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Transcriptome Analyses of Candida albicans Biofilms, Exposed to Arachidonic Acid and Fluconazole, Indicates Potential Drug Targets. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2020; 10:3099-3108. [PMID: 32631950 PMCID: PMC7466979 DOI: 10.1534/g3.120.401340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is an opportunistic yeast pathogen within the human microbiota with significant medical importance because of its pathogenic potential. The yeast produces highly resistant biofilms, which are crucial for maintaining infections. Though antifungals are available, their effectiveness is dwindling due to resistance. Alternate options that comprise the combination of existing azoles and polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid (AA), have been shown to increase azoles susceptibility of C. albicans biofilms; however, the mechanisms are still unknown. Therefore, transcriptome analysis was conducted on biofilms exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of AA alone, fluconazole alone, and AA combined with fluconazole to understand the possible mechanism involved with the phenomenon. Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships (PANTHER) analysis from the differentially expressed genes revealed that the combination of AA and fluconazole influences biological processes associated with essential processes including methionine synthesis and those involved in ATP generation, such as AMP biosynthesis, fumarate metabolism and fatty acid oxidation. These observations suggests that the interference of AA with these processes may be a possible mechanisms to induce increased antifungal susceptibility.
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Rodríguez-Cerdeira C, Gregorio MC, Molares-Vila A, López-Barcenas A, Fabbrocini G, Bardhi B, Sinani A, Sánchez-Blanco E, Arenas-Guzmán R, Hernandez-Castro R. Biofilms and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2018; 174:110-125. [PMID: 30447520 DOI: 10.1016/j.colsurfb.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2018] [Revised: 11/04/2018] [Accepted: 11/05/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Candida species, including C. albicans, are part of the mucosal flora of most healthy women, and inhabit the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Under favourable conditions, they can colonize the vulvovaginal mucosa, giving rise to symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). The mechanism by which Candida spp. produces inflammation is unknown. Both, the blastoconidia and the pseudohyphae are capable of destroying the vaginal epithelium by direct invasion. Although the symptoms are not always related to the fungal burden, in general, VVC is associated with a greater number of yeasts and pseudohyphae. Some years ago, C. albicans was the species most frequently involved in the different forms of VVC. However, infections by different species have emerged during the last two decades producing an increase in causative species of VVC such as C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and C. tropicalis. Candida species are pathogenic organisms that have two forms of development: planktonic and biofilm. A biofilm is defined as a community of microorganisms attached to a surface and encompassed by an extracellular matrix. This form of presentation gives microorganisms greater resistance to antifungal agents. This review, about Candia spp. with a special emphasis on Candida albicans discusses specific areas such as biofilm structure and development, cell morphology and biofilm formation, biofilm-associated gene expression, the cell surface and adherence, the extracellular matrix, biofilm metabolism, and biofilm drug resistance in vulvovaginitis biofilms as an important virulence factor in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Rodríguez-Cerdeira
- Efficiency, Quality and Costs in Health Services Research Group (EFISALUD), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Spain; Dermatology Department, Hospital do Meixoeiro and University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain; European Women's Dermatologic and Venereologic Society (EWDVS), Vigo, Spain.
| | - Miguel Carnero Gregorio
- Efficiency, Quality and Costs in Health Services Research Group (EFISALUD), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Spain; Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Immunology, University of Vigo, Vigo, Spain
| | - Alberto Molares-Vila
- Efficiency, Quality and Costs in Health Services Research Group (EFISALUD), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Spain; Department of Department of Analytical & Food Chemistry, Universidade de Vigo (UVIGO), Spain
| | - Adriana López-Barcenas
- Efficiency, Quality and Costs in Health Services Research Group (EFISALUD), Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IIS Galicia Sur), SERGAS-UVIGO, Spain; Mycology Service, Hospital Manuel Gea González, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Ardiana Sinani
- Dermatology Service, Military Medical Unit, University Trauma Hospital, Tirana, Albania
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