verifying the necessity of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis for proper hypha formation. IMPORTANCE The reversible switch of Candida albicans between unicellular yeast and multicellular hyphal growth is accompanied by a well-studied hypha-associated gene expression, encoding virulence factors like adhesins, toxins, or nutrient scavengers. The investigation of this gene expression consequently led to fundamental insights into the pathogenesis of this fungus. In this study, we applied this concept to hypha-associated metabolic adaptations and identified morphotype-dependent activities of distinct pathways and a stimulus-independent metabolic signature of hyphae. Most strikingly, we found the induction of de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis as hypha associated and essential for the filamentation of C. albicans. These findings verified the presence of morphotype-specific metabolic traits in the fungus, which appear connected to the fungal virulence. Furthermore, the here-provided comprehensive description of the fungal metabolome will help to foster future research and lead to a better understanding of fungal physiology.
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17
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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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18
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Hammoudi Halat D, Younes S, Mourad N, Rahal M. Allylamines, Benzylamines, and Fungal Cell Permeability: A Review of Mechanistic Effects and Usefulness against Fungal Pathogens. MEMBRANES 2022; 12:membranes12121171. [PMID: 36557078 PMCID: PMC9781035 DOI: 10.3390/membranes12121171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Revised: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Allylamines, naftifine and terbinafine, and the benzylamine, butenafine, are antifungal agents with activity on the fungal cell membrane. These synthetic compounds specifically inhibit squalene epoxidase, a key enzyme in fungal sterol biosynthesis. This results in a deficiency in ergosterol, a major fungal membrane sterol that regulates membrane fluidity, biogenesis, and functions, and whose damage results in increased membrane permeability and leakage of cellular components, ultimately leading to fungal cell death. With the fungal cell membrane being predominantly made up of lipids including sterols, these lipids have a vital role in the pathogenesis of fungal infections and the identification of improved therapies. This review will focus on the fungal cell membrane structure, activity of allylamines and benzylamines, and the mechanistic damage they cause to the membrane. Furthermore, pharmaceutical preparations and clinical uses of these drugs, mainly in dermatophyte infections, will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dalal Hammoudi Halat
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Bekaa 146404, Lebanon
| | - Samar Younes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Bekaa 146404, Lebanon
| | - Nisreen Mourad
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Bekaa 146404, Lebanon
| | - Mohamad Rahal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Lebanese International University, Bekaa 146404, Lebanon
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19
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Wang J, Chen YL, Li YK, Chen DK, He JF, Yao N. Functions of Sphingolipids in Pathogenesis During Host-Pathogen Interactions. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:701041. [PMID: 34408731 PMCID: PMC8366399 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.701041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Sphingolipids are a class of membrane lipids that serve as vital structural and signaling bioactive molecules in organisms ranging from yeast to animals. Recent studies have emphasized the importance of sphingolipids as signaling molecules in the development and pathogenicity of microbial pathogens including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. In particular, sphingolipids play key roles in regulating the delicate balance between microbes and hosts during microbial pathogenesis. Some pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, harness host sphingolipids to promote development and infection, whereas sphingolipids from both the host and pathogen are involved in fungus-host interactions. Moreover, a regulatory role for sphingolipids has been described, but their effects on host physiology and metabolism remain to be elucidated. Here, we summarize the current state of knowledge about the roles of sphingolipids in pathogenesis and interactions with host factors, including how sphingolipids modify pathogen and host metabolism with a focus on pathogenesis regulators and relevant metabolic enzymes. In addition, we discuss emerging perspectives on targeting sphingolipids that function in host-microbe interactions as new therapeutic strategies for infectious diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yi-Li Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong-Kang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ding-Kang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jia-Fan He
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Nan Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Agriculture, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Plant Resource, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
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20
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Teymuri M, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, Razzaghi-Abyaneh M. Inhibitory effects and mechanism of antifungal action of the natural cyclic depsipeptide, aureobasidin A against Cryptococcus neoformans. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2021; 41:128013. [PMID: 33811994 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2021.128013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 03/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic fungal infection caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of aureobasidin A on C. neoformans with special focus on its mode of action. The effect of aureobasidin A on cell membrane ergosterol content, cell wall permeability, membrane pumps activities, the total oxidant status (TOS) and melanin production was evaluated. Cytotoxicity and cell hemolysis, and laccase (LacI) and β1,2-xylosyltransferase (Cxt1p) gene expression were also evaluated. Aureobasidin A reduced melanin production and increased extracellular potassium leakage at 0.5 × MIC concentration. This peptide has no effect on fungal cell wall integrity. Cell membrane ergosterol content was decreased by 29.1% and 41.8% at 0.5 × MIC and 1 × MIC concentrations (2 and 4 µL/mL) in aureobasidin A treated samples, respectively. TOS level was significantly increased without activation of antioxidant enzymes. Lac1 gene was over-expressed (11.7-fold), while Cxt1p gene was down regulated (0.2-fold) following treatment with aureobasidin A. Overall, our results indicated that aureobasidin A inhibits C. neoformans growth by targeting different sites in fungal cells and it may be considered as a promising compound to use as an antifungal in treatment of clinical cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Teymuri
- Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran
| | - Masoomeh Shams-Ghahfarokhi
- Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran.
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21
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Identification of Antifungal Compounds against Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris Utilizing a High-Throughput Drug-Repurposing Screen. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.01305-20. [PMID: 33468482 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01305-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 12/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging fatal fungal infection that has resulted in several outbreaks in hospitals and care facilities. Current treatment options are limited by the development of drug resistance. Identification of new pharmaceuticals to combat these drug-resistant infections will thus be required to overcome this unmet medical need. We have established a bioluminescent ATP-based assay to identify new compounds and potential drug combinations showing effective growth inhibition against multiple strains of multidrug-resistant Candida auris The assay is robust and suitable for assessing large compound collections by high-throughput screening (HTS). Utilizing this assay, we conducted a screen of 4,314 approved drugs and pharmacologically active compounds that yielded 25 compounds, including 6 novel anti-Candida auris compounds and 13 sets of potential two-drug combinations. Among the drug combinations, the serine palmitoyltransferase inhibitor myriocin demonstrated a combinational effect with flucytosine against all tested isolates during screening. This combinational effect was confirmed in 13 clinical isolates of Candida auris.
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22
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SSSPTA is essential for serine palmitoyltransferase function during development and hematopoiesis. J Biol Chem 2021; 296:100491. [PMID: 33662400 PMCID: PMC8047174 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2021.100491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Serine palmitoyltransferase complex (SPT) mediates the first and rate-limiting step in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthetic pathway. The larger subunits SPTLC1 and SPTLC2/SPTLC3 together form the catalytic core while a smaller third subunit either SSSPTA or SSSPTB has been shown to increase the catalytic efficiency and provide substrate specificity for the fatty acyl-CoA substrates. The in vivo biological significance of these smaller subunits in mammals is still unknown. Here, using two null mutants, a conditional null for ssSPTa and a null mutant for ssSPTb, we show that SSSPTA is essential for embryogenesis and mediates much of the known functions of the SPT complex in mammalian hematopoiesis. The ssSPTa null mutants are embryonic lethal at E6.5 much like the Sptlc1 and Sptlc2 null alleles. Mx1-Cre induced deletion of ssSPTa leads to lethality and myelopoietic defect. Chimeric and competitive bone marrow transplantation experiments show that the defect in myelopoiesis is accompanied by an expansion of the Lin−Sca1+c-Kit+ stem and progenitor compartment. Progenitor cells that fail to differentiate along the myeloid lineage display evidence of endoplasmic reticulum stress. On the other hand, ssSPTb null mice are homozygous viable, and analyses of the bone marrow cells show no significant difference in the proliferation and differentiation of the adult hematopoietic compartment. SPTLC1 is an obligatory subunit for the SPT function, and because Sptlc1−/− and ssSPTa−/− mice display similar defects during development and hematopoiesis, we conclude that an SPT complex that includes SSSPTA mediates much of its developmental and hematopoietic functions in a mammalian model.
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Dalisay DS, Rogers EW, Molinski TF. Oceanapiside, a Marine Natural Product, Targets the Sphingolipid Pathway of Fluconazole-Resistant Candida glabrata. Mar Drugs 2021; 19:md19030126. [PMID: 33652774 PMCID: PMC7996939 DOI: 10.3390/md19030126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Oceanapiside (OPS), a marine natural product with a novel bifunctional sphingolipid structure, is fungicidal against fluconazole-resistant Candida glabrata at 10 μg/mL (15.4 μM). The fungicidal effect was observed at 3 to 4 h after exposure to cells. Cytological and morphological studies revealed that OPS affects the budding patterns of treated yeast cells with a significant increase in the number of cells with single small buds. In addition, this budding morphology was found to be sensitive in the presence of OPS. Moreover, the number of cells with single medium-sized buds and cells with single large buds were decreased significantly, indicating that fewer cells were transformed to these budding patterns, suggestive of inhibition of polarized growth. OPS was also observed to disrupt the organized actin assembly in C. glabrata, which correlates with inhibition of budding and polarized growth. It was also demonstrated that phytosphingosine (PHS) reversed the antifungal activity of oceanapiside. We quantified the amount of long chain-bases (LCBs) and phytoceramide from the crude extracts of treated cells using LC-ESI-MS. PHS concentration was elevated in extracts of cells treated with OPS when compared with cells treated with miconazole and amphotericin B. Elevated levels of PHS in OPS-treated cells confirms that OPS affects the pathway at a step downstream of PHS synthesis. These results also demonstrated that OPS has a mechanism of action different to those of miconazole and amphotericin B and interdicts fungal sphingolipid metabolism by specifically inhibiting the step converting PHS to phytoceramide.
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Affiliation(s)
- Doralyn S. Dalisay
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (D.S.D.); (E.W.R.)
- Center for Chemical Biology and Biotechnology (C2B2) and Department of Biology, College of Liberal Arts, Sciences and Education, University of San Agustin, Iloilo City 5000, Philippines
| | - Evan W. Rogers
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (D.S.D.); (E.W.R.)
| | - Tadeusz F. Molinski
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; (D.S.D.); (E.W.R.)
- Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-858-534-7115; Fax: +1-858-822-0368
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24
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Santos FC, Marquês JT, Bento‐Oliveira A, Almeida RF. Sphingolipid‐enriched domains in fungi. FEBS Lett 2020; 594:3698-3718. [DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Filipa C. Santos
- Centro de Química Estrutural Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa Campo Grande Portugal
| | - Joaquim T. Marquês
- Centro de Química Estrutural Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa Campo Grande Portugal
| | - Andreia Bento‐Oliveira
- Centro de Química Estrutural Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa Campo Grande Portugal
| | - Rodrigo F.M. Almeida
- Centro de Química Estrutural Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade de Lisboa Campo Grande Portugal
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