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Pal B, Atem TD, Kumari S, Murti K, Kumar R, Pandey K, Siddiqui NA, Dhingra S, Chaudhary V. Ophthalmic adverse effects of miltefosine in the treatment of leishmaniasis: a systematic review. Cutan Ocul Toxicol 2024:1-8. [PMID: 39023122 DOI: 10.1080/15569527.2024.2380311] [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: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Miltefosine stands as the sole oral medication approved for the treatment of leishmaniasis. The appearance of severe ophthalmic toxicities induced by miltefosine in the context of leishmaniasis treatment is a matter of significant concern. The main objective of this study is to present a comprehensive summary of the ophthalmic adverse effects associated with miltefosine when used in the treatment of leishmaniasis. METHODS A systematic search was performed on PubMed, ScienceDirect, Embase, Scopus, and Google Scholar, covering articles from inception up to June 2023, without language restrictions, to identify relevant studies documenting ocular toxicity following miltefosine treatment for leishmaniasis. RESULTS A total of eight studies involving 31 leishmaniasis patients who developed ocular toxicities while undergoing miltefosine treatment were included in the analysis. These studies were conducted in various regions, with five originating from India, two from Bangladesh, and one from Nepal. Patients presented a spectrum of ophthalmic complications, including uveitis, keratitis, scleritis, and Mooren's ulcer. Commonly reported symptoms included pain, redness, excessive tearing, partial vision impairment, permanent blindness, light sensitivity, and the appearance of white spots on the eye. On average, patients received miltefosine treatment for a duration of 47 days before experiencing the onset of ocular problems. It is important to note that the risk of ocular toxicities increases with prolonged use of miltefosine. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, to mitigate the potential for irreversible damage to the eyes, it is imperative that all individuals undergoing miltefosine therapy undergo regular eye examinations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biplab Pal
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Tambe Daniel Atem
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Sweta Kumari
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
| | - Krishna Murti
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - Rishikesh Kumar
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, IndiaConsultant (Biostatistics)
| | - Krishna Pandey
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, IndiaConsultant (Biostatistics)
| | - Niyamat Ali Siddiqui
- Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences (Indian Council of Medical Research), Agamkuan, Patna, Bihar, IndiaConsultant (Biostatistics)
| | - Sameer Dhingra
- National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, Bihar, India
| | - Vaibhav Chaudhary
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab, India
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2
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Zhang Y, Li Z, Wei S, Xu C, Chen M, Sang J, Han Y, Yan H, Li Z, Cui Z, Ye X. Antifungal Activity and Mechanisms of 2-Ethylhexanol, a Volatile Organic Compound Produced by Stenotrophomonas sp. NAU1697, against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:15213-15227. [PMID: 38916250 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c09851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/26/2024]
Abstract
Researchers often consider microorganisms from Stenotrophomonas sp. to be beneficial for plants. In this study, the biocidal effects and action mechanisms of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by Stenotrophomonas sp. NAU1697 were investigated. The mycelial growth and spore germination of Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. cucumerinum (FOC), which is a pathogen responsible for cucumber wilt disease, were significantly inhibited by VOCs emitted from NAU1697. Among the VOCs, 33 were identified, 11 of which were investigated for their antifungal properties. Among the tested compounds, 2-ethylhexanol exhibited the highest antifungal activity toward FOC, with a minimum inhibitory volume (MIV) of 3.0 μL/plate (equal to 35.7 mg/L). Damage to the hyphal cell wall and cell membrane integrity caused a decrease in the ergosterol content and a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) after 2-ethylhexanol treatment. DNA damage, which is indicative of apoptosis-like cell death, was monitored in 2-ethylhexanol-treated FOC cells by using micro-FTIR analysis. Furthermore, the activities of mitochondrial dehydrogenases and mitochondrial respiratory chain complex III in 2-ethylhexanol-treated FOC cells were significantly decreased. The transcription levels of genes associated with redox reactions and the cell wall integrity (CWI) pathway were significantly upregulated, thus indicating that stress was caused by 2-ethylhexanol. The findings of this research provide a new avenue for the sustainable management of soil-borne plant fungal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zeyuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Shuxin Wei
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Changsheng Xu
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Minhua Chen
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Jierong Sang
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Yiru Han
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Huang Yan
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhoukun Li
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Zhongli Cui
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
| | - Xianfeng Ye
- Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environmental Microbiology of Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
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Peng H, Chu C, Jin L, Zhang J, Yang Z, Zhu L, Yang D, Zhao Z. Study on Oleum cinnamomi Inhibiting Cutibacterium acnes and Its Covalent Inhibition Mechanism. Molecules 2024; 29:3165. [PMID: 38999117 PMCID: PMC11243273 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29133165] [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: 05/28/2024] [Revised: 06/22/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Oleum cinnamomi (OCM) is a volatile component of the Cinnamomum cassia Presl in the Lauraceae family, which displays broad-spectrum antibacterial properties. It has been found that OCM has a significant inhibitory effect against Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes), but the precise target and molecular mechanism are still not fully understood. In this study, the antibacterial activity of OCM against C. acnes and its potential effect on cell membranes were elucidated. Metabolomics methods were used to reveal metabolic pathways, and proteomics was used to explore the targets of OCM inhibiting C. acnes. The yield of the OCM was 3.3% (w/w). A total of 19 compounds were identified, representing 96.213% of the total OCM composition, with the major constituents being phenylpropanoids (36.84%), sesquiterpenoids (26.32%), and monoterpenoids (15.79%). The main component identified was trans-cinnamaldehyde (85.308%). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of OCM on C. acnes were 60 µg/mL and 180 µg/mL, respectively. The modified proteomics results indicate that cinnamaldehyde was the main bioactive ingredient within OCM, which covalently modifies the ABC transporter adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-binding protein and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-quinone oxidoreductase, hindering the amino acid transport process, and disrupting the balance between NADH and nicotinamide adenine dinucleoside phosphorus (NAD+), thereby hindering energy metabolism. We have reported for the first time that OCM exerts an antibacterial effect by covalent binding of cinnamaldehyde to target proteins, providing potential and interesting targets to explore new control strategies for gram-positive anaerobic bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huayong Peng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jishou University, Jishou 416000, China
| | - Chenliang Chu
- School of Food and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Zhaoqing University, Zhaoqing 526060, China
| | - Lu Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Jianing Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Zilei Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Longping Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Depo Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
| | - Zhimin Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 511400, China
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4
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Gómez-Gaviria M, Contreras-López LM, Aguilera-Domínguez JI, Mora-Montes HM. Strategies of Pharmacological Repositioning for the Treatment of Medically Relevant Mycoses. Infect Drug Resist 2024; 17:2641-2658. [PMID: 38947372 PMCID: PMC11214559 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s466336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/14/2024] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections represent a worldwide concern for public health, due to their prevalence and significant increase in cases each year. Among the most frequent mycoses are those caused by members of the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Aspergillus, Histoplasma, Pneumocystis, Mucor, and Sporothrix, which have been treated for years with conventional antifungal drugs, such as flucytosine, azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. However, these microorganisms have acquired the ability to evade the mechanisms of action of these drugs, thus hindering their treatment. Among the most common evasion mechanisms are alterations in sterol biosynthesis, modifications of drug transport through the cell wall and membrane, alterations of drug targets, phenotypic plasticity, horizontal gene transfer, and chromosomal aneuploidies. Taking into account these problems, some research groups have sought new therapeutic alternatives based on drug repositioning. Through repositioning, it is possible to use existing pharmacological compounds for which their mechanism of action is already established for other diseases, and thus exploit their potential antifungal activity. The advantage offered by these drugs is that they may be less prone to resistance. In this article, a comprehensive review was carried out to highlight the most relevant repositioning drugs to treat fungal infections. These include antibiotics, antivirals, anthelmintics, statins, and anti-inflammatory drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Gómez-Gaviria
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
| | - Luisa M Contreras-López
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
| | - Julieta I Aguilera-Domínguez
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
| | - Héctor M Mora-Montes
- Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato, Guanajuato, Gto, México
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Qureshi ZA, Ghazanfar H, Altaf F, Ghazanfar A, Hasan KZ, Kandhi S, Fortuzi K, Dileep A, Shrivastava S. Cryptococcosis and Cryptococcal Meningitis: A Narrative Review and the Up-to-Date Management Approach. Cureus 2024; 16:e55498. [PMID: 38571832 PMCID: PMC10990067 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.55498] [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] [Accepted: 03/04/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is a fungal infectious disease that enormously impacts human health worldwide. Cryptococcal meningitis is the most severe disease caused by the fungus Cryptococcus, and can lead to death, if left untreated. Many patients develop resistance and progress to death even after treatment. It requires a prolonged treatment course in people with AIDS. This narrative review provides an evidence-based summary of the current treatment modalities and future trial options, including newer ones, namely, 18B7, T-2307, VT-1598, AR12, manogepix, and miltefosine. This review also evaluated the management and empiric treatment of cryptococcus meningitis. The disease can easily evade diagnosis with subacute presentation. Despite the severity of the disease, treatment options for cryptococcosis remain limited, and more research is needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zaheer A Qureshi
- Medicine, Frank H. Netter MD School of Medicine, Quinnipiac University, Bridgeport, USA
| | | | - Faryal Altaf
- Internal Medicine, BronxCare Health System, New York City, USA
| | - Ali Ghazanfar
- Internal Medicine, Federal Medical and Dental College, Islamabad, PAK
| | - Khushbu Z Hasan
- Internal Medicine, Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Shaheed Medical College, Mirpur, PAK
| | - Sameer Kandhi
- Gastroenterology and Hepatology, BronxCare Health System, New York City, USA
| | - Ked Fortuzi
- Internal Medicine, BronxCare Health System, New York City, USA
| | | | - Shitij Shrivastava
- Internal Medicine, BronxCare Health System, New York City, USA
- Medicine, California Institute of Behavioral Neurosciences & Psychology, Fairfield, USA
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6
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Carnero LCG, Dos Reis TF, Diehl C, de Castro PA, Pontes L, Pinzan CF, Goldman GH. Milteforan, a promising veterinary commercial product against feline sporotrichosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.14.580352. [PMID: 38405873 PMCID: PMC10888911 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.14.580352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Sporotrichosis, the cutaneous mycosis most commonly reported in Latin America, is caused by the Sporothrix clinical clade species, including Sporothrix brasiliensis and Sporothrix schenckii sensu stricto. In Brazil, S. brasiliensis represents a vital health threat to humans and domestic animals due to its zoonotic transmission. Itraconazole, terbinafine, and amphotericin B are the most used antifungals for treating sporotrichosis. However, many strains of S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii have shown resistance to these agents, highlighting the importance of finding new therapeutic options. Here, we demonstrate that milteforan, a commercial veterinary product against dog leishmaniasis whose active principle is miltefosine, is a possible therapeutic alternative for the treatment of sporotrichosis, as observed by its fungicidal activity in vitro against different strains of S. brasiliensis and S. schenckii, and by its antifungal activity when used to treat infected epithelial cells and macrophages. Our results suggest milteforan as a possible alternative to treat feline sporotrichosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura C García Carnero
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Thaila F Dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Camila Diehl
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Patricia Alves de Castro
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Lais Pontes
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Camila Figueiredo Pinzan
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Gustavo H Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
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Xisto MIDDS, Rollin-Pinheiro R, Rochetti VP, de Castro-Almeida Y, Borba-Santos LP, dos Santos-Freitas GMP, Cypriano J, Abreu FDÁ, Rozental S, Barreto-Bergter E. Miltefosine: A Repurposing Drug against Mucorales Pathogens. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1166. [PMID: 38132767 PMCID: PMC10744482 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121166] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Mucorales are a group of non-septated filamentous fungi widely distributed in nature, frequently associated with human infections, and are intrinsically resistant to many antifungal drugs. For these reasons, there is an urgent need to improve the clinical management of mucormycosis. Miltefosine, which is a phospholipid analogue of alkylphosphocholine, has been considered a promising repurposing drug to be used to treat fungal infections. In the present study, miltefosine displayed antifungal activity against a variety of Mucorales species, and it was also active against biofilms formed by these fungi. Treatment with miltefosine revealed modifications of cell wall components, neutral lipids, mitochondrial membrane potential, cell morphology, and the induction of oxidative stress. Treated Mucorales cells also presented an increased susceptibility to SDS. Purified ergosterol and glucosylceramide added to the culture medium increased miltefosine MIC, suggesting its interaction with fungal lipids. These data contribute to elucidating the effect of a promising drug repurposed to act against some relevant fungal pathogens that significantly impact public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- 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, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (V.P.R.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (G.M.P.d.S.-F.)
| | - 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, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (V.P.R.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (G.M.P.d.S.-F.)
| | - Victor Pereira Rochetti
- Laboratório de Química Biológica de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (V.P.R.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (G.M.P.d.S.-F.)
| | - Yuri de Castro-Almeida
- Laboratório de Química Biológica de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (V.P.R.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (G.M.P.d.S.-F.)
| | - Luana Pereira Borba-Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular de Fungos, Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.P.B.-S.); (S.R.)
| | - 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, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (V.P.R.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (G.M.P.d.S.-F.)
| | - Jefferson Cypriano
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Magnetotaxia & Unidade de Microscopia Multiusuário, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (J.C.); (F.d.Á.A.)
| | - Fernanda de Ávila Abreu
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular e Magnetotaxia & Unidade de Microscopia Multiusuário, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (J.C.); (F.d.Á.A.)
| | - Sonia Rozental
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular de Fungos, Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (L.P.B.-S.); (S.R.)
| | - 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, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil; (R.R.-P.); (V.P.R.); (Y.d.C.-A.); (G.M.P.d.S.-F.)
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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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9
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Spadari CDC, Borba-Santos LP, Rozental S, Ishida K. Miltefosine repositioning: A review of potential alternative antifungal therapy. J Mycol Med 2023; 33:101436. [PMID: 37774486 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2023.101436] [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: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 09/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/01/2023]
Abstract
Fungal infections are a global health problem with high mortality and morbidity rates. Available antifungal agents have high toxicity and pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic limitations. Moreover, the increased incidence of antifungal-resistant isolates and the emergence of intrinsically resistant species raise concerns about seeking alternatives for efficient antifungal therapy. In this context, we review literature data addressing the potential action of miltefosine (MFS), an anti-Leishmania and anticancer agent, as a repositioning drug for antifungal treatment. Here, we highlight the in vitro and in vivo data, MFS possible mechanisms of action, case reports, and nanocarrier-mediated MFS delivery, focusing on fungal infection therapy. Finally, many studies have demonstrated the promising antifungal action of MFS in vitro, but there is little or no data on antifungal activity in vertebrate animal models and clinical trials, so have a need to develop more research for the repositioning of MFS as an antifungal therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luana Pereira Borba-Santos
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sonia Rozental
- Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Kelly Ishida
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
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10
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Galeane MC, Gomes PC, Singulani JL, Mendes-Giannini MJ, Fusco-Almeida AM. Study of IsCT analogue peptide against Candida albicans and toxicity/teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos ( Danio rerio). Future Microbiol 2023; 18:939-947. [PMID: 37702001 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2022-0210] [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: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Aim: An IsCT analogue peptide (PepM3) was designed based on structural studies of wasp mastoparans and tested against Candida albicans. Its effects on fungal cell membranes and toxicity were evaluated. Materials & methods: Antifungal activity was analyzed using a microdilution susceptibility test. Toxicity was assessed using human skin keratinocytes (HaCaT) and zebrafish embryos. Results: PepM3 demonstrated activity against C. albicans and a synergistic effect with amphotericin B. The peptide presented fungicidal action with damage to the fungal cell membrane, low toxicity in HaCat cells and was nonteratogenic in zebrafish embryos. Conclusion: Evaluating structural modifications is essential for the development of new agents with potential activity against fungal pathogens and for the reduction of toxic and teratogenic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana C Galeane
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo C Gomes
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Junya L Singulani
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria Js Mendes-Giannini
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
| | - Ana M Fusco-Almeida
- Department of Clinical Analysis, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, São Paulo State University-UNESP, Araraquara, SP, Brazil
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11
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Yang L, Tian Z, Zhao W, Zhang J, Tian C, Zhou L, Jiao Z, Peng J, Guo G. Novel antimicrobial peptide DvAMP serves as a promising antifungal agent against Cryptococcus neoformans. Bioorg Chem 2023; 138:106679. [PMID: 37329812 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.106679] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is an important opportunistic human fungal pathogen that causes cryptococcosis in immunocompromised patients. However, the number of drugs for the treatment of cryptococcosis is restricted, and the development of novel antifungal drugs and innovative strategies for the treatment of cryptococcosis is urgently needed. In this study, we validated that DvAMP is a novel antimicrobial peptide with antimicrobial activity and that it was obtained by pre-screening from the UniProt database of more than three million unknown functional sequences based on the quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) protocol (http://www.chemoinfolab.com/antifungal). The peptide exhibited satisfactory biosafety and physicochemical properties, and relatively rapid fungicidal activity against C. neoformans. Meanwhile, DvAMP was able to inhibit the static biofilm of C. neoformans and cause a reduction in the thickness of the capsule. In addition, DvAMP exerts antifungal effects through membrane-mediated mechanisms (membrane permeability and depolarization) and mitochondrial dysfunction, involving a hybrid multi-hit mechanism. Furthermore, by using the C. neoformans-Galleria mellonella infection model, we demonstrated that DvAMP has significant therapeutic effects in vivo and that it significantly reduces the mortality and fungal burden of infected larvae. These results suggest that DvAMP may be a potential antifungal drug candidate for the treatment of cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbing Yang
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhuqing Tian
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Wenjing Zhao
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Chunren Tian
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Luoxiong Zhou
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhenlong Jiao
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Jian Peng
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Guo Guo
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China; Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China.
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12
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Zhou Y, Meng X, Chen F, Xiong M, Zhang W, Wang KJ. Newly Discovered Antimicrobial Peptide Scyampcin 44-63 from Scylla paramamosain Exhibits a Multitargeted Candidacidal Mechanism In Vitro and Is Effective in a Murine Model of Vaginal Candidiasis. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0002223. [PMID: 37162345 PMCID: PMC10269043 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00022-23] [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: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of azole-resistant and biofilm-forming Candida spp. contributes to the constantly increasing incidence of vulvovaginal candidiasis. It is imperative to explore new antifungal drugs or potential substituents, such as antimicrobial peptides, to alleviate the serious crisis caused by resistant fungi. In this study, a novel antimicrobial peptide named Scyampcin44-63 was identified in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain. Scyampcin44-63 exhibited broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity against bacteria and fungi, was particularly effective against planktonic and biofilm cells of Candida albicans, and exhibited no cytotoxicity to mammalian cells (HaCaT and RAW264.7) or mouse erythrocytes. Transcriptomic analysis revealed four potential candidacidal modes of Scyampcin44-63, including promotion of apoptosis and autophagy and inhibition of ergosterol biosynthesis and the cell cycle. Further study showed that Scyampcin44-63 caused damage to the plasma membrane and induced apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G2/M in C. albicans. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy demonstrated that Scyampcin44-63-treated C. albicans cells were deformed with vacuolar expansion and destruction of organelles. In addition, C. albicans cells pretreated with the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine significantly delayed the candidacidal effect of Scyampcin44-63, suggesting that Scyampcin44-63 might contribute to autophagic cell death. In a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis, the fungal burden of vaginal lavage was significantly decreased after treatment with Scyampcin44-63.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Xiangyu Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ming Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Weibin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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13
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Spadari CC, Lanser DM, Araújo MV, De Jesus DFF, Lopes LB, Gelli A, Ishida K. Oral delivery of brain-targeted miltefosine-loaded alginate nanoparticles functionalized with polysorbate 80 for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. J Antimicrob Chemother 2023; 78:1092-1101. [PMID: 36881722 PMCID: PMC10319950 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkad053] [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] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To develop alginate nanoparticles functionalized with polysorbate 80 (P80) as miltefosine carriers for brain targeting in the oral treatment of cryptococcal meningitis. METHODS Miltefosine-loaded alginate nanoparticles functionalized or not with P80 were produced by an emulsification/external gelation method and the physicochemical characteristics were determined. The haemolytic activity and cytotoxic and antifungal effects of nanoparticles were assessed in an in vitro model of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). A murine model of disseminated cryptococcosis was used for testing the efficacy of oral treatment with the nanoparticles. In addition, serum biomarkers were measured for toxicity evaluation and the nanoparticle biodistribution was analysed. RESULTS P80-functionalized nanoparticles had a mean size of ∼300 nm, a polydispersity index of ∼0.4 and zeta potential around -50 mV, and they promoted a sustained drug release. Both nanoparticles were effective in decreasing the infection process across the BBB model and reduced drug cytotoxicity and haemolysis. In in vivo cryptococcosis, the oral treatment with two doses of P80 nanoparticles reduced the fungal burden in the brain and lungs, while the non-functionalized nanoparticles reduced fungal amount only in the lungs, and the free miltefosine was not effective. In addition, the P80-functionalization improved the nanoparticle distribution in several organs, especially in the brain. Finally, treatment with nanoparticles did not cause any toxicity in animals. CONCLUSIONS These results support the potential use of P80-functionalized alginate nanoparticles as miltefosine carriers for non-toxic and effective alternative oral treatment, enabling BBB translocation and reduction of fungal infection in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina C Spadari
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Dylan M Lanser
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Marcelo V Araújo
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Daniel F F De Jesus
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luciana B Lopes
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Angie Gelli
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Kelly Ishida
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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14
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Santos AL, Beckham JL, Liu D, Li G, van Venrooy A, Oliver A, Tegos GP, Tour JM. Visible-Light-Activated Molecular Machines Kill Fungi by Necrosis Following Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Calcium Overload. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205781. [PMID: 36715588 PMCID: PMC10074111 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are a growing public health threat. As fungi become increasingly resistant to existing drugs, new antifungals are urgently needed. Here, it is reported that 405-nm-visible-light-activated synthetic molecular machines (MMs) eliminate planktonic and biofilm fungal populations more effectively than conventional antifungals without resistance development. Mechanism-of-action studies show that MMs bind to fungal mitochondrial phospholipids. Upon visible light activation, rapid unidirectional drilling of MMs at ≈3 million cycles per second (MHz) results in mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium overload, and ultimately necrosis. Besides their direct antifungal effect, MMs synergize with conventional antifungals by impairing the activity of energy-dependent efflux pumps. Finally, MMs potentiate standard antifungals both in vivo and in an ex vivo porcine model of onychomycosis, reducing the fungal burden associated with infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Santos
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
| | | | - Dongdong Liu
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | - Gang Li
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | | | - Antonio Oliver
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
- Servicio de MicrobiologiaHospital Universitari Son EspasesPalma07120Spain
| | - George P. Tegos
- Office of ResearchReading HospitalTower Health, 420 S. Fifth AvenueWest ReadingPA19611USA
| | - James M. Tour
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Smalley‐Curl InstituteRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineeringRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- NanoCarbon Center and the Welch Institute for Advanced MaterialsRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
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15
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De Jesus DFF, De Freitas ALD, De Oliveira IM, De Almeida LC, Bastos RW, Spadari CDC, Melo ASDA, Santos DDA, Costa-Lotufo LV, Reis FCG, Rodrigues ML, Stefani HA, Ishida K. Organoselenium Has a Potent Fungicidal Effect on Cryptococcus neoformans and Inhibits the Virulence Factors. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0075922. [PMID: 36815840 PMCID: PMC10019174 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00759-22] [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: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis therapy is often limited by toxicity problems, antifungal tolerance, and high costs. Studies approaching chalcogen compounds, especially those containing selenium, have shown promising antifungal activity against pathogenic species. This work aimed to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo antifungal potential of organoselenium compounds against Cryptococcus neoformans. The lead compound LQA_78 had an inhibitory effect on C. neoformans planktonic cells and dispersed cells from mature biofilms at similar concentrations. The fungal growth inhibition led to an increase in budding cells arrested in the G2/M phase, but the compound did not significantly affect structural cell wall components or chitinase activity, an enzyme that regulates the dynamics of the cell wall. The compound also inhibited titan cell (Tc) and enlarged capsule yeast (NcC) growth and reduced the body diameter and capsule thickness associated with increased capsular permeability of both virulent morphotypes. LQA_78 also reduced fungal melanization through laccase activity inhibition. The fungicidal activity was observed at higher concentrations (16 to 64 μg/mL) and may be associated with augmented plasma membrane permeability, ROS production, and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. While LQA_78 is a nonhemolytic compound, its cytotoxic effects were cell type dependent, exhibiting no toxicity on Galleria mellonella larvae at a dose ≤46.5 mg/kg. LQA_78 treatment of larvae infected with C. neoformans effectively reduced the fungal burden and inhibited virulent morphotype formation. To conclude, LQA_78 displays fungicidal action and inhibits virulence factors of C. neoformans. Our results highlight the potential use of LQA_78 as a lead molecule for developing novel pharmaceuticals for treating cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Rafael Wesley Bastos
- Center of Biosciences, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN), Natal, Brazil
| | | | | | - Daniel de Assis Santos
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Brazil
| | | | - Flavia C. G. Reis
- Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Curitiba, Brazil
- Center for Technological Development in Health (CDTS), Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcio L. Rodrigues
- Carlos Chagas Institute, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Curitiba, Brazil
- Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Kelly Ishida
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Brazil
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16
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Aaghaz S, Sharma K, Maurya IK, Rudramurthy SM, Singh S, Kumar V, Tikoo K, Jain R. Synthetic amino acids-based short amphipathic peptides exhibit antifungal activity by targeting cell membrane disruption. Drug Dev Res 2023; 84:514-526. [PMID: 36757096 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.22041] [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: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
Availability of a limited number of antifungal drugs created a necessity to develop new antifungals with distinct mode of action. Investigation on a new series of peptides led us to identify Boc-His-Trp-His[1-(4-tert-butylphenyl)] (10g) as the most promising inhibitor exhibiting IC50 value of 4.4 µg/mL against Cryptococcus neoformans. Analog 10g exhibit high selectivity to fungal cells and was nonhemolytic and noncytotoxic at its minimum inhibitory concentration. 10g produced fungicidal effect on growing cryptococcal cells and displayed synergistic effect with amphotericin B. Overall cationic character of 10g resulted in interaction with negatively charged fungal membrane while hydrophobicity enhanced penetration inside the cryptococcal cells causing hole(s) formation and disruption to the membrane as evident by the scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and confocal laser scanning microscopy analyses. Flow cytometric investigation revealed rapid death of fungal cells by apopotic pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shams Aaghaz
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India
| | - Komal Sharma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India
| | - Indresh K Maurya
- Center of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India
| | - Shivaprakash M Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Shreya Singh
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Vinod Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India
| | - Kulbhushan Tikoo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India
| | - Rahul Jain
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India.,Center of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India
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17
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Ngan NTT, Flower B, Day JN. Treatment of Cryptococcal Meningitis: How Have We Got Here and Where are We Going? Drugs 2022; 82:1237-1249. [PMID: 36112342 PMCID: PMC9483520 DOI: 10.1007/s40265-022-01757-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcal meningitis is a devastating brain infection cause by encapsulated yeasts of the Cryptococcus genus. Exposure, through inhalation, is likely universal by adulthood, but symptomatic infection only occurs in a minority, in most cases, months or years after exposure. Disease has been described in almost all tissues, but it is the organism’s tropism for the central nervous system that results in the most devastating illness. While invasive disease can occur in the immunocompetent, the greatest burden by far is in immunocompromised individuals, particularly people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), organ transplant recipients and those on glucocorticoid therapy or other immunosuppressive drugs. Clinical presentation is variable, but diagnosis is usually straightforward, with cerebrospinal fluid microscopy, culture, and antigen testing proving significantly more sensitive than diagnostic tests for other brain infections. Although disease incidence has reduced since the advent of effective HIV therapy, mortality when disease occurs remains extremely high, and has changed little in recent decades. This Therapy in Practice review is an update of a talk first given by JND at the European Congress on Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in 2019 in the Netherlands. The review contextualizes the most recently published World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for the treatment of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in terms of the data from large, randomized, controlled trials published between 1997 and 2022. We discuss the rationale for induction and maintenance therapy and the efficacy and undesirable effects of the current therapeutic armamentarium of amphotericin, flucytosine and fluconazole. We address recent research into repurposed drugs such as sertraline and tamoxifen, and potential future treatment options, including the novel antifungals fosmanogepix, efungumab and oteseconazole, and non-pharmaceutical solutions such as neurapheresis cerebrospinal fluid filtration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nguyen Thi Thuy Ngan
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Cho Ray Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Barnaby Flower
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
| | - Jeremy N Day
- Oxford University Clinical Research Unit, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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18
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Qian C, Jin L, Zhu L, Zhou Y, Chen J, Yang D, Xu X, Ding P, Li R, Zhao Z. Metabolomics-Driven Exploration of the Antibacterial Activity and Mechanism of 2-Methoxycinnamaldehyde. Front Microbiol 2022; 13:864246. [PMID: 35875567 PMCID: PMC9301309 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.864246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis (MRSE) is one of the most commonly found pathogens that may cause uncontrollable infections in immunocompromised and hospitalized patients. Compounds isolated from cinnamon such as cinnamaldehyde and cinnamic acid showed promising anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and immunoregulatory effects; more importantly, these compounds also possess promising broad-spectrum antibacterial activity. In this study, the potential antibacterial activity of 2-methoxycinnamaldehyde (MCA), another compound in cinnamon, against MRSE was investigated. Combining the broth microdilution test, live/dead assay, and biofilm formation assay, we found MCA was able to inhibit the proliferation, as well as the biofilm formation of MRSE, indicating MCA could not only affect the growth of MRSE but also inhibit the pathogenic potential of this bacterium. Additionally, the results of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that MCA caused morphological changes and the leakage of DNA, RNA, and cellular contents of MRSE. Due to the close relationship between cell wall synthesis, ROS formation, and cell metabolism, the ROS level and metabolic profile of MRSE were explored. Our study showed MCA significantly increased the ROS production in MRSE, and the following metabolomics analysis showed that the increased ROS production may partially be due to the increased metabolic flux through the TCA cycle. In addition, we noticed the metabolic flux through the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) was upregulated accompanied by elevated ROS production. Therefore, the alterations in cell metabolism and increased ROS production could lead to the damage of the cell wall, which in turn decreased the proliferation of MRSE. In conclusion, MCA seemed to be a promising alternative antimicrobial agent to control MRSE infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunguo Qian
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Advanced Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lu Jin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Advanced Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Longping Zhu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Advanced Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yang Zhou
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Advanced Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Depo Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Advanced Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xinjun Xu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Advanced Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ping Ding
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Runnan Li
- Deqing County Dexin Agricultural Development Co., Ltd., Zhaoqing, China
| | - Zhimin Zhao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Guangdong Technology Research Center for Advanced Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhimin Zhao,
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19
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Jampilek J. Novel avenues for identification of new antifungal drugs and current challenges. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2022; 17:949-968. [PMID: 35787715 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2022.2097659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION : Some of otherwise useful fungi are pathogenic to humans, and unfortunately, the number of these pathogens is increasing. In addition to common skin infections, these opportunistic pathogens are able to cause severe, often incurable, systemic mycoses. AREAS COVERED : The number of antifungal drugs is limited, especially drugs that can be used for systemic administration, and resistance to these drugs is very common. This review summarizes various approaches to the discovery and development of new antifungal drugs, provides an overview of the most important molecules in terms of basic (laboratory) research and compounds currently in clinical trials, and focuses on drug repurposing strategy, while providing an overview of drugs of other indications that have been tested in vitro for their antifungal activity for possible expansion of antifungal drugs and/or support of existing antimycotics. EXPERT OPINION : Despite the limitations of the research of new antifungal drugs by pharmaceutical manufacturers, in addition to innovated molecules based on clinically used drugs, several completely new small entities with unique mechanisms of actions have been identified. The identification of new molecular targets that offer alternatives for the development of new unique selective antifungal highly effective agents has been an important outcome of repurposing of non-antifungal drugs to antifungal drug. Also, given the advances in monoclonal antibodies and their application to immunosuppressed patients, it may seem possible to predict a more optimistic future for antifungal therapy than has been the case in recent decades.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josef Jampilek
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Ilkovicova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia.,Institute of Neuroimmunology, Slovak Academy of Sciences, Dubravska Cesta 9, 845 10 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Nosratabadi M, Akhtari J, Faeli L, Haghani I, Aghili SR, Shokohi T, Hedayati MT, Zarrinfar H, Mohammadi R, Najafzadeh MJ, Khodavaisy S, Al-Harrasi A, Javan-Nikkhah M, Kachuei R, Salimi M, Fattahi M, Badali H, Al Hatmi AMS, Abastabar M. In Vitro Antifungal Susceptibility Profile of Miltefosine against a Collection of Azole and Echinocandins Resistant Fusarium Strains. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8070709. [PMID: 35887464 PMCID: PMC9315751 DOI: 10.3390/jof8070709] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Fusarium species are filamentous fungi that cause a variety of infections in humans. Because they are commonly resistant to many antifungal drugs currently available in clinical settings, research into alternative targets in fungal cells and therapeutic approaches is required. The antifungal activity of miltefosine and four comparators, amphotericin B, voriconazole, itraconazole, and caspofungin, were tested in vitro against a collection of susceptible and resistant clinical (n = 68) and environmental (n = 42) Fusarium isolates. Amphotericin B (0.8 μg/mL) had the lowest geometric mean (GM) MICs/MECs values followed by miltefosine (1.44 μg/mL), voriconazole (2.15 μg/mL), caspofungin (7.23 μg/mL), and itraconazole (14.19 μg/mL). Miltefosine was the most effective agent against Fusarium isolates after amphotericin B indicating that miltefosine has the potential to be studied as a novel treatment for Fusarium infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Nosratabadi
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
| | - Javad Akhtari
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran;
| | - Leila Faeli
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
| | - Iman Haghani
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
| | - Seyed Reza Aghili
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
| | - Tahereh Shokohi
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
| | - Mohammad Taghi Hedayati
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
| | - Hossein Zarrinfar
- Allergy Research Center, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9176699199, Iran;
| | - Rasoul Mohammadi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan 8174673461, Iran;
| | - Mohammad Javad Najafzadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad 9176699199, Iran;
| | - Sadegh Khodavaisy
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1717613151, Iran;
| | - Ahmed Al-Harrasi
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman;
| | - Mohammad Javan-Nikkhah
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Tehran, Karaj 3158777871, Iran;
| | - Reza Kachuei
- Molecular Biology Research Center, Systems Biology and Poisonings Institute, Baqiyatallah University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1435916471, Iran;
| | - Maryam Salimi
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
| | - Mahsa Fattahi
- Centre for Research and Training in Skin Diseases and Leprosy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1416613675, Iran;
| | - Hamid Badali
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA;
| | - Abdullah M. S. Al Hatmi
- Natural & Medical Sciences Research Center, University of Nizwa, Nizwa 616, Oman;
- Center of Expertise in Mycology, Radboud University Medical Center/Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital, 6532 SZ Nijmegen, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: (A.M.S.A.H.); (M.A.); Tel.: +968-25446654 (A.M.S.A.H.); +98-9112111347 (M.A.); Fax: +968-25446612 (A.M.S.A.H.); +98-33543248 (M.A.)
| | - Mahdi Abastabar
- Department of Medical Mycology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran; (M.N.); (L.F.); (I.H.); (S.R.A.); (T.S.); (M.T.H.); (M.S.)
- Invasive Fungi Research Center, Communicable Diseases Institute, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari 4816983663, Iran
- Correspondence: (A.M.S.A.H.); (M.A.); Tel.: +968-25446654 (A.M.S.A.H.); +98-9112111347 (M.A.); Fax: +968-25446612 (A.M.S.A.H.); +98-33543248 (M.A.)
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Sporothrix spp. Biofilms Impact in the Zoonotic Transmission Route: Feline Claws Associated Biofilms, Itraconazole Tolerance, and Potential Repurposing for Miltefosine. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11020206. [PMID: 35215149 PMCID: PMC8880041 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11020206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 01/18/2022] [Accepted: 01/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Sporotrichosis is the most prevalent subcutaneous mycosis globally, and it is typically caused by direct inoculation of the soil saprophytic fungus Sporothrix spp. into the patients’ skin. However, sporotrichosis has an important zoonotic transmission route between cats and humans in hot-spot endemic areas such as Brazil. Antifungal itraconazole is the first-line treatment; however, it is frequently associated with recurrence after withdrawal, mainly on cats. Biofilms are important resistance structures related to the environmental persistence of most microorganisms. In the present work, we evaluated Sporothrix yeasts’ ability to form biofilms in an ex vivo model of infected claws of cats. Using scanning electron microscopy, we demonstrated the presence of fungal biofilms in the claws of cats diagnosed with sporotrichosis confirmed by isolation of Sporothrix spp. in culture. We present here evidence of antibiofilm activity of miltefosine and suggest its use off-label as an antifungal as a putative alternative to itraconazole against Sporothrix biofilms. Claw contamination could sustain infections through a continuous inoculation cycle between open lesions and cat claws. Our results further support the off-label use of miltefosine as a promising alternative, especially for mycosis refractory to conventional treatment.
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Fungicidal Activity of Recombinant Javanicin against Cryptococcus neoformans Is Associated with Intracellular Target(s) Involved in Carbohydrate and Energy Metabolic Processes. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26227011. [PMID: 34834105 PMCID: PMC8618071 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26227011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 11/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The occurrence of Cryptococcus neoformans, the human fungal pathogen that primarily infects immunocompromised individuals, has been progressing at an alarming rate. The increased incidence of infection of C. neoformans with antifungal drugs resistance has become a global concern. Potential antifungal agents with extremely low toxicity are urgently needed. Herein, the biological activities of recombinant javanicin (r-javanicin) against C. neoformans were evaluated. A time-killing assay was performed and both concentration- and time-dependent antifungal activity of r-javanicin were indicated. The inhibitory effect of the peptide was initially observed at 4 h post-treatment and ultimately eradicated within 36 to 48 h. Fungal outer surface alteration was characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) whereas a negligible change with slight shrinkage of external morphology was observed in r-javanicin treated cells. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis implied that the target(s) of r-javanicin is conceivably resided in the cell thereby allowing the peptide to penetrate across the membrane and accumulate throughout the fungal body. Finally, cryptococcal cells coped with r-javanicin were preliminarily investigated using label-free mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Combined with microscopic and proteomics analysis, it was clearly elucidated the peptide localized in the intracellular compartment where carbohydrate metabolism and energy production associated with glycolysis pathway and mitochondrial respiration, respectively, were principally interfered. Overall, r-javanicin would be an alternative candidate for further development of antifungal agents.
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Chen YC, Yang Y, Zhang C, Chen HY, Chen F, Wang KJ. A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Sparamosin 26-54 From the Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain Showing Potent Antifungal Activity Against Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:746006. [PMID: 34690992 PMCID: PMC8531530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.746006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant fungi and the limitations of current treatment strategies to fungal infections, exploration and development of new antifungal drugs or substituents are necessary. In the study, a novel antimicrobial peptide, named Sparamosin, was identified in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, which contains a signal peptide of 22 amino acids and a mature peptide of 54 amino acids. The antimicrobial activity of its synthetic mature peptide and two truncated peptides (Sparamosin1–25 and Sparamosin26–54) were determined. The results showed that Sparamosin26–54 had the strongest activity against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, in particular had rapid fungicidal kinetics (killed 99% Cryptococcus neoformans within 10 min) and had potent anti-biofilm activity against C. neoformans, but had no cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells. The RNA-seq results showed that after Sparamosin26–54 treatment, the expression of genes involved in cell wall component biosynthesis, cell wall integrity signaling pathway, anti-oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA repair were significantly up-regulated, indicating that Sparamosin26–54 might disrupt the cell wall of C. neoformans, causing oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell apoptosis. The underlying mechanism was further confirmed. Sparamosin26–54 could bind to several phospholipids in the cell membrane and effectively killed C. neoformans through disrupting the integrity of the cell wall and cell membrane observed by electron microscope and staining assay. In addition, it was found that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was disrupted, and DNA fragmentation was induced after Sparamosin26–54 treatment, which are all hallmarks of apoptosis. Taken together, Sparamosin26–54 has a good application prospect as an effective antimicrobial agent, especially for C. neoformans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Chao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hui-Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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Grosfeld EV, Bidiuk VA, Mitkevich OV, Ghazy ESMO, Kushnirov VV, Alexandrov AI. A Systematic Survey of Characteristic Features of Yeast Cell Death Triggered by External Factors. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:886. [PMID: 34829175 PMCID: PMC8626022 DOI: 10.3390/jof7110886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell death in response to distinct stimuli can manifest different morphological traits. It also depends on various cell death signaling pathways, extensively characterized in higher eukaryotes but less so in microorganisms. The study of cell death in yeast, and specifically Saccharomyces cerevisiae, can potentially be productive for understanding cell death, since numerous killing stimuli have been characterized for this organism. Here, we systematized the literature on external treatments that kill yeast, and which contains at least minimal data on cell death mechanisms. Data from 707 papers from the 7000 obtained using keyword searches were used to create a reference table for filtering types of cell death according to commonly assayed parameters. This table provides a resource for orientation within the literature; however, it also highlights that the common view of similarity between non-necrotic death in yeast and apoptosis in mammals has not provided sufficient progress to create a clear classification of cell death types. Differences in experimental setups also prevent direct comparison between different stimuli. Thus, side-by-side comparisons of various cell death-inducing stimuli under comparable conditions using existing and novel markers that can differentiate between types of cell death seem like a promising direction for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erika V. Grosfeld
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, 9 Institutskiy per, Dolgoprudny, 141700 Moscow, Russia;
- Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the RAS, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (V.A.B.); (O.V.M.); (E.S.M.O.G.); (V.V.K.)
| | - Victoria A. Bidiuk
- Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the RAS, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (V.A.B.); (O.V.M.); (E.S.M.O.G.); (V.V.K.)
| | - Olga V. Mitkevich
- Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the RAS, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (V.A.B.); (O.V.M.); (E.S.M.O.G.); (V.V.K.)
| | - Eslam S. M. O. Ghazy
- Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the RAS, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (V.A.B.); (O.V.M.); (E.S.M.O.G.); (V.V.K.)
- Institute of Biochemical Technology and Nanotechnology, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), 6 Miklukho-Maklaya Street, 117198 Moscow, Russia
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tanta University, Tanta 31111, Egypt
| | - Vitaliy V. Kushnirov
- Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the RAS, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (V.A.B.); (O.V.M.); (E.S.M.O.G.); (V.V.K.)
| | - Alexander I. Alexandrov
- Federal Research Center of Biotechnology of the RAS, Bach Institute of Biochemistry, 119071 Moscow, Russia; (V.A.B.); (O.V.M.); (E.S.M.O.G.); (V.V.K.)
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Screening of Chemical Libraries for New Antifungal Drugs against Aspergillus fumigatus Reveals Sphingolipids Are Involved in the Mechanism of Action of Miltefosine. mBio 2021; 12:e0145821. [PMID: 34372704 PMCID: PMC8406317 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01458-21] [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] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an important fungal pathogen and the main etiological agent of aspergillosis, a disease characterized by a noninvasive process that can evolve to a more severe clinical manifestation, called invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), in immunocompromised patients. The antifungal arsenal to threat aspergillosis is very restricted. Azoles are the main therapeutic approach to control IPA, but the emergence of azole-resistant A. fumigatus isolates has significantly increased over recent decades. Therefore, new strategies are necessary to combat aspergillosis, and drug repurposing has emerged as an efficient and alternative approach for identifying new antifungal drugs. Here, we used a screening approach to analyze A. fumigatus in vitro susceptibility to 1,127 compounds. A. fumigatus was susceptible to 10 compounds, including miltefosine, a drug that displayed fungicidal activity against A. fumigatus. By screening an A. fumigatus transcription factor null library, we identified a single mutant, which has the smiA (sensitive to miltefosine) gene deleted, conferring a phenotype of susceptibility to miltefosine. The transcriptional profiling (RNA-seq) of the wild-type and ΔsmiA strains and chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled to next-generation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) of an SmiA-tagged strain exposed to miltefosine revealed genes of the sphingolipid pathway that are directly or indirectly regulated by SmiA. Sphingolipid analysis demonstrated that the mutant has overall decreased levels of sphingolipids when growing in the presence of miltefosine. The identification of SmiA represents the first genetic element described and characterized that plays a direct role in miltefosine response in fungi. IMPORTANCE The filamentous fungus Aspergillus fumigatus causes a group of diseases named aspergillosis, and their development occurs after the inhalation of conidia dispersed in the environment. Very few classes of antifungal drugs are available for aspergillosis treatment, e.g., azoles, but the emergence of global resistance to azoles in A. fumigatus clinical isolates has increased over recent decades. Repositioning or repurposing drugs already available on the market is an interesting and faster opportunity for the identification of novel antifungal agents. By using a repurposing strategy, we identified 10 different compounds that impact A. fumigatus survival. One of these compounds, miltefosine, demonstrated fungicidal activity against A. fumigatus. The mechanism of action of miltefosine is unknown, and, aiming to get more insights about it, we identified a transcription factor, SmiA (sensitive to miltefosine), important for miltefosine resistance. Our results suggest that miltefosine displays antifungal activity against A. fumigatus, interfering in sphingolipid biosynthesis.
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Rollin-Pinheiro R, Almeida YDC, Rochetti VP, Xisto MIDDS, Borba-Santos LP, Rozental S, Barreto-Bergter E. Miltefosine Against Scedosporium and Lomentospora Species: Antifungal Activity and Its Effects on Fungal Cells. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2021; 11:698662. [PMID: 34368017 PMCID: PMC8343104 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.698662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Scedosporium and Lomentospora species are filamentous fungi responsible for a wide range of infections in humans and are frequently associated with cystic fibrosis and immunocompromising conditions. Because they are usually resistant to many antifungal drugs available in clinical settings, studies of alternative targets in fungal cells and therapeutic approaches are necessary. In the present work, we evaluated the in vitro antifungal activity of miltefosine against Scedosporium and Lomentospora species and how this phospholipid analogue affects the fungal cell. Miltefosine inhibited different Scedosporium and Lomentospora species at 2–4 µg/ml and reduced biofilm formation. The loss of membrane integrity in Scedosporium aurantiacum caused by miltefosine was demonstrated by leakage of intracellular components and lipid raft disorganisation. The exogenous addition of glucosylceramide decreased the inhibitory activity of miltefosine. Reactive oxygen species production and mitochondrial activity were also affected by miltefosine, as well as the susceptibility to fluconazole, caspofungin and myoricin. The data obtained in the present study contribute to clarify the dynamics of the interaction between miltefosine and Scedosporium and Lomentospora cells, highlighting its potential use as new antifungal drug in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Rollin-Pinheiro
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Yuri de Castro Almeida
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Victor Pereira Rochetti
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mariana Ingrid Dutra da Silva Xisto
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Luana Pereira Borba-Santos
- Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sonia Rozental
- Programa de Biologia Celular e Parasitologia, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Eliana Barreto-Bergter
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Andriani GM, Morguette AEB, Spoladori LFA, Pereira PML, Cabral WRC, Fernandes BT, Tavares ER, Almeida RS, Lancheros CAC, Nakamura CV, Mello JCP, Yamauchi LM, Yamada-Ogatta SF. Antifungal Combination of Ethyl Acetate Extract of Poincianella pluviosa (DC.) L. P. Queiros Stem Bark With Amphotericin B in Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:660645. [PMID: 34177839 PMCID: PMC8222688 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.660645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is the leading cause of cryptococcosis, an invasive and potentially fatal infectious disease. Therapeutic failures are due to the increase in antifungal resistance, the adverse effects of drugs, and the unavailability of therapeutic regimens in low-income countries, which limit the treatment of cryptococcosis, increasing the morbidity and mortality associated with these infections. Thus, new antifungal drugs and innovative strategies for the cryptococcosis treatment are urgently needed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) of Poincianella pluviosa stem bark on planktonic and biofilm mode of growth of C. neoformans. Furthermore, the interaction between the EAF and amphotericin B (AmB) was evaluated in vitro and in Galleria mellonella infection model. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of EAF ranged from 125.0 to >1,000.0 μg/ml and >1,000.0 μg/ml for planktonic and sessile cells, respectively. The combination between EAF and AmB exhibited a synergistic fungicidal activity toward C. neoformans, with a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) ranging from 0.03 to 0.06 and 0.08 to 0.28 for planktonic and sessile cells, respectively. Microscopy analyses of planktonic C. neoformans cells treated with EAF, alone or combined with AmB, revealed morphological and ultrastructural alterations, including loss of integrity of the cell wall and cell membrane detachment, suggesting leakage of intracellular content, reduction of capsule size, and presence of vacuoles. Moreover, EAF alone or combined with AmB prolonged the survival rate of C. neoformans-infected G. mellonella larvae. These findings indicate that P. pluviosa may be an important source of new compounds that can be used as a fungus-specific adjuvant for the treatment of cryptococcosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriella Maria Andriani
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Ana Elisa Belotto Morguette
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Laís Fernanda Almeida Spoladori
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Patrícia Morais Lopes Pereira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Weslei Roberto Correia Cabral
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Bruna Terci Fernandes
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Eliandro Reis Tavares
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.,Programa Nacional de Pós-Doutorado, CAPES, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Sérgio Almeida
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Cesar Armando Contreras Lancheros
- Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Celso Vataru Nakamura
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.,Laboratório de Inovação Tecnológica no Desenvolvimento de Fármacos e Cosméticos, Departamento de Ciências Básicas da Saúde, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - João Carlos Palazzo Mello
- Laboratório de Biologia Farmacêutica, Departamento de Farmácia, Universidade Estadual de Maringá, Maringá, Brazil
| | - Lucy Megumi Yamauchi
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
| | - Sueli Fumie Yamada-Ogatta
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Microbiologia, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil.,Laboratório de Biologia Molecular de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, Brazil
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Zhang Y, Li T, Xu M, Guo J, Zhang C, Feng Z, Peng X, Li Z, Xing K, Qin S. Antifungal effect of volatile organic compounds produced by Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens SPS-41 on oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction of Ceratocystis fimbriata. PESTICIDE BIOCHEMISTRY AND PHYSIOLOGY 2021; 173:104777. [PMID: 33771256 DOI: 10.1016/j.pestbp.2021.104777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2020] [Revised: 12/20/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Ceratocystis fimbriata is the pathogen of black rot disease, which widely exists in sweet potato producing areas all over the world. The antifungal activity of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released by Pseudomonas chlororaphis subsp. aureofaciens SPS-41 against C. fimbriata was reported in our previous study. In this study, we attempted to reveal the underlying antifungal mechanism of SPS-41 volatiles. Our results showed that the VOCs released by SPS-41 caused the morphological change of hyphae, destroyed the integrity of cell membrane, reduced the content of ergosterol, and induced massive accumulation of reactive oxygen species in C. fimbriata cells. Furthermore, SPS-41 fumigation decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential, acetyl-CoA and pyruvate content of C. fimbriata cells, as well as the mitochondrial dehydrogenases activity. In addition, the VOCs generated by SPS-41 reduced the intracellular ATP content and increased the extracellular ATP content of C. fimbriata. In summary, SPS-41 fumigation exerted its antifungal activity by inducing oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction in C. fimbriata.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Tengjie Li
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Mingjie Xu
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Jianheng Guo
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Chunmei Zhang
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zhaozhong Feng
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Xue Peng
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Zongyun Li
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
| | - Ke Xing
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Sheng Qin
- School of Life Science, the Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, PR China
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29
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Kim JH, Cheng LW, Chan KL, Tam CC, Mahoney N, Friedman M, Shilman MM, Land KM. Antifungal Drug Repurposing. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9110812. [PMID: 33203147 PMCID: PMC7697925 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9110812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Control of fungal pathogens is increasingly problematic due to the limited number of effective drugs available for antifungal therapy. Conventional antifungal drugs could also trigger human cytotoxicity associated with the kidneys and liver, including the generation of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, increased incidences of fungal resistance to the classes of azoles, such as fluconazole, itraconazole, voriconazole, or posaconazole, or echinocandins, including caspofungin, anidulafungin, or micafungin, have been documented. Of note, certain azole fungicides such as propiconazole or tebuconazole that are applied to agricultural fields have the same mechanism of antifungal action as clinical azole drugs. Such long-term application of azole fungicides to crop fields provides environmental selection pressure for the emergence of pan-azole-resistant fungal strains such as Aspergillus fumigatus having TR34/L98H mutations, specifically, a 34 bp insertion into the cytochrome P450 51A (CYP51A) gene promoter region and a leucine-to-histidine substitution at codon 98 of CYP51A. Altogether, the emerging resistance of pathogens to currently available antifungal drugs and insufficiency in the discovery of new therapeutics engender the urgent need for the development of new antifungals and/or alternative therapies for effective control of fungal pathogens. We discuss the current needs for the discovery of new clinical antifungal drugs and the recent drug repurposing endeavors as alternative methods for fungal pathogen control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong H. Kim
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-510-559-5841
| | - Luisa W. Cheng
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Kathleen L. Chan
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Christina C. Tam
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Noreen Mahoney
- Foodborne Toxin Detection and Prevention Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA; (L.W.C.); (K.L.C.); (C.C.T.); (N.M.)
| | - Mendel Friedman
- Healthy Processed Foods Research Unit, Western Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Albany, CA 94710, USA;
| | | | - Kirkwood M. Land
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of the Pacific, Stockton, CA 95211, USA;
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30
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Galocha M, Costa IV, Teixeira MC. Carrier-Mediated Drug Uptake in Fungal Pathogens. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11111324. [PMID: 33182427 PMCID: PMC7697741 DOI: 10.3390/genes11111324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus species are the most frequent cause of severe human fungal infections. Clinically relevant antifungal drugs are scarce, and their effectiveness are hampered by the ability of fungal cells to develop drug resistance mechanisms. Drug effectiveness and drug resistance in human pathogens is very often affected by their “transportome”. Many studies have covered a panoply of drug resistance mechanisms that depend on drug efflux pumps belonging to the ATP-Binding Cassette and Major Facilitator Superfamily. However, the study of drug uptake mechanisms has been, to some extent, overlooked in pathogenic fungi. This review focuses on discussing current knowledge on drug uptake systems in fungal pathogens, highlighting the need for further studies on this topic of great importance. The following subjects are covered: (i) drugs imported by known transporter(s) in pathogenic fungi; and (ii) drugs imported by known transporter(s) in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae or in human parasites, aimed at the identification of their homologs in pathogenic fungi. Besides its contribution to increase the understanding of drug-pathogen interactions, the practical implications of identifying drug importers in human pathogens are discussed, particularly focusing on drug development strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mónica Galocha
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.G.); (I.V.C.)
- Biological Sciences Research Group, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Inês Vieira Costa
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.G.); (I.V.C.)
- Biological Sciences Research Group, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Miguel Cacho Teixeira
- Department of Bioengineering, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal; (M.G.); (I.V.C.)
- Biological Sciences Research Group, iBB-Institute for Bioengineering and Biosciences, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-21-841-7772; Fax: +351-21-841-9199
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31
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Antifungal Susceptibility Profiles and Drug Resistance Mechanisms of Clinical Lomentospora prolificans Isolates. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2020; 64:AAC.00318-20. [PMID: 32816726 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00318-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Lomentospora prolificans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen with low susceptibility to current antifungal drugs. Here, we tested the in vitro susceptibility of 8 drugs against 42 clinical L. prolificans isolates. All isolates showed high MICs to voriconazole (MIC90>16 μg/ml), itraconazole (MIC90>16 μg/ml), posaconazole (MIC90>16 μg/ml), isavuconazole (MIC90>16 μg/ml), amphotericin B (MIC90>16 μg/ml), and terbinafine (MIC90>64 μg/ml) and high minimum effective concentrations (MECs) to micafungin (MEC90>8 μg/ml), with the exception of miltefosine showing an MIC90 value of 4 μg/ml. We examined six different in vitro drug combinations and found that the combination of voriconazole and terbinafine achieved the most synergistic effort against L. prolificans We then annotated the L. prolificans whole genome and located its Cyp51 and Fks1 genes. We completely sequenced the two genes to determine if any mutation would be related to azole and echinocandin resistance in L. prolificans We found no amino acid changes in Cyp51 protein and no tandem repeats in the 5' upstream region of the Cyp51 gene. However, we identified three intrinsic amino acid residues (G138S, M220I, and T289A) in the Cyp51 protein that were linked to azole resistance. Likewise, two intrinsic amino acid residues (F639Y, W695F) that have reported to confer echinocandin resistance were found in Fks1 hot spot regions. In addition, three new amino acid alterations (D440A, S634R, and H1245R) were found outside Fks1 hot spot regions, and their contributions to echinocandin resistance need future investigation. Overall, our findings support the notion that L. prolificans is intrinsically resistant to azoles and echinocandins.
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32
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Yang Y, Chen F, Chen HY, Peng H, Hao H, Wang KJ. A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Scyreprocin From Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain Showing Potent Antifungal and Anti-biofilm Activity. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:1589. [PMID: 32849331 PMCID: PMC7396596 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.01589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential antibiotic alternatives. Marine crustaceans are thought to generate more powerful and various AMPs to protect themselves from infections caused by pathogenic microorganisms in their complex aquatic habitat, thus becoming one of the most promising sources of AMPs or other bioactive substances. In the study, a novel protein was identified as an interacting partner of male-specific AMP SCY2 in Scylla paramamosain and named scyreprocin. The recombinant product of scyreprocin (rScyreprocin) was successfully expressed in Escherichia coli. rScyreprocin exerted potent, broad-spectrum antifungal, antibacterial, and anti-biofilm activity (minimum inhibitory concentrations from 0.5 to 32 μM) through differential modes of action, including disruption of cell membrane integrity and induction of cell apoptosis, and has rapid bactericidal (in 0.5–2 h) and fungicidal (in 8–10 h) kinetics. In addition to its fungicidal activity against planktonic fungi, rScyreprocin also prevented the adhesion of fungal cells, inhibited biofilm formation, and eradicated the mature biofilms. Moreover, rScyreprocin showed a profound inhibitory effect on spore germination of Aspergillus spp. (minimum inhibitory concentrations from 4 to 8 μM). This peptide was not cytotoxic to murine and mammalian cells and could increase the survival rate of Oryzias melastigma under the challenge of Vibrio harveyi. Taken together, the novel AMP scyreprocin would be a promising alternative to antibiotics used in aquaculture and medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hui-Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hui Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hua Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China.,State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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33
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Li T, Zhang Y, Xu M, Liu Y, Zhang C, Zhang Y, Peng X, Li Z, Qin S, Xing K. Novel antifungal mechanism of oligochitosan by triggering apoptosis through a metacaspase-dependent mitochondrial pathway in Ceratocystis fimbriata. Carbohydr Polym 2020; 245:116574. [PMID: 32718651 DOI: 10.1016/j.carbpol.2020.116574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The antifungal effects of oligochitosan (OCS) against Ceratocystis fimbriata that causes black rot disease in sweet potato and its apoptosis mechanism were evaluated. OCS restrained the mycelial growth and spores germination of C. fimbriata, and decreased the ergosterol content of cell membrane. Transmission electron microscopy observation and flow cytometry analysis revealed that OCS induced morphology changes with smaller size and increased granularity of C. fimbriata, which was the typical feature of apoptosis. To clarify the apoptosis mechanism induced by OCS, a series of apoptosis-related parameters were analyzed. Results showed that OCS induced reactive oxygen species accumulation, Ca2+ homeostasis dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction and metacaspase activation, coupled with hallmarks of apoptosis including phosphatidylserine externalization, DNA fragmentation, and nuclear condensation. In summary, OCS triggered apoptosis through a metacaspase-dependent mitochondrial pathway in C. fimbriata. These findings have important implications for the application of OCS to control pathogens in food and agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengjie Li
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Mingjie Xu
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Yuanfang Liu
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China; Caoqiao Middle School of Suzhou, Suzhou, 215008, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Chunmei Zhang
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Yanhua Zhang
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Xue Peng
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Zongyun Li
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Sheng Qin
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
| | - Ke Xing
- School of Life Science, The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plant of Jiangsu Province, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, 221116, Jiangsu, PR China.
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34
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Wu Y, Wu M, Gao J, Ying C. Antifungal Activity and Mode of Action of Miltefosine Against Clinical Isolates of Candida krusei. Front Microbiol 2020; 11:854. [PMID: 32508766 PMCID: PMC7248313 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2020.00854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida krusei attracts attention from medical professionals mainly for its intrinsic resistance to fluconazole and the limited number of drugs available to treat C. krusei vulvovaginal candidiasis. Miltefosine was demonstrated to have good antifungal activity both in vitro and in vivo. Here, we determined the susceptibility profiles of 57 clinical C. krusei isolates from vulvovaginal candidiasis patients and assessed the antifungal activity of miltefosine against C. krusei. All isolates were susceptible to voriconazole and itraconazole, whereas 1.8% of the isolates were of non-wild-type phenotype to amphotericin B. In contrast, miltefosine showed low MICs against all C. krusei isolates with fungicidal activity. The checkerboard assay showed that the synergistic effect of miltefosine in combination with amphotericin B was observed in 25% of the tested planktonic C. krusei isolates and 18.8% of the tested preformed biofilms, whereas miltefosine in combination with fluconazole showed indifferent interaction for all tested planktonic isolates. The presence of sorbitol in the broth microdilution assay did not influence the MIC values of miltefosine against C. krusei, but the presence of ergosterol increased the MIC values. Visible changes in cell content in cells treated with miltefosine were observed. We found that cells treated with miltefosine showed decreased cell viability and chromatin condensation under PI staining, which indicates that miltefosine may induce apoptosis-like cell death in C. krusei. In conclusion, we found miltefosine has a good activity against C. krusei isolates and exerts its fungicidal effect by binding to ergosterol in the cell membrane and inducing apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqin Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Mengying Wu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jing Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chunmei Ying
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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35
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Spadari CDC, Wirth F, Lopes LB, Ishida K. New Approaches for Cryptococcosis Treatment. Microorganisms 2020; 8:E613. [PMID: 32340403 PMCID: PMC7232457 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms8040613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 04/16/2020] [Accepted: 04/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcosis is an important opportunistic infection and a leading cause of meningitis in patients with HIV infection. The antifungal pharmacological treatment is limited to amphotericin B, fluconazole and 5- flucytosine. In addition to the limited pharmacological options, the high toxicity, increased resistance rate and difficulty of the currently available antifungal molecules to cross the blood-brain barrier hamper the treatment. Thus, the search for new alternatives for the treatment of cryptococcal meningitis is extremely necessary. In this review, we describe the therapeutic strategies currently available, discuss new molecules with antifungal potential in different phases of clinical trials and in advanced pre-clinical phase, and examine drug nanocarriers to improve delivery to the central nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina de Castro Spadari
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
| | - Fernanda Wirth
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
| | - Luciana Biagini Lopes
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Kelly Ishida
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil; (C.d.C.S.); (F.W.)
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36
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de Bastiani FWMDS, Spadari CDC, de Matos JKR, Salata GC, Lopes LB, Ishida K. Nanocarriers Provide Sustained Antifungal Activity for Amphotericin B and Miltefosine in the Topical Treatment of Murine Vaginal Candidiasis. Front Microbiol 2020; 10:2976. [PMID: 31998264 PMCID: PMC6965356 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2019.02976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Topical drug administration is frequently used for the treatment of vaginal candidiasis; however, most formulations using this route do not provide prolonged drug release. Our aim was to evaluate the antifungal efficacy of amphotericin B (AMB) and miltefosine (MFS) incorporated in nanocarriers for sustained drug release, in a murine model of vaginal candidiasis. AMB and MFS were incorporated in different topical formulations, namely: conventional vaginal cream (daily dose for 6 days; MFS-CR and AMB-CR groups), microemulsion that transforms into a liquid crystalline gel in situ (single dose, or in three doses, every 48 h; AMB-ME and MFS-ME groups) and alginate nanoparticles (single dose; MFS-AN group). Formulations were administered intravaginally in BALB/c female mice 24 h post-infection by Candida albicans yeasts. On the 7th day post-infection the animals were euthanized for mycological and histological analyses. Formulation persistence in the vaginal canal was assessed for 7 days by in vivo imaging, using nanocarriers labeled with Alexa-Fluor 647. AMB-ME(3×), MFS-ME(3×), and MFS-AN(1×) formulations were able to control fungal infection at comparable levels to those vaginal cream formulations. Notably, a single dose of MFS-AN was sufficient to reduce the fungal burden as effectively as MFS-ME(3×) and MFS-CR(6×). In vivo imaging showed that nanocarriers allowed prolonged antifungal activity by intravaginal administration reducing drug administration frequency. Therefore, AMB and MFS incorporated into a microemulsion and MFS encapsulated in alginate nanoparticles could be effective therapeutic alternatives for vaginal candidiasis, likely due to the sustained antifungal activity provided by these nanocarriers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Cristina de Castro Spadari
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Jenyffer Kelly Rocha de Matos
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Cassone Salata
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Luciana Biagini Lopes
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kelly Ishida
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Gowri M, Jayashree B, Jeyakanthan J, Girija EK. Sertraline as a promising antifungal agent: inhibition of growth and biofilm of Candida auris with special focus on the mechanism of action in vitro. J Appl Microbiol 2019; 128:426-437. [PMID: 31621139 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2019] [Revised: 09/27/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
AIM The aim of this present study was to investigate the antifungal mechanism of sertraline against Candida auris (C. auris) and its effect on biofilm formation. METHODS AND RESULTS Sertraline, a repurposing drug with a history of human use for the treatment of depression was screened against three different isolates of C. auris, and was found to possess efficient antifungal activity. The antifungal activity of sertraline was further confirmed by killing kinetics assay and post-antifungal effect (PAFE). Sertraline inhibited C. auris yeast to hyphae conversion and further the inhibition of biofilm formation showed 71% inhibition upon treatment. Cell damage caused due to C. auris after treatment with sertraline was observed using SEM and cell membrane damage was ascertained using flow cytometry by Propidium Iodide (PI) uptake assay. The results of sorbitol protection assay and ergosterol effect assay suggested that sertraline did not affect the cell wall and did not act by binding to membrane ergosterol. The mechanism of action of sertraline against C. auris was understood through in silico docking studies that revealed the binding nature of sertraline to the sterol 14 alpha demethylase which is involved in ergosterol biosynthesis. Ergosterol that was quantified from treated cells showed a 5·5-fold decrease in ergosterol production. CONCLUSION Sertraline displayed promising antifungal activity against C. auris involved in candidiasis infection and the mechanism of action was predicted. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THIS STUDY The results of this study can encourage for the development of new antifungal agents and can be promising antifungal agent against C. auris infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Gowri
- Department of Physics, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - B Jayashree
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - J Jeyakanthan
- Department of Bioinformatics, Alagappa University, Karaikudi, India
| | - E K Girija
- Department of Physics, Periyar University, Salem, Tamil Nadu, India
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Wall G, Herrera N, Lopez-Ribot JL. Repositionable Compounds with Antifungal Activity against Multidrug Resistant Candida auris Identified in the Medicines for Malaria Venture's Pathogen Box. J Fungi (Basel) 2019; 5:jof5040092. [PMID: 31581540 PMCID: PMC6958377 DOI: 10.3390/jof5040092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2019] [Revised: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background. Candida auris has spread rapidly around the world as a causative agent of invasive candidiasis in health care facilities and there is an urgent need to find new options for treating this emerging, often multidrug-resistant pathogen. Methods. We screened the Pathogen Box® chemical library for inhibitors of C. auris strain 0390, both under planktonic and biofilm growing conditions. Results. The primary screen identified 12 compounds that inhibited at least 60% of biofilm formation or planktonic growth. After confirmatory dose-response assays, iodoquinol and miltefosine were selected as the two main leading repositionable compounds. Iodoquinol displayed potent in vitro inhibitory activity against planktonic C. auris but showed negligible inhibitory activity against biofilms; whereas miltefosine was able to inhibit the growth of C. auris under both planktonic and biofilm-growing conditions. Subsequent experiments confirmed their activity against nine other strains C. auris clinical isolates, irrespective of their susceptibility profiles against conventional antifungals. We extended our studies further to seven different species of Candida, also with similar findings. Conclusion. Both drugs possess broad spectrum of activity against Candida spp., including multiple strains of the emergent C. auris, and may constitute promising repositionable options for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gina Wall
- Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| | - Natalia Herrera
- Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
| | - José L Lopez-Ribot
- Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78249, USA.
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Spadari CDC, de Bastiani FWMDS, Lopes LB, Ishida K. Alginate nanoparticles as non-toxic delivery system for miltefosine in the treatment of candidiasis and cryptococcosis. Int J Nanomedicine 2019; 14:5187-5199. [PMID: 31371955 PMCID: PMC6636311 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s205350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction and objective Previous studies indicate that miltefosine (MFS) may be an alternative as an antifungal agent; however, it presents several adverse effects. Thus, the aim of this study was to produce miltefosine-loaded alginate nanoparticles (MFS.Alg) for toxicity reduction to be used as an alternative for the treatment of cryptococcosis and candidiasis. Methods Alginate nanoparticles were produced using the external emulsification/gelation method, and their physicochemical and morphological characteristics were analyzed. MFS encapsulation efficiency, release assay and toxicity on red blood cells and on Galleria mellonella larvae were assessed. The antifungal activity was evaluated using in vitro and in vivo larval models of G. mellonella infected with Candida albicans (SC5314 and IAL-40), Cryptococcus neoformans H99 and Cryptococcus gattii ATCC 56990. The treatment efficacy was evaluated by survival curve, colony forming unit (CFU) counting and histopathological analysis. Results MFS.Alg nanoparticles presented a mean size of 279.1±56.7 nm, a polydispersity index of 0.42±0.15 and a zeta potential of -39.7±5.2 mV. The encapsulation efficiency of MFS was 81.70±6.64%, and its release from the nanoparticles occurred in a sustained manner. MFS in alginate nanoparticles presented no hemolytic effect and no toxicity in G. mellonella larvae. Treatment with MFS.Alg extended the survival time of larvae infected with C. albicans and C. gattii. In addition, the fungal burden reduction was confirmed by CFU and histopathological data for all groups treated with 200 mg/Kg of MFS.Alg. Conclusion These results support the use of alginate-based drug delivery systems as carriers for MFS for drug toxicity reduction and control of the fungal infection in the in vivo model of G. mellonella.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina de Castro Spadari
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Luciana Biagini Lopes
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Drug Delivery Systems, Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kelly Ishida
- Laboratory of Antifungal Chemotherapy, Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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