Preparation and analysis of quinoa active protein (QAP) and its mechanism of inhibiting Candida albicans from a transcriptome perspective

The globe cultivation and industrial production of quinoa have been steadily increasing. Nevertheless, the full potential of quinoa's nutritional and economic benefits remains underexploited. This study investigates the isolation and purification of quinoa active protein (QAP) through the precipitation method using ammonium sulfate from a phosphate extraction solution. The purification process involved gel filtration chromatography with Sephadex G-75 and Sephadex G-50 columns to obtain QAP fractions exhibiting inhibitory effects against Candida albicans (C. albicans). A comprehensive series of experiments was undertaken to examine the antifungal properties of these fractions. Proteomic analysis was employed to elucidate the composition of the active proteins. Furthermore, the activities of succinate dehydrogenase, Ca2+-Mg2+-ATPase, and catalase in C. albicans following treatment with QAP were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The effects of QAP on the cell morphology of C. albicans cultured on Spider agar medium was further investigated using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, RNA-seq analysis was conducted to investigate the alterations in gene expression in C. albicans cells subjected to QAP treatment. To elucidate the functional significance of these expression changes, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses were performed. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was subsequently employed to validate the observed changes in gene expression. Our findings demonstrate that QAP exhibits inhibitory effects against C. albicans, with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 182 µg/mL. Through proteomic analysis, a definitive set of 18 active quinoa proteins was identified. At the molecular level, genes associated with hyphal development, cell wall and membrane integrity, cellular respiration, and energy metabolism were found to be enriched. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis revealed that these QAP inhibit the growth of C. albicans hyphae, compromise cell wall and membrane integrity, and suppress oxidative phosphorylation. These disruptions collectively impair normal cellular metabolic activities, thereby exerting an inhibitory effect on C. albicans.

Intestinal Infection of Candida albicans: Preventing the Formation of Biofilm by C. albicans and Protecting the Intestinal Epithelial Barrier

The large mortality and morbidity rate of C. albicans infections is a crucial problem in medical mycology. Because the generation of biofilms and drug resistance are growing concerns, the growth of novel antifungal agents and the looking for newer objectives are necessary. In this review, inhibitors of C. albicans biofilm generation and molecular mechanisms of intestinal epithelial barrier protection are elucidated. Recent studies on various transcription elements; quorum-sensing molecules; host responses to adherence; and changes in efflux pumps, enzymes, bud to hyphal transition, and lipid profiles have increased the knowledge of the intricate mechanisms underlying biofilm resistance. In addition, the growth of novel biomaterials with anti-adhesive nature, natural products, drugs, bioactive compounds, proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates are being researched. Recently, more and more attention has been given to various metal nanoparticles that have also appeared as antibiofilm agents in C. albicans. The intestinal epithelial obstacle exerts an crucial effect on keeping intestinal homeostasis and is increasingly associated with various disorders associated with the intestine such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), irritable bowel syndrome, metabolic syndrome, allergies, hepatic inflammation, septic shock, etc. However, whether their involvement in the prevention of other intestinal disorders like IBD are useful in C. albicans remains unknown. Further studies must be carried out in order to validate their inhibition functions in intestinal C. albicans. This provides innovates ideas for intestinal C. albicans treatment.

Antifungal Susceptibility Testing Identifies the Abdominal Cavity as a Source of Candida glabrata-Resistant Isolates

To identify unrecognized niches of resistant Candida isolates and compartmentalization, we retrospectively studied the antifungal susceptibility of 1,103 Candida spp. isolates from blood cultures, nonblood sterile samples, and nonsterile samples. Antifungal susceptibility was assessed by EUCAST E.Def 7.3.2; sequencing and genotyping of the fks1-2 and erg11 genes were carried out for non-wild-type isolates. Resistance compartmentalization (presence of resistant and susceptible isogenic isolates in different anatomical sites of a given patient) was studied. Clinical charts of patients carrying non-wild-type isolates were reviewed. Most isolates (63%) were Candida albicans, regardless the clinical source; Candida glabrata (27%) was the second most frequently found species in abdominal cavity samples. Fluconazole and echinocandin resistance rates were 1.5 and 1.3%, respectively, and were highest in C. glabrata. We found 22 genotypes among non-wild-type isolates, none of them widespread across the hospital. Fluconazole/echinocandin resistance rates of isolates from the abdominal cavity (3.2%/3.2%) tended to be higher than those from blood cultures (0.7%/1.3%). Overall, 15 patients with different forms of candidiasis were infected by resistant isolates, 80% of whom had received antifungals before or at the time of isolate collection; resistance compartmentalization was found in six patients, mainly due to C. glabrata. The highest antifungal resistance rate was detected in isolates from the abdominal cavity, mostly C. glabrata. Resistance was not caused by the spread of resistant clones but because of antifungal treatment. Resistance compartmentalization illustrates how resistance might be overlooked if susceptibility testing is restricted to bloodstream isolates.

Mutant Prevention Concentration and Mutant Selection Window of Micafungin and Anidulafungin in Clinical Candida glabrata Isolates

We report the mutant prevention concentration (MPC) and mutant selection window (MSW) for micafungin and anidulafungin administered to treat Candida glabrata We also determine the mutation frequency. We studied 20 echinocandin-susceptible, fluconazole-intermediate, and FKS wild-type C. glabrata isolates. Adjusted inocula were stroked directly onto Sabouraud agar plates containing different concentrations of micafungin or anidulafungin and visually inspected daily for up to 5 days of incubation. Individual colonies growing on the plates containing echinocandins at 1 mg/liter were selected for antifungal susceptibility testing. The FKS genes of the resulting individual phenotypically resistant colonies were sequenced, and the MPC, MSW, and mutation frequency were determined. Biofilm was quantified, and the growth kinetics and virulence (Galleria mellonella model) of the resulting individual FKS mutant colonies were studied. For micafungin and anidulafungin, we found similar results for the MPC (0.06 to 2 mg/liter and 0.25 to 2 mg/liter, respectively), MSW (0.015 to 2 mg/liter for both echinocandins), and mutation frequency (3.7 × 10-8 and 2.8 × 10-8, respectively). A total of 12 isolates were able to grow at 1 mg/liter on echinocandin-containing plates, yielding a total of 32 phenotypically resistant colonies; however, FKS2 mutations (ΔF658, S663P, W715L, and E655A) were observed only in 21 colonies. We did not find differences in biofilm formation, the kinetic parameters studied, or the median survival of larvae infected by wild-type isolates and the resulting individual FKS2 mutant colonies. Echinocandin concentrations lower than 2 mg/liter can lead to selection of resistance mutations in C. glabrata isolates in vitro.

The Gastrointestinal Tract Is a Major Source of Echinocandin Drug Resistance in a Murine Model of Candida glabrata Colonization and Systemic Dissemination

Candida species are a part of the human microbiome and can cause systemic infection upon immune suppression. Candida glabrata infections are increasing and have greater rates of antifungal resistance than other species. Here, we present a C. glabrata gastrointestinal (GI) colonization model to explore whether colonized yeast exposed to caspofungin, an echinocandin antifungal, develop characteristic resistance mutations and, upon immunosuppression, breakthrough causing systemic infection. Daily therapeutic dosing (5 mg/kg of body weight) of caspofungin resulted in no reduction in fecal burdens, organ breakthrough rates similar to control groups, and resistance rates (0 to 10%) similar to those reported clinically. Treatment with 20 mg/kg caspofungin initially reduced burdens, but a rebound following 5 to 9 days of treatment was accompanied by high levels of resistance (FKS1/FKS2 mutants). Although breakthrough rates decreased in this group, the same FKS mutants were recovered from organs. In an attempt to negate drug tolerance that is critical for resistance development, we cotreated mice with daily caspofungin and the chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin Z. The largest reduction (3 log) in GI burdens was obtained within 3 to 5 days of 20 mg/kg caspofungin plus nikkomycin treatment. Yet, echinocandin resistance, characterized by a novel Fks1-L630R substitution, was identified following 5 to 7 days of treatment. Therapeutic caspofungin plus nikkomycin treatment left GI burdens unchanged but significantly reduced organ breakthrough rates (20%; P < 0.05). Single-dose pharmacokinetics demonstrated low levels of drug penetration into the GI lumen posttreatment with caspofungin. Overall, we show that C. glabrata echinocandin resistance can arise within the GI tract and that resistant mutants can readily disseminate upon immunosuppression.

Candida albicans infection and intestinal immunity

Fungal infections cause high rates of morbidity and mortality in intensive care and immunocompromised patients, and can represent a life-threatening disease. As a microorganism commonly found in the intestine, Candida albicans (C. albicans) can invade the gut epithelium barrier via microfold cells and enter the bloodstream. The defensive potential of the intestinal barrier against invasive C. albicans is dependent on innate and adaptive immune responses which enable the host to eliminate pathogenic fungi. The lamina propria layer of the intestine contains numerous immune cells capable of inducing an innate cellular immune response against invasive fungi. This review focuses on the immune response triggered by a C. albicans infection in the intestine.