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Peng X, Kong Q, Wei Q, Guo S, Chen Q, Peng M, An B, Wang X, Zhang C, Sang H. Verapamil enhances the activity of Caspofungin against Cryptococcus neoformans, coinciding with inhibited Ca 2+/CN pathway and damage to cell wall integrity. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 64:107303. [PMID: 39151646 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107303] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 07/09/2024] [Accepted: 08/02/2024] [Indexed: 08/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Given the challenges posed by toxicity and drug resistance in the treatment of cryptococcal infections, we sought to explore the antifungal potential of verapamil (VER), a calcium channel blocker, against Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans), and its potential synergy with antifungals, specifically caspofungin (CAS). MATERIALS AND METHODS In vitro and in vivo (Galleria mellonella) models were employed to assess VER's antifungal activity and its interaction with CAS. Mechanisms underlying the synergism were explored through analysis of cell wall integrity, membrane permeability, and gene expression related to the calcineurin pathway. Additionally, the influence of Ca2+ on chitin deacetylase activity was investigated. RESULTS VER exhibited a pronounced antifungal effect on C. neoformans and synergized with CAS, enhancing antifungal efficacy in Galleria mellonella. VER reduced chitosan content and disrupted cell wall integrity, evidenced by melanin leakage and fluorescence staining. VER+CAS modified membrane permeability, triggering intracellular ROS accumulation and mitochondrial membrane potential alterations. VER mitigated CAS-induced calcium fluctuations and downregulated calcineurin pathway genes. Furthermore, it was found that the enzyme activity of chitin deacetylase of C. neoformans is significantly influenced by the presence of Ca2+, suggesting that the use of VER may affect this activity. CONCLUSIONS The synergistic antifungal effect of VER and CAS represents a promising therapeutic strategy for cryptococcal infections. The multifaceted mechanisms, including disruption of cell wall integrity and modulation of membrane permeability, and regulation of intracellular calcium signaling pathways, offer new insights into antifungal drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qingtao Kong
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Wei
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shilin Guo
- Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiying Chen
- Department of Dermatology, the First People's Hospital of Foshan, Foshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Min Peng
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Binyi An
- Department of Dermatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Wang
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hong Sang
- Department of Dermatology, Jinling Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
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2
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Nishino S, Oiki S, Yamana Y, Hagiwara D. Evaluation of antifungal activity of cerium oxide nanoparticles and associated cellular responses. Biosci Biotechnol Biochem 2024; 88:1225-1232. [PMID: 39003249 DOI: 10.1093/bbb/zbae101] [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: 05/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/15/2024]
Abstract
Cerium oxide (CeO2) nanoparticles, as a metal oxide nanomaterial, are increasingly used for various industrial and biomedical applications. Although their cytotoxicity to bacteria and the associated mechanisms have attracted particular attention, the mechanisms behind their antifungal effects have remained unclear. This study investigated the antifungal properties of CeO2, focusing on Aspergillus oryzae. CeO2 inhibited fungal spore germination on solid substrates, and the effect was fungistatic rather than fungicidal. CeO2 inhibited fungal growth, especially under UV irradiation, and induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Tocopherol reduced the intracellular ROS levels and the growth-inhibitory effects of CeO2, suggesting that ROS are involved in these growth-inhibitory effects. Transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulated expression of genes related to phospholipases and phosphate metabolism. CeO2 affected phosphate ion concentration in the medium, potentially influencing cellular responses. This research provided valuable insights into the antifungal effects of CeO2 application, which differ from those of conventional photocatalysts like TiO2.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sayoko Oiki
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
| | | | - Daisuke Hagiwara
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
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3
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Jusuf S, Mansour MK. Catalase Deactivation Increases Dermatophyte Sensitivity to ROS Sources. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:476. [PMID: 39057361 PMCID: PMC11277954 DOI: 10.3390/jof10070476] [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: 05/23/2024] [Revised: 06/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
As the leading cause of fungal skin infections around the globe, dermatophytes are responsible for a multitude of skin ailments, ranging from athlete's foot to ringworm. Due to the combination of its growing prevalence and antifungal misuse, antifungal-resistant dermatophyte strains like Trichophyton indotineae have begun to emerge, posing a significant global health risk. The emergence of these resistant dermatophytes highlights a critical need to identify alternative methods of treating dermatophyte infections. In our study, we utilized a 405 nm LED to establish that blue light can effectively inactivate catalase within a variety of both susceptible and resistant dermatophytes. Through this catalase inactivation process, light-treated dermatophytes were found to exhibit increased sensitivity to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-producing agents, improving the performance of antimicrobial agents such as H2O2 and amphotericin B. Our findings further demonstrate that light-induced catalase inactivation can inhibit the formation and polarized growth of hyphae from dermatophytes, suppressing biomass formation. Thus, by increasing ROS sensitization and inhibiting hyphal development, catalase-deactivating blue light offers a potential non-invasive and non-drug-reliant method of managing dermatophyte infections, opening new avenues for the potential treatment of these common infections in conjunction with existing treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Jusuf
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Michael K. Mansour
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
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4
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Korshunov S, Imlay JA. Antioxidants are ineffective at quenching reactive oxygen species inside bacteria and should not be used to diagnose oxidative stress. Mol Microbiol 2024; 122:113-128. [PMID: 38889382 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15286] [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: 04/19/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
A wide variety of stresses have been proposed to exert killing effects upon bacteria by stimulating the intracellular formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A key part of the supporting evidence has often been the ability of antioxidant compounds to protect the cells. In this study, some of the most-used antioxidants-thiourea, glutathione, N-acetylcysteine, and ascorbate-have been examined. Their ability to quench superoxide and hydrogen peroxide was verified in vitro, but the rate constants were orders of magnitude too slow for them to have an impact upon superoxide and peroxide concentrations in vivo, where these species are already scavenged by highly active enzymes. Indeed, the antioxidants were unable to protect the growth and ROS-sensitive enzymes of E. coli strains experiencing authentic oxidative stress. Similar logic posits that antioxidants cannot substantially quench hydroxyl radicals inside cells, which contain abundant biomolecules that react with them at diffusion-limited rates. Indeed, antioxidants were able to protect cells from DNA damage only if they were applied at concentrations that slow metabolism and growth. This protective effect was apparent even under anoxic conditions, when ROS could not possibly be involved, and it was replicated when growth was similarly slowed by other means. Experimenters should discard the use of antioxidants as a way of detecting intracellular oxidative stress and should revisit conclusions that have been based upon such experiments. The notable exception is that these compounds can effectively degrade hydrogen peroxide from environmental sources before it enters cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergey Korshunov
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
| | - James A Imlay
- Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois, USA
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5
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Downs DM, Poole RK. Interpreting the role of antioxidants in vivo: A cautionary tale. Mol Microbiol 2024; 122:129-132. [PMID: 38960396 PMCID: PMC11260230 DOI: 10.1111/mmi.15292] [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: 06/13/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Bacteria have a remarkable ability to sense environmental stresses and to respond to these stressors by adapting their metabolism and physiology. In recent publications, investigators have suggested that multiple stresses that cause cell death share the mechanistic feature of stimulating the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). A central piece of evidence cited in these claims is the ability of exogenous antioxidant compounds to mitigate stress-related cell death. The validity of attributing a positive effect of exogenous antioxidants to ROS-mediated stress is challenged by an important study by Korshunov and Imlay in this issue of Molecular Microbiology. This study reports biochemical data that convincingly show that some commonly used antioxidants quench oxidants orders of magnitude too slowly to have a significant effect on the concentration of ROS in the cell. Under conditions where antioxidants minimize cell death, they also slow growth. Significantly, slowing cell growth by other means has the same restorative effect as adding an antioxidant. Based on the solid biochemical and genetic data, Korshunov and Imlay make the case for discarding the use of antioxidants to diagnose conditions that generate increased internal ROS production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana M. Downs
- Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Robert K Poole
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
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6
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Schuster M, Kilaru S, Steinberg G. Azoles activate type I and type II programmed cell death pathways in crop pathogenic fungi. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4357. [PMID: 38821954 PMCID: PMC11143370 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48157-9] [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: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Triazoles are widely used to control pathogenic fungi. They inhibit the ergosterol biosynthetic pathway, but the precise mechanisms leading to fungicidal activities in many fungal pathogens are poorly understood. Here, we elucidate the mode of action of epoxiconazole and metconazole in the wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici and the rice blast fungus Magnaporthe oryzae. We show that both azoles have fungicidal activity and reduce fluidity, but not integrity, of the plasma membrane. This impairs localisation of Cdc15-like F-BAR proteins, resulting in defective actin ring assembly and incomplete septation. However, mutant studies and pharmacological experiments in vitro and in planta show that azole lethality is due to a combination of reactive oxygen species-induced apoptosis and macroautophagy. Simultaneous inhibition of both programmed cell death pathways abolishes azole-induced cell death. Other classes of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors also induce apoptosis and macroautophagy, suggesting that activation of these two cell death pathways is a hallmark of ergosterol synthesis-targeting fungicides. This knowledge will inform future crop protection strategies.
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7
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Xie J, Rybak JM, Martin-Vicente A, Guruceaga X, Thorn HI, Nywening AV, Ge W, Parker JE, Kelly SL, Rogers PD, Fortwendel JR. The sterol C-24 methyltransferase encoding gene, erg6, is essential for viability of Aspergillus species. Nat Commun 2024; 15:4261. [PMID: 38769341 PMCID: PMC11106247 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48767-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Triazoles, the most widely used class of antifungal drugs, inhibit the biosynthesis of ergosterol, a crucial component of the fungal plasma membrane. Inhibition of a separate ergosterol biosynthetic step, catalyzed by the sterol C-24 methyltransferase Erg6, reduces the virulence of pathogenic yeasts, but its effects on filamentous fungal pathogens like Aspergillus fumigatus remain unexplored. Here, we show that the lipid droplet-associated enzyme Erg6 is essential for the viability of A. fumigatus and other Aspergillus species, including A. lentulus, A. terreus, and A. nidulans. Downregulation of erg6 causes loss of sterol-rich membrane domains required for apical extension of hyphae, as well as altered sterol profiles consistent with the Erg6 enzyme functioning upstream of the triazole drug target, Cyp51A/Cyp51B. Unexpectedly, erg6-repressed strains display wild-type susceptibility against the ergosterol-active triazole and polyene antifungals. Finally, we show that erg6 repression results in significant reduction in mortality in a murine model of invasive aspergillosis. Taken together with recent studies, our work supports Erg6 as a potentially pan-fungal drug target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinhong Xie
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Rybak
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Adela Martin-Vicente
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Xabier Guruceaga
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Harrison I Thorn
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Ashley V Nywening
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Wenbo Ge
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Josie E Parker
- Molecular Biosciences Division, School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, UK
| | - Steven L Kelly
- Institute of Life Science, Swansea University Medical School, Swansea, Wales, UK
| | - P David Rogers
- Department of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jarrod R Fortwendel
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
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8
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Sandhu ZA, Raza MA, Alqurashi A, Sajid S, Ashraf S, Imtiaz K, Aman F, Alessa AH, Shamsi MB, Latif M. Advances in the Optimization of Fe Nanoparticles: Unlocking Antifungal Properties for Biomedical Applications. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:645. [PMID: 38794307 PMCID: PMC11124843 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16050645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Revised: 04/25/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
In recent years, nanotechnology has achieved a remarkable status in shaping the future of biological applications, especially in combating fungal diseases. Owing to excellence in nanotechnology, iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) have gained enormous attention in recent years. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive overview of Fe NPs covering key synthesis approaches and underlying working principles, the factors that influence their properties, essential characterization techniques, and the optimization of their antifungal potential. In addition, the diverse kinds of Fe NP delivery platforms that command highly effective release, with fewer toxic effects on patients, are of great significance in the medical field. The issues of biocompatibility, toxicity profiles, and applications of optimized Fe NPs in the field of biomedicine have also been described because these are the most significant factors determining their inclusion in clinical use. Besides this, the difficulties and regulations that exist in the transition from laboratory to experimental clinical studies (toxicity, specific standards, and safety concerns) of Fe NPs-based antifungal agents have been also summarized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeshan Ali Sandhu
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Muhammad Asam Raza
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Abdulmajeed Alqurashi
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Samavia Sajid
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore 54890, Pakistan;
| | - Sufyan Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Kainat Imtiaz
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hafiz Hayat Campus, University of Gujrat, Gujrat 50700, Pakistan; (Z.A.S.); (S.A.); (K.I.)
| | - Farhana Aman
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Sargodha Campus, Sargodha 40100, Pakistan;
| | - Abdulrahman H. Alessa
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Monis Bilal Shamsi
- Centre for Genetics and Inherited Diseases (CGID), Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia;
- Department Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muhammad Latif
- Centre for Genetics and Inherited Diseases (CGID), Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia;
- Department Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Taibah University, Madinah 42353, Saudi Arabia
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9
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Argüelles JC, Sánchez-Fresneda R, Argüelles A, Solano F. Natural Substances as Valuable Alternative for Improving Conventional Antifungal Chemotherapy: Lights and Shadows. J Fungi (Basel) 2024; 10:334. [PMID: 38786689 PMCID: PMC11122340 DOI: 10.3390/jof10050334] [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: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/01/2024] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Fungi are eukaryotic organisms with relatively few pathogenic members dangerous for humans, usually acting as opportunistic infections. In the last decades, several life-threatening fungal infections have risen mostly associated with the worldwide extension of chronic diseases and immunosuppression. The available antifungal therapies cannot combat this challenge because the arsenal of compounds is scarce and displays low selective action, significant adverse effects, and increasing resistance. A growing isolation of outbreaks triggered by fungal species formerly considered innocuous is being recorded. From ancient times, natural substances harvested from plants have been applied to folk medicine and some of them recently emerged as promising antifungals. The most used are briefly revised herein. Combinations of chemotherapeutic drugs with natural products to obtain more efficient and gentle treatments are also revised. Nevertheless, considerable research work is still necessary before their clinical use can be generally accepted. Many natural products have a highly complex chemical composition, with the active principles still partially unknown. Here, we survey the field underlying lights and shadows of both groups. More studies involving clinical strains are necessary, but we illustrate this matter by discussing the potential clinical applications of combined carnosic acid plus propolis formulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Argüelles
- Área de Microbiología, Facultad Biología, University Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.C.A.); (R.S.-F.); (A.A.)
| | - Ruth Sánchez-Fresneda
- Área de Microbiología, Facultad Biología, University Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.C.A.); (R.S.-F.); (A.A.)
| | - Alejandra Argüelles
- Área de Microbiología, Facultad Biología, University Murcia, Campus Espinardo, 30100 Murcia, Spain; (J.C.A.); (R.S.-F.); (A.A.)
| | - Francisco Solano
- Departamento Bioquímica, Biología Molecular B & Inmunología, Facultad Medicina, University Murcia, Campus El Palmar, 30112 Murcia, Spain
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10
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Edrich ESM, Duvenage L, Gourlay CW. Alternative Oxidase - Aid or obstacle to combat the rise of fungal pathogens? BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA. BIOENERGETICS 2024; 1865:149031. [PMID: 38195037 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbabio.2024.149031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens present a growing threat to both humans and global health security alike. Increasing evidence of antifungal resistance in fungal populations that infect both humans and plant species has increased reliance on combination therapies and shown the need for new antifungal therapeutic targets to be investigated. Here, we review the roles of mitochondria and fungal respiration in pathogenesis and discuss the role of the Alternative Oxidase enzyme (Aox) in both human fungal pathogens and phytopathogens. Increasing evidence exists for Aox within mechanisms that underpin fungal virulence. Aox also plays important roles in adaptability that may prove useful within dual targeted fungal-specific therapeutic approaches. As improved fungal specific mitochondrial and Aox inhibitors are under development we may see this as an emerging target for future approaches to tackling the growing challenge of fungal infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lucian Duvenage
- CMM AFRICA Medical Mycology Research Unit, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Campbell W Gourlay
- Kent Fungal Group, School of Biosciences, University of Kent, Kent CT2 9HY, UK.
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11
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Ramesh S, Roy U, Roy S, Rudramurthy SM. A promising antifungal lipopeptide from Bacillus subtilis: its characterization and insight into the mode of action. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:161. [PMID: 38252130 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12976-5] [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: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Emerging resistance of fungal pathogens and challenges faced in drug development have prompted renewed investigations into novel antifungal lipopeptides. The antifungal lipopeptide AF3 reported here is a natural lipopeptide isolated and purified from Bacillus subtilis. The AF3 lipopeptide's secondary structure, functional groups, and the presence of amino acid residues typical of lipopeptides were determined by circular dichroism, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The lipopeptide's low minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 4-8 mg/L against several fungal strains demonstrate its strong antifungal activity. Biocompatibility assays showed that ~ 80% of mammalian cells remained viable at a 2 × MIC concentration of AF3. The treated Candida albicans cells examined by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy clearly showed ultrastructural alterations such as the loss of the cell shape and cell membrane integrity. The antifungal effect of AF3 resulted in membrane permeabilization facilitating the uptake of the fluorescent dyes-acridine orange (AO)/propidium iodide (PI) and FUN-1. Using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) and 4-(2-[6-(dioctylamino)-2-naphthalenyl] ethenyl)-1-(3-sulfopropyl) pyridinium inner salt (di-8-ANEPPS), we observed that the binding of AF3 to the membrane bilayer results in membrane disruption and depolarization. Flow cytometry analyses revealed a direct correlation between lipopeptide activity, membrane permeabilization (~ 75% PI uptake), and reduced cell viability. An increase in 2',7'-dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescence demonstrates endogenous reactive oxygen species production. Lipopeptide treatment appears to induce late-stage apoptosis and alterations to nuclear morphology, suggesting that AF3-induced membrane damage may lead to a cellular stress response. Taken together, this study illustrates antifungal lipopeptide's potential as an antifungal drug candidate. KEY POINTS: • The studied lipopeptide variant AF3 displayed potent antifungal activity against C. albicans • Its biological activity was stable to proteolysis • Analytical studies demonstrated that the lipopeptide is essentially membranotropic and able to cause membrane dysfunction, elevated ROS levels, apoptosis, and DNA damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha Ramesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, NH 17B Bypass Road, Sancoale, Goa, 403726, India
| | - Utpal Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, NH 17B Bypass Road, Sancoale, Goa, 403726, India.
| | - Subhasish Roy
- Department of Chemistry, BITS Pilani K.K. Birla Goa Campus, NH 17B Bypass Road, Sancoale, Goa, 403726, India
| | - Shivaprakash M Rudramurthy
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, 160012, India
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12
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Sasse C, Bastakis E, Bakti F, Höfer AM, Zangl I, Schüller C, Köhler AM, Gerke J, Krappmann S, Finkernagel F, Harting R, Strauss J, Heimel K, Braus GH. Induction of Aspergillus fumigatus zinc cluster transcription factor OdrA/Mdu2 provides combined cellular responses for oxidative stress protection and multiple antifungal drug resistance. mBio 2023; 14:e0262823. [PMID: 37982619 PMCID: PMC10746196 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02628-23] [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: 09/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE An overexpression screen of 228 zinc cluster transcription factor encoding genes of A. fumigatus revealed 11 genes conferring increased tolerance to antifungal drugs. Out of these, four oxidative stress and drug tolerance transcription factor encoding odr genes increased tolerance to oxidative stress and antifungal drugs when overexpressed. This supports a correlation between oxidative stress response and antifungal drug tolerance in A. fumigatus. OdrA/Mdu2 is required for the cross-tolerance between azoles, polyenes, and oxidative stress and activates genes for detoxification. Under oxidative stress conditions or when overexpressed, OdrA/Mdu2 accumulates in the nucleus and activates detoxifying genes by direct binding at their promoters, as we describe with the mdr1 gene encoding an itraconazole specific efflux pump. Finally, this work gives new insights about drug and stress resistance in the opportunistic pathogenic fungus A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Sasse
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Emmanouil Bastakis
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Fruzsina Bakti
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Annalena M. Höfer
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Isabella Zangl
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus, Tulln, Austria
- Core Facility Bioactive Molecules–Screening and Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Austria
| | - Christoph Schüller
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus, Tulln, Austria
- Core Facility Bioactive Molecules–Screening and Analysis, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Austria
| | - Anna M. Köhler
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Jennifer Gerke
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sven Krappmann
- Institute of Microbiology–Clinical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene, University Hospital Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander University Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
- Center for Infection Research (ECI) and Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen (MICE), Erlangen, Germany
| | - Florian Finkernagel
- Center for Tumor Biology and Immunology, Core Facility Bioinformatics, Philipps University, Marburg, Germany
| | - Rebekka Harting
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joseph Strauss
- Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Campus, Tulln, Austria
| | - Kai Heimel
- Department of Microbial Cell Biology, Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Gerhard H. Braus
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Genetics and Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences (GZMB), Institute of Microbiology and Genetics, University of Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
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13
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Ramesh S, Roy U, Roy S. The elucidation of the multimodal action of the investigational anti- Candida lipopeptide (AF 4) lead from Bacillus subtilis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1248444. [PMID: 38131013 PMCID: PMC10736182 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1248444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Candida species are the main etiological agents for candidiasis, and Candida albicans are the most common infectious species. Candida species' growing resistance to conventional therapies necessitates more research into novel antifungal agents. Antifungal peptides isolated from microorganisms have potential applications as novel therapeutics. AF4 a Bacillus-derived lipopeptide demonstrating broad-spectrum antifungal activity has been investigated for its ability to cause cell death in Candida species via membrane damage and oxidative stress. Methods: Using biophysical techniques, the secondary structure of the AF4 lipopeptide was identified. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy with fluorescent dyes were performed to visualise the effect of the lipopeptide. The membrane disruption and permeabilization were assessed using the 1,6-diphenyl hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence assay and flow cytometric (FC) assessment of propidium iodide (PI) uptake, respectively. The reactive oxygen species levels were estimated using the FC assessment. The induction of apoptosis and DNA damage were studied using Annexin V-FITC/PI and DAPI. Results: Bacillus-derived antifungal variant AF4 was found to have structural features typical of lipopeptides. Microscopy imaging revealed that AF4 damages the surface of treated cells and results in membrane permeabilization, facilitating the uptake of the fluorescent dyes. A loss of membrane integrity was observed in cells treated with AF4 due to a decrease in DPH fluorescence and a dose-dependent increase in PI uptake. Cell damage was also determined from the log reduction of viable cells treated with AF4. AF4 treatment also caused elevated ROS levels, induced phosphatidylserine externalisation, late-stage apoptosis, and alterations to nuclear morphology revealed by DAPI fluorescence. Conclusion: Collectively, the mode of action studies revealed that AF4 acts primarily on the cell membrane of C. albicans and has the potential to act as an antifungal drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha Ramesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
| | - Utpal Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
| | - Subhashis Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
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14
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Tan J, Yang J, Aobulikasimu N, Zhang C, Cao B, Lv H, Jiang M, Han L, Huang X. Senkyunolide B exhibits broad-spectrum antifungal activity against plant and human pathogenic fungi via inhibiting spore germination and destroying the mature biofilm. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2023; 79:4952-4963. [PMID: 37531560 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 07/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aspergillus infection seriously jeopardizes the health and safety of life of immunocompromised patients. The emergences of antifungal resistance highlight a demand to find new effective antifungal drugs. Angelica sinensis is a medicine-food herb and phthalides are its characteristic components. A few of the phthalides have been reported to display satisfactory antifungal activities against plant pathogenic fungi. However, the structure-activity relationships and antifungal action mechanism of phthalides remain to be further explored and elucidated. RESULTS The antifungal activities of five natural phthalides and four artificial analogs were investigated, and their structure-activity relationships were preliminarily elucidated in the current study. The benzene ring moiety played an essential role in their antifungal activities; the oxygen-containing substituents on the benzene ring obviously impacted their activities, the free hydroxyl was favorable to the activity. Typical phthalide senkyunolide B (SENB) exhibited broad antifungal activities against human and plant pathogenic fungi, especially, Aspergillus fumigatus. SENB affected the spore germination and hyphae growth of Aspergillus fumigatus via down-regulating phosphatidylinositol-PKC-calcineurin axis and the expression of ENG genes. Moreover, SENB disturbed the oxidation-reduction process in Aspergillus fumigatus to destroy the mature biofilms. In vivo experiments indicated SENB significantly prolonged survival and decreased fungal burden in mouse model of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. CONCLUSIONS Phthalides could be considered as the valuable leads for the development of antifungal drug to cure plant and human disease. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Tan
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Junwei Yang
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Nuerbiye Aobulikasimu
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Chen Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Bixuan Cao
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Hang Lv
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Mingguo Jiang
- Guangxi Key Laboratory for Polysaccharide Materials and Modifications, School of Marine Sciences and Biotechnology, Guangxi University for Nationalities, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Li Han
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
| | - Xueshi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Bioresource Research and Development of Liaoning Province, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, P. R. China
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15
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Boudier A, Mammari N, Lamouroux E, Duval RE. Inorganic Nanoparticles: Tools to Emphasize the Janus Face of Amphotericin B. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:1543. [PMID: 37887244 PMCID: PMC10604816 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12101543] [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: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Amphotericin B is the oldest antifungal molecule which is still currently widely used in clinical practice, in particular for the treatment of invasive diseases, even though it is not devoid of side effects (particularly nephrotoxicity). Recently, its redox properties (i.e., both prooxidant and antioxidant) have been highlighted in the literature as mechanisms involved in both its activity and its toxicity. Interestingly, similar properties can be described for inorganic nanoparticles. In the first part of the present review, the redox properties of Amphotericin B and inorganic nanoparticles are discussed. Then, in the second part, inorganic nanoparticles as carriers of the drug are described. A special emphasis is given to their combined redox properties acting either as a prooxidant or as an antioxidant and their connection to the activity against pathogens (i.e., fungi, parasites, and yeasts) and to their toxicity. In a majority of the published studies, inorganic nanoparticles carrying Amphotericin B are described as having a synergistic activity directly related to the rupture of the redox homeostasis of the pathogen. Due to the unique properties of inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., magnetism, intrinsic anti-infectious properties, stimuli-triggered responses, etc.), these nanomaterials may represent a new generation of medicine that can synergistically enhance the antimicrobial properties of Amphotericin B.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nour Mammari
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LCM, F-54000 Nancy, France; (N.M.); (E.L.)
| | - Emmanuel Lamouroux
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LCM, F-54000 Nancy, France; (N.M.); (E.L.)
| | - Raphaël E. Duval
- Université de Lorraine, CNRS, LCM, F-54000 Nancy, France; (N.M.); (E.L.)
- ABC Platform, F-54505 Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, France
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16
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Gonzalez-Jimenez I, Perlin DS, Shor E. Reactive oxidant species induced by antifungal drugs: identity, origins, functions, and connection to stress-induced cell death. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1276406. [PMID: 37900311 PMCID: PMC10602735 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1276406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Reactive oxidant species (ROS) are unstable, highly reactive molecules that are produced by cells either as byproducts of metabolism or synthesized by specialized enzymes. ROS can be detrimental, e.g., by damaging cellular macromolecules, or beneficial, e.g., by participating in signaling. An increasing body of evidence shows that various fungal species, including both yeasts and molds, increase ROS production upon exposure to the antifungal drugs currently used in the clinic: azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. However, the implications of these findings are still largely unclear due to gaps in knowledge regarding the chemical nature, molecular origins, and functional consequences of these ROS. Because the detection of ROS in fungal cells has largely relied on fluorescent probes that lack specificity, the chemical nature of the ROS is not known, and it may vary depending on the specific fungus-drug combination. In several instances, the origin of antifungal drug-induced ROS has been identified as the mitochondria, but further experiments are necessary to strengthen this conclusion and to investigate other potential cellular ROS sources, such as the ER, peroxisomes, and ROS-producing enzymes. With respect to the function of the ROS, several studies have shown that they contribute to the drugs' fungicidal activities and may be part of drug-induced programmed cell death (PCD). However, whether these "pro-death" ROS are a primary consequence of the antifungal mechanism of action or a secondary consequence of drug-induced PCD remains unclear. Finally, several recent studies have raised the possibility that ROS induction can serve an adaptive role, promoting antifungal drug tolerance and the evolution of drug resistance. Filling these gaps in knowledge will reveal a new aspect of fungal biology and may identify new ways to potentiate antifungal drug activity or prevent the evolution of antifungal drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Gonzalez-Jimenez
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, United States
| | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, United States
- Medical Sciences, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, United States
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Erika Shor
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, NJ, United States
- Medical Sciences, Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine, Nutley, NJ, United States
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17
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Zapata-Zapata C, Rojas-López M, García LT, Quintero W, Terrón MC, Luque D, Mesa-Arango AC. Lippia origanoides Essential Oil or Thymol in Combination with Fluconazole Produces Damage to Cells and Reverses the Azole-Resistant Phenotype of a Candida tropicalis Strain. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:888. [PMID: 37754996 PMCID: PMC10532872 DOI: 10.3390/jof9090888] [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: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida tropicalis is one of the most pathogenic species within the genus. Increased antifungal resistance has been reported, which is in part due to the organism's ability to form biofilms. In natural products derived from plants, such as essential oils (EOs) or their major components, there is significant potential to develop new antifungals or to both enhance the efficacy and reduce the toxicity of conventional antifungals. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of combining an EO of Lippia origanoides or thymol with fluconazole on an azole-resistant C. tropicalis strain. Synergism was observed in the combination of fluconazole with the EO and with thymol, and minimal inhibitory concentrations for fluconazole decreased at least 32-fold. As a consequence of the synergistic interactions, mitochondrial membrane potential was reduced, and mitochondrial superoxide production increased. Alteration in nuclear morphology, cell surface, and ultrastructure was also observed. In conclusion, the synergistic interaction between L. origanoides EO or thymol with fluconazole reverted the azole-resistant C. tropicalis phenotype. These findings suggest that L. origanoides EO or thymol alone, or in combination with fluconazole, have the potential for development as antifungal therapies for this yeast, including resistant strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Zapata-Zapata
- Academic Group of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
| | - Mauricio Rojas-López
- Group of Cellular Immunology and Immunogenetics (GICIG), Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
- Flow Cytometry Unit, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia
| | - Liliana T. García
- Postgraduate Department of Infectious Disease, University of Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia; (L.T.G.); (W.Q.)
| | - Wendy Quintero
- Postgraduate Department of Infectious Disease, University of Santander, Bucaramanga 680006, Colombia; (L.T.G.); (W.Q.)
| | - María C. Terrón
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Scientific-Technical Central Units, Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.T.); (D.L.)
| | - Daniel Luque
- Electron Microscopy Unit, Scientific-Technical Central Units, Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII), 28220 Madrid, Spain; (M.C.T.); (D.L.)
| | - Ana C. Mesa-Arango
- Academic Group of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín 050010, Colombia;
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18
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Zhu G, Chen S, Zhang Y, Lu L. Mitochondrial Membrane-Associated Protein Mba1 Confers Antifungal Resistance by Affecting the Production of Reactive Oxygen Species in Aspergillus fumigatus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0022523. [PMID: 37428039 PMCID: PMC10433838 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00225-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Azole resistance in the human fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is becoming a major threat to global health. To date, mutations in the azole target-encoding cyp51A gene have been implicated in conferring azole resistance, but a steady increase in the number of A. fumigatus isolates with azole resistance resulting from non-cyp51A mutations has been recognized. Previous studies have revealed that some isolates with non-cyp51A mutation-induced azole resistance are related to mitochondrial dysfunction. However, knowledge of the molecular mechanism underlying the involvement of non-cyp51A mutations is limited. In this study, using next-generation sequencing, we found that nine independent azole-resistant isolates without cyp51A mutations had normal mitochondrial membrane potential. Among these isolates, a mutation in a mitochondrial ribosome-binding protein, Mba1, conferred multidrug resistance to azoles, terbinafine, and amphotericin B but not caspofungin. Molecular characterization verified that the TIM44 domain of Mba1 was crucial for drug resistance and that the N terminus of Mba1 played a major role in growth. Deletion of mba1 had no effect on Cyp51A expression but decreased the fungal cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) content, which contributed to mba1-mediated drug resistance. The findings in this study suggest that some non-cyp51A proteins drive drug resistance mechanisms that result from reduced ROS production induced by antifungals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoxing Zhu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shu Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuanwei Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Microbes and Functional Genomics, Jiangsu Engineering and Technology Research Center for Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing, China
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19
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Shen J, Ma M, Duan W, Huang Y, Shi B, Wu Q, Wei X. Autophagy Alters the Susceptibility of Candida albicans Biofilms to Antifungal Agents. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2015. [PMID: 37630575 PMCID: PMC10458732 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11082015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans (C. albicans) reigns as a major cause of clinical candidiasis. C. albicans biofilms are known to increase resistance to antifungal agents, making biofilm-related infections particularly challenging to treat. Drug resistance is of particular concern due to the spread of multidrug-resistant fungal pathogens, while autophagy is crucial for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effects of an activator and an inhibitor of autophagy on the susceptibility of C. albicans biofilms to antifungal agents and the related mechanisms. The susceptibility of C. albicans biofilms to different antifungal agents after treatment with or without the autophagy activator or inhibitor was evaluated using XTT assay. Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, as well as the expression of ROS-related and autophagy-related genes, were examined to evaluate the autophagic activity of C. albicans biofilms when treated with antifungal agents. The autophagosomes were observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The susceptibility of C. albicans biofilms to antifungal agents changed when autophagy changed. The ALP activity and ROS level of C. albicans biofilms increased with the treatment of antifungal agents, and autophagosomes could be observed in C. albicans biofilms. Autophagy was involved in the susceptibility of C. albicans biofilms to antifungal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiadi Shen
- Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China; (J.S.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Ming Ma
- Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China; (J.S.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Wei Duan
- Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China; (J.S.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Yun Huang
- Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China; (J.S.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Banruo Shi
- Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China; (J.S.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Qiaochu Wu
- Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China; (J.S.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
| | - Xin Wei
- Department of Endodontics, Affiliated Hospital of Stomatology, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China; (J.S.)
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210000, China
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20
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Hokken MWJ, Coolen JPM, Steenbreker H, Zoll J, Baltussen TJH, Verweij PE, Melchers WJG. The Transcriptome Response to Azole Compounds in Aspergillus fumigatus Shows Differential Gene Expression across Pathways Essential for Azole Resistance and Cell Survival. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:807. [PMID: 37623579 PMCID: PMC10455693 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The opportunistic pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus is found on all continents and thrives in soil and agricultural environments. Its ability to readily adapt to novel environments and to produce billions of spores led to the spread of azole-resistant A. fumigatus across the globe, posing a threat to many immunocompromised patients, including critically ill patients with severe influenza or COVID-19. In our study, we sought to compare the adaptational response to azoles from A. fumigatus isolates that differ in azole susceptibility and genetic background. To gain more insight into how short-term adaptation to stressful azole compounds is managed through gene expression, we conducted an RNA-sequencing study on the response of A. fumigatus to itraconazole and the newest clinically approved azole, isavuconazole. We observed many similarities in ergosterol biosynthesis up-regulation across isolates, with the exception of the pan-azole-resistant isolate, which showed very little differential regulation in comparison to other isolates. Additionally, we found differential regulation of membrane efflux transporters, secondary metabolites, iron metabolism, and various stress response and cell signaling mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margriet W. J. Hokken
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (T.J.H.B.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jordy P. M. Coolen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (T.J.H.B.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hilbert Steenbreker
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (T.J.H.B.)
| | - Jan Zoll
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (T.J.H.B.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Tim J. H. Baltussen
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (T.J.H.B.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paul E. Verweij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (T.J.H.B.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Willem J. G. Melchers
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands (T.J.H.B.)
- Center of Expertise in Mycology Radboudumc/CWZ, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Sass G, Martinez M, Kotta-Loizou I, Stevens D. AfuPmV-1-Infected Aspergillus fumigatus Is More Susceptible to Stress Than Virus-Free Fungus. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:750. [PMID: 37504738 PMCID: PMC10381315 DOI: 10.3390/jof9070750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/11/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Infection with Aspergillus fumigatus polymycovirus 1 (AfuPmV-1) affects Aspergillus fumigatus Af293's growth in vitro, iron metabolism, resistance in intermicrobial competition with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, resistance to osmotic stress, and resistance to the chitin synthase inhibitor nikkomycin Z. Here, we show that response to high temperature, Congo Red-induced stress, and hydrogen peroxide are also dependent on the viral infection status of A. fumigatus. AfuPmV-1- infected Af293 was more susceptible than virus-free Af293 to growth inhibition by high temperature, hydrogen peroxide, Congo Red exposure, and nutrient restriction. Increased resistance of virus-free fungus was observed when cultures were started from conidia but, in the case of high temperature and hydrogen peroxide, not when cultures were started from hyphae. This indicates that the virus impairs the stress response during the growth phase of germination of conidia and development into hyphae. In conclusion, our work indicates that AfuPmV-1 infection in A. fumigatus impairs host responses to stress, as shown by exposure to high temperature, oxidative stress such as hydrogen peroxide, and some cell wall stresses, as shown by exposure to Congo Red (in agreement with our previous observations using nikkomycin Z) and nutrient restriction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Sass
- California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
| | - Marife Martinez
- California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
| | - Ioly Kotta-Loizou
- Department of Life Sciences, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW72AZ, UK
- Department of Clinical, Pharmaceutical and Biological Science, School of Life and Medical Sciences, University of Hertfordshire, College Lane Campus, Hatfield AL109AB, UK
| | - David Stevens
- California Institute for Medical Research, San Jose, CA 95128, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Geographic Medicine, Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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22
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Madaan K, Bari VK. Emerging Role of Sphingolipids in Amphotericin B Drug Resistance. Microb Drug Resist 2023. [PMID: 37327022 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2022.0353] [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: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections in humans are common in people with compromised immune systems and are difficult to treat, resulting in high mortality. Amphotericin B (AmB) is one of the main antifungal drugs available to treat these infections. AmB binds with plasma membrane ergosterol, causing leakage of cellular ions and promoting cell death. The increasing use of available antifungal drugs to combat pathogenic fungal infections has led to the development of drug resistance. AmB resistance is not very common and is usually caused by changes in the amount or type of ergosterol or changes in the cell wall. Intrinsic AmB resistance occurs in the absence of AmB exposure, whereas acquired AmB resistance can develop during treatment. However, clinical resistance arises due to treatment failure with AmB and depends on multiple factors such as the pharmacokinetics of AmB, infectious fungal species, and host immune status. Candida albicans is a common opportunistic pathogen that can cause superficial infections of the skin and mucosal surfaces, thrush, to life-threatening systemic or invasive infections. In addition, immunocompromised individuals are more susceptible to systemic infections caused by Candida, Aspergillus, and Cryptococcus. Several antifungal drugs with different modes of action are used to treat systemic to invasive fungal infections and are approved for clinical use in the treatment of fungal diseases. However, C. albicans can develop a variety of defenses against antifungal medications. In fungi, plasma membrane sphingolipid molecules could interact with ergosterol, which can lead to the alteration of drug susceptibilities such as AmB. In this review, we mainly summarize the role of sphingolipid molecules and their regulators in AmB resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kashish Madaan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
| | - Vinay Kumar Bari
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Basic Sciences, Central University of Punjab, Bathinda, India
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23
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Muñoz-Megías ML, Sánchez-Fresneda R, Solano F, Maicas S, Martínez-Esparza M, Argüelles JC. The antifungal effect induced by itraconazole in Candida parapsilosis largely depends on the oxidative stress generated at the mitochondria. Curr Genet 2023; 69:165-173. [PMID: 37119267 PMCID: PMC10163099 DOI: 10.1007/s00294-023-01269-z] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
In Candida parapsilosis, homozygous disruption of the two genes encoding trehalase activity increased the susceptibility to Itraconazole compared with the isogenic parental strain. The fungicidal effect of this azole can largely be counteracted by preincubating growing cells with rotenone and the protonophore 2,4-Dinitrophenol. In turn, measurement of endogenous reactive oxygen species formation by flow cytometry confirmed that Itraconazole clearly induced an internal oxidative stress, which can be significantly abolished in rotenone-exposed cells. Analysis of the antioxidant enzymatic activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase pointed to a moderate decrease of catalase in trehalase-deficient mutant cells compared to the wild type, with an additional increase upon addition of rotenone. These enzymatic changes were imperceptible in the case of superoxide dismutase. Alternative assays with Voriconazole led to a similar profile in the results regarding cell growth and antioxidant activities. Collectively, our data suggest that the antifungal action of Itraconazole on C. parapsilosis is dependent on a functional mitochondrial activity. They also suggest that the central metabolic pathways in pathogenic fungi should be considered as preferential antifungal targets in new research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mª Luz Muñoz-Megías
- Facultad de Biología, Área de Microbiología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Ruth Sánchez-Fresneda
- Facultad de Biología, Área de Microbiología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain
| | - Francisco Solano
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular B & Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Campus de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad de Murcia, 30120, Murcia, Spain
| | - Sergi Maicas
- Departamento de Microbiología & Ecología, Facultad de Biología, Universitat de València, Burjassot, 46100, Valencia, Spain
| | - María Martínez-Esparza
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular B & Inmunología, Facultad de Medicina, Campus de Ciencias de La Salud, Universidad de Murcia, 30120, Murcia, Spain
| | - Juan-Carlos Argüelles
- Facultad de Biología, Área de Microbiología, Universidad de Murcia, 30100, Murcia, Spain.
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24
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Curtis A, Walshe K, Kavanagh K. Prolonged Subculturing of Aspergillus fumigatus on Galleria Extract Agar Results in Altered Virulence and Sensitivity to Antifungal Agents. Cells 2023; 12:1065. [PMID: 37048138 PMCID: PMC10093746 DOI: 10.3390/cells12071065] [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: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an environmental saprophyte and opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans. The aim of the work presented here was to examine the effect of serially subculturing A. fumigatus on agar generated from Galleria mellonella larvae in order to characterize the alterations in the phenotypes that might occur. The passaged strains showed alterations in virulence, antifungal susceptibility, and in protein abundances that may indicate adaptation after 25 passages over 231 days on Galleria extract agar. Passaged strains demonstrated reduced virulence in G. mellonella larvae and increased tolerance to hemocyte-mediated killing, hydrogen peroxide, itraconazole, and amphotericin B. A label-free proteomic analysis of control and passaged A. fumigatus strains revealed a total of 3329 proteins, of which 1902 remained following filtration, and 32 proteins were statistically significant as well as differentially abundant. Proteins involved in the response to oxidative stress were altered in abundance in the passaged strain and included (S)-S-oxide reductase (+2.63-fold), developmental regulator FlbA (+2.27-fold), and histone H2A.Z (-1.82-fold). These results indicate that the prolonged subculturing of A. fumigatus on Galleria extract agar results in alterations in the susceptibility to antifungal agents and in the abundance of proteins associated with the oxidative stress response. The phenomenon may be a result of selection for survival in adverse conditions and highlight how A. fumigatus may adapt to tolerate the pulmonary immune response in cases of human infection.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Kevin Kavanagh
- Department of Biology, Maynooth University, W23 F2H6 Maynooth, Co. Kildare, Ireland
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25
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Lamoth F, Calandra T. Pulmonary aspergillosis: diagnosis and treatment. Eur Respir Rev 2022; 31:31/166/220114. [DOI: 10.1183/16000617.0114-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillusspecies are the most frequent cause of fungal infections of the lungs with a broad spectrum of clinical presentations including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA). IPA affects immunocompromised populations, which are increasing in number and diversity with the advent of novel anti-cancer therapies. Moreover, IPA has emerged as a complication of severe influenza and coronavirus disease 2019 in apparently immunocompetent hosts. CPA mainly affects patients with pre-existing lung lesions and is recognised increasingly frequently among patients with long-term survival following cure of tuberculosis or lung cancer. The diagnosis of pulmonary aspergillosis is complex as it relies on the presence of clinical, radiological and microbiological criteria, which differ according to the type of pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA or CPA) and the type of patient population. The management of pulmonary aspergillosis is complicated by the limited number of treatment options, drug interactions, adverse events and the emergence of antifungal resistance.
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26
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Nicoletti G, White K. The Anti-Fungal Activity of Nitropropenyl Benzodioxole (NPBD), a Redox-Thiol Oxidant and Tyrosine Phosphatase Inhibitor. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11091188. [PMID: 36139967 PMCID: PMC9495065 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11091188] [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: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Phylogenetically diverse fungal species are an increasing cause of severe disease and mortality. Identification of new targets and development of new fungicidal drugs are required to augment the effectiveness of current chemotherapy and counter increasing resistance in pathogens. Nitroalkenyl benzene derivatives are thiol oxidants and inhibitors of cysteine-based molecules, which show broad biological activity against microorganisms. Nitropropenyl benzodioxole (NPBD), one of the most active antimicrobial derivatives, shows high activity in MIC assays for phylogenetically diverse saprophytic, commensal and parasitic fungi. NPBD was fungicidal to all species except the dermatophytic fungi, with an activity profile comparable to that of Amphotericin B and Miconazole. NPBD showed differing patterns of dynamic kill rates under different growth conditions for Candida albicans and Aspergillus fumigatus and was rapidly fungicidal for non-replicating vegetative forms and microconidia. It did not induce resistant or drug tolerant strains in major pathogens on long term exposure. A literature review highlights the complexity and interactivity of fungal tyrosine phosphate and redox signaling pathways, their differing metabolic effects in fungal species and identifies some targets for inhibition. A comparison of the metabolic activities of Amphotericin B, Miconazole and NPBD highlights the multiple cellular functions of these agents and the complementarity of many mechanisms. The activity profile of NPBD illustrates the functional diversity of fungal tyrosine phosphatases and thiol-based redox active molecules and contributes to the validation of tyrosine phosphatases and redox thiol molecules as related and complementary selective targets for antimicrobial drug development. NPBD is a selective antifungal agent with low oral toxicity which would be suitable for local treatment of skin and mucosal infections.
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27
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Oiki S, Nasuno R, Urayama SI, Takagi H, Hagiwara D. Intracellular production of reactive oxygen species and a DAF-FM-related compound in Aspergillus fumigatus in response to antifungal agent exposure. Sci Rep 2022; 12:13516. [PMID: 35933435 PMCID: PMC9357077 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-17462-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungi are ubiquitously present in our living environment and are responsible for crop and infectious diseases. Developing new antifungal agents is constantly needed for their effective control. Here, we investigated fungal cellular responses to an array of antifungal compounds, including plant- and bacteria-derived antifungal compounds. The pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus generated reactive oxygen species in its hyphae after exposure to the antifungal compounds thymol, farnesol, citral, nerol, salicylic acid, phenazine-1-carbonic acid, and pyocyanin, as well as under oxidative and high-temperature stress conditions. The production of nitric oxide (NO) was determined using diaminofluorescein-FM diacetate (DAF-FM DA) and occurred in response to antifungal compounds and stress conditions. The application of reactive oxygen species or NO scavengers partly suppressed the inhibitory effects of farnesol on germination. However, NO production was not detected in the hyphae using the Greiss method. An LC/MS analysis also failed to detect DAF-FM-T, a theoretical product derived from DAF-FM DA and NO, in the hyphae after antifungal treatments. Thus, the cellular state after exposure to antifungal agents may be more complex than previously believed, and the role of NO in fungal cells needs to be investigated further.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sayoko Oiki
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.,Laboratory of Basic and Applied Molecular Biotechnology, Division of Food Science and Biotechnology, Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto, 611-0011, Japan
| | - Ryo Nasuno
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Syun-Ichi Urayama
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.,Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Takagi
- Division of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, 8916-5 Takayama, Ikoma, Nara, 630-0192, Japan
| | - Daisuke Hagiwara
- Faculty of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan. .,Microbiology Research Center for Sustainability, University of Tsukuba, 1-1-1 Tennodai, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-8577, Japan.
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28
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Anti-dermatophytic activity of cold atmospheric plasma against Trichophyton rubrum via affecting fungal growth, morphology, drug susceptibility and HSP90 gene expression. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9481. [PMID: 35676321 PMCID: PMC9178019 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13828-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Trichophyton rubrum, a major human pathogenic dermatophyte, is responsible for the most recurrent dermatophytoses as globally important superficial fungal infections. Typical chemotherapy is used to handle such infections; however, emerging drug resistance and side effects necessitate the new remedial method development. Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is an emerging technology, consisted of neutral and charged particles and photons newly developed as a potent and safe antimicrobial technique to combat drug-resistant microbial pathogens. In the present study, the vast effects of CAP irradiation containing oxygen (2%) and helium (98%) on T. rubrum growth and pathogenicity were explored. After exposure of T. rubrum to CAP jet for 90, 120, 150, 180, and 210 s in 96-well microtiter plates, cell morphology and viability, ergosterol content of fungal hyphae, HSP90 gene expression, and the pattern of drug susceptibility were studied by using electron microscopy, RT-qPCR, spectrophotometry, disk diffusion and CLSI microbroth dilution methods. CAP irradiation significantly inhibited the fungal growth by 25.83 to 89.10%, reduced fungal cell viability by 11.68 to 87.71%, disrupted cellular membranous organelles and structures of the fungal hyphae, and suppressed efficiently the expression of HSP90 gene by 2 folds in 210 s exposure. Taken together, our results demonstrated that CAP is an efficient tool with potential in-vivo therapeutic applications against chronic dermatophytosis caused by T. rubrum due to its effectiveness, harmless, and ease of access.
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29
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Deletion of cox7c Results in Pan-Azole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0015122. [PMID: 35647650 PMCID: PMC9211413 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00151-22] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Aspergillus fumigatus, the most prevalent resistance to azoles results from mutational modifications of the azole target protein Cyp51A, but there are non-cyp51A mutants resistant to azoles, and the mechanisms underlying the resistance of these strains remain to be explored. Here, we identified a novel cytochrome c oxidase, cox7c (W56*), nonsense mutation in the laboratory and found that it caused reduced colony growth and resistance to multiantifungal agents. Meanwhile, we revealed that cold storage is responsible for increased tolerance of conidia to itraconazole (ITC) stress, which further advances azole-resistant mutations (cryopreservation→ITC tolerance→azole resistance). The deletion or mutation of cox7c results explicitly in resistance to antifungal-targeting enzymes, including triazoles, polyenes, and allylamines, required for ergosterol synthesis, or resistance to fungal ergosterol. A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay showed that the cox7c knockout strain decreased intracellular itraconazole concentration. In addition, the lack of Cox7c resulted in the accumulation of intracellular heme B. We validated that an endogenous increase in, or the exogenous addition of, heme B was capable of eliciting azole resistance, which was in good accordance with the phenotypic resistance analysis of cox7c mutants. Furthermore, RNA sequencing verified the elevated transcriptional expression levels of multidrug transport genes. Additionally, lower itraconazole-induced reactive oxygen species generation in mycelia of a cox7c-deletion strain suggested that this reduction may, in part, contribute to drug resistance. These findings increase our understanding of how A. fumigatus’s direct responses to azoles promote fungal survival in the environment and address genetic mutations that arise from patients or environments.
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30
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Yaakoub H, Mina S, Calenda A, Bouchara JP, Papon N. Oxidative stress response pathways in fungi. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:333. [PMID: 35648225 PMCID: PMC11071803 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04353-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Revised: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Fungal response to any stress is intricate, specific, and multilayered, though it employs only a few evolutionarily conserved regulators. This comes with the assumption that one regulator operates more than one stress-specific response. Although the assumption holds true, the current understanding of molecular mechanisms that drive response specificity and adequacy remains rudimentary. Deciphering the response of fungi to oxidative stress may help fill those knowledge gaps since it is one of the most encountered stress types in any kind of fungal niche. Data have been accumulating on the roles of the HOG pathway and Yap1- and Skn7-related pathways in mounting distinct and robust responses in fungi upon exposure to oxidative stress. Herein, we review recent and most relevant studies reporting the contribution of each of these pathways in response to oxidative stress in pathogenic and opportunistic fungi after giving a paralleled overview in two divergent models, the budding and fission yeasts. With the concept of stress-specific response and the importance of reactive oxygen species in fungal development, we first present a preface on the expanding domain of redox biology and oxidative stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hajar Yaakoub
- Univ Angers, Univ Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, 49000, Angers, France
| | - Sara Mina
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University, Beirut, Lebanon
| | | | | | - Nicolas Papon
- Univ Angers, Univ Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, 49000, Angers, France.
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31
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Santoso P, Minamihata K, Ishimine Y, Taniguchi H, Komada T, Sato R, Goto M, Takashima T, Taira T, Kamiya N. Enhancement of the Antifungal Activity of Chitinase by Palmitoylation and the Synergy of Palmitoylated Chitinase with Amphotericin B. ACS Infect Dis 2022; 8:1051-1061. [PMID: 35471825 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Combinations of antifungal drugs can have synergistic antifungal activity, achieving high therapeutic efficacy while minimizing the side effects. Amphotericin B (AMB) has been used as a standard antifungal drug for fungal infections; however, because of its high toxicity, new strategies to minimize the required dose are desirable. Chitinases have recently received attention as alternative safe antifungal agents. Herein, we report the combination of palmitoylated chitinase domains with AMB to enhance the antifungal activity. The chitin-binding domain (LysM) from Pteris ryukyuensis chitinase was site-specifically palmitoylated by conjugation reaction catalyzed by microbial transglutaminase. The palmitoylated LysM (LysM-Pal) exhibited strong antifungal activity against Trichoderma viride, inhibiting the growth completely at a concentration of 2 μM. This antifungal effect of LysM-Pal was mainly due to the effect of anchoring of palmitic acid motif to the plasma membrane of fungi. A combination of AMB with LysM-Pal resulted in synergistic enhancement of the antifungal activity. Intriguingly, LysM-Pal exhibited higher level of antifungal activity enhancement than palmitoylated catalytic domain (CatD) and fusion of LysM and CatD. Addition of 0.5 μM LysM-Pal to AMB reduced the minimal inhibition concentration of AMB to 0.31 μM (2.5 μM without LysM-Pal). The possible mechanism of the synergistic effect of AMB and LysM-Pal is destabilization of the plasma membrane by anchoring of palmitic acid and ergosterol extraction by AMB and destabilization of the chitin layer by LysM binding. The combination of LysM-Pal with AMB can drastically reduce the dose of AMB and may be a useful strategy to treat fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pugoh Santoso
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Kosuke Minamihata
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Yugo Ishimine
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukyu University, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Taniguchi
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Takuya Komada
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Ryo Sato
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Masahiro Goto
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Division of Biotechnology, Center for Future Chemistry, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
| | - Tomoya Takashima
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukyu University, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Toki Taira
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agriculture, Ryukyu University, 1 Senbaru, Nishihara-cho, Okinawa 903-0213, Japan
| | - Noriho Kamiya
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
- Division of Biotechnology, Center for Future Chemistry, Kyushu University, 744 Motooka, Nishi-ku, Fukuoka 819-0395, Japan
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32
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Ming H, Li B, Tian H, Zhou L, Jiang J, Zhang T, Qiao L, Wu P, Nice EC, Zhang W, He W, Huang C, Zhang H. A minimalist and robust chemo-photothermal nanoplatform capable of augmenting autophagy-modulated immune response against breast cancer. Mater Today Bio 2022; 15:100289. [PMID: 35634171 PMCID: PMC9130112 DOI: 10.1016/j.mtbio.2022.100289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 05/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Previously used in anti-fungal therapy, itraconazole has now been shown to be successful in treating advanced breast cancer (NCT00798135). However, its poor solubility still restricts its application in clinical treatment. There is therefore an urgent need for combined methods to enhance the therapeutic effect of itraconazole (IC) in breast cancer treatment. With this goal, co-assembled IC/IR820 NPs with synergistic photonic hyperthermia and itraconazole payloads have been constructed to overcome these shortcomings. The IC/IR820 NPs show an enhanced therapeutic effect on breast cancer by inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated apoptosis and autophagic death. Further evaluation in a mouse model has shown impressive effects of the IC/IR820 NPs on both inhibiting tumor metastasis and activating immunity to prevent tumor recurrence. Mechanistically, itraconazole may promote both tumor cell antigen presentation through autophagy and the activation of dendritic cells to induce an immune response, which displays a synergistic effect with the immune response generated by photothermal therapy to inhibit tumor recurrence. This strategy of combining itraconazole and IR820 into one minimalist and robust nanoplatform through co-assembly results in excellent therapeutic efficacy, suggesting its potential application as an alternative method for the clinical treatment of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Ming
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Bowen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Hailong Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Li Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Jingwen Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Tingting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
| | - Ling Qiao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Peijie Wu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Edouard C. Nice
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, 3800, Australia
| | - Wei Zhang
- West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
- Mental Health Center and Psychiatric Laboratory, The State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Weifeng He
- Institute of Burn Research, Southwest Hospital, State Key Laboratory of Trauma, Burn and Combined Injury, Chongqing Key Laboratory for Disease Proteomics, Army Military Medical University, Chongqing, 400038, China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Canhua Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital and West China School of Basic Medical Sciences and Forensic Medicine, Sichuan University and Collaborative Innovation Center for Biotherapy, Chengdu, 610041, PR China
- Corresponding author.
| | - Haiyuan Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
- Corresponding author.
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Lack of Functional Trehalase Activity in Candida parapsilosis Increases Susceptibility to Itraconazole. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8040371. [PMID: 35448602 PMCID: PMC9028276 DOI: 10.3390/jof8040371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Central metabolic pathways may play a major role in the virulence of pathogenic fungi. Here, we have investigated the susceptibility of a Candida parapsilosis mutant deficient in trehalase activity (atc1Δ/ntc1Δ strain) to the azolic compounds fluconazole and itraconazole. A time-course exposure to itraconazole but not fluconazole induced a significant degree of cell killing in mutant cells compared to the parental strain. Flow cytometry determinations indicated that itraconazole was able to induce a marked production of endogenous ROS together with a simultaneous increase in membrane potential, these effects being irrelevant after fluconazole addition. Furthermore, only itraconazole induced a significant synthesis of endogenous trehalose. The recorded impaired capacity of mutant cells to produce structured biofilms was further increased in the presence of both azoles, with itraconazole being more effective than fluconazole. Our results in the opportunistic pathogen yeast C. parapsilosis reinforce the study of trehalose metabolism as an attractive therapeutic target and allow extending the hypothesis that the generation of internal oxidative stress may be a component of the antifungal action exerted by the compounds currently available in medical practice.
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Song J, Shi L, Wang S, Wang Y, Zhu Y, Jiang J, Li R. Acidic/Alkaline Stress Mediates Responses to Azole Drugs and Oxidative Stress in Aspergillus fumigatus. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0199921. [PMID: 35196814 PMCID: PMC8865478 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01999-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A human host exploits stresses such as acidic/alkaline pH, antifungal drugs, and reactive oxygen species to kill microbial pathogens such as the fungus Aspergillus fumigatus. However, A. fumigatus is resistant to these stresses in vitro. Therefore, what accounts for the potent antifungal activity of the human host? In this observation, we show that simultaneous exposure to acidic pH and oxidative stresses is much more potent than the individual stresses themselves and that this combinatorial stress kills A. fumigatus synergistically in vitro. Interestingly, A. fumigatus is resistant to the combination of alkaline pH and oxidative stress. Quantitative real-time PCR analyses showed that acidic/alkaline pH stress can mediate oxidative stress responses in A. fumigatus by regulating the expression of catalase-encoding genes. We further show that A. fumigatus is sensitive to the combination of acidic/alkaline stress and azole drug stress. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the sensitivity of A. fumigatus to azole drugs under acidic/alkaline conditions may be related to changes in genetic stability, sphingolipid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Collectively, our findings suggest that combinatorial stress represents a powerful fungicidal mechanism employed by hosts against pathogens, which suggests novel approaches to potentiate antifungal therapy. IMPORTANCE The human host combats fungal infections via phagocytic cells that recognize and kill fungal pathogens. Immune cells combat Aspergillus fumigatus infections with a potent mixture of chemicals, including reactive oxygen species, acidic/alkaline stress, and antifungal drugs. However, A. fumigatus is relatively resistant to these stresses in vitro. In this observation, we show that it is the combination of acidic/alkaline pH and oxidative or azole stress that kills A. fumigatus so effectively, and we define the molecular mechanisms that underlie this potency. Our findings suggest that combinatorial stress is a powerful fungicidal mechanism employed by hosts, which suggests novel approaches to potentiate antifungal therapy. This study provides a platform for future studies that will address the combinatorial impacts of various environmental stresses on A. fumigatus and other pathogenic microbes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinxing Song
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Landan Shi
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Sha Wang
- Key Laboratory of Vector Biology and Pathogen Control of Zhejiang Province, Huzhou Central Hospital, Huzhou University, Huzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yunqiu Wang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jihong Jiang
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rongpeng Li
- The Key Laboratory of Biotechnology for Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province and School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
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Coordinated Regulation of Membrane Homeostasis and Drug Accumulation by Novel Kinase STK-17 in Response to Antifungal Azole Treatment. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0012722. [PMID: 35196787 PMCID: PMC8865411 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00127-22] [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] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of antifungal resistance, especially to the most widely used azole class of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors, makes fungal infections difficult to treat in clinics and agriculture. When exposed to azoles, fungi can make adaptive responses to alleviate azole toxicity and produce azole tolerance. However, except for azole efflux pumps and ergosterol biosynthesis genes, the role of most azole responsive genes in azole resistance is unknown. In this study, STK-17, whose transcription is upregulated by azoles, was characterized as a novel kinase that is required for azole resistance. Deletion or dysfunction of STK-17 led to azole hypersensitivity in Neurospora crassa and to other ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors such as amorolfine, terbinafine, and amphotericin B, but not fatty acid and ceramide biosynthesis inhibitors. STK-17 was also required for oxidative stress resistance, but this was not connected to azole resistance. RNA-seq results showed that stk-17 deletion affected the basal expression and the response to ketoconazole of some membrane protein genes, indicating functional association of STK-17 with the membrane. Notably, deletion of stk-17 affected the normal response to azoles of erg genes, including the azole target-encoding gene erg11, and erg2, erg6, and erg24, and led to abnormal accumulation of sterols in the presence of azoles. HPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed increased intracellular azole accumulation in the stk-17 mutant, possibly due to enhanced azole influx and reduced azole efflux that was independent of the major efflux pump CDR4. Importantly, STK-17 was widely distributed and functionally conserved among fungi, thus providing a potential antifungal target. IMPORTANCE Antifungal resistance is increasing worldwide, especially to the most widely used azole class of ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors, making control of fungal infections more challenging. A lot of effort has been expended in elucidating the mechanism of azole resistance and revealing potential antifungal targets. In this study, by analyzing azole-responsive genes in Neurospora crassa, we discovered STK-17, a novel kinase, that is required for azole resistance in several types of fungi. It has a role in regulating membrane homeostasis, responses to azole by ergosterol biosynthesis genes and azole accumulation, thus, deepening our understanding on the mechanism of azole stress response. Additionally, STK-17 is conserved among fungi and plays important roles in fungal development and stress resistance. Kinase inhibitors are broadly used for treating diseases, and our study pinpoints a potential drug target for antifungal development.
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Colabardini AC, Wang F, Dong Z, Pardeshi L, Rocha MC, Costa JH, dos Reis TF, Brown A, Jaber QZ, Fridman M, Fill T, Rokas A, Malavazi I, Wong KH, Goldman GH. Heterogeneity in the transcriptional response of the human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus to the antifungal agent caspofungin. Genetics 2022; 220:iyab183. [PMID: 34718550 PMCID: PMC8733440 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyab183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is the main causative agent of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA), a severe disease that affects immunosuppressed patients worldwide. The fungistatic drug caspofungin (CSP) is the second line of therapy against IPA but has increasingly been used against clinical strains that are resistant to azoles, the first line antifungal therapy. In high concentrations, CSP induces a tolerance phenotype with partial reestablishment of fungal growth called CSP paradoxical effect (CPE), resulting from a change in the composition of the cell wall. An increasing number of studies has shown that different isolates of A. fumigatus exhibit phenotypic heterogeneity, including heterogeneity in their CPE response. To gain insights into the underlying molecular mechanisms of CPE response heterogeneity, we analyzed the transcriptomes of two A. fumigatus reference strains, Af293 and CEA17, exposed to low and high CSP concentrations. We found that there is a core transcriptional response that involves genes related to cell wall remodeling processes, mitochondrial function, transmembrane transport, and amino acid and ergosterol metabolism, and a variable response related to secondary metabolite (SM) biosynthesis and iron homeostasis. Specifically, we show here that the overexpression of a SM pathway that works as an iron chelator extinguishes the CPE in both backgrounds, whereas iron depletion is detrimental for the CPE in Af293 but not in CEA17. We next investigated the function of the transcription factor CrzA, whose deletion was previously shown to result in heterogeneity in the CPE response of the Af293 and CEA17 strains. We found that CrzA constitutively binds to and modulates the expression of several genes related to processes involved in CSP tolerance and that crzA deletion differentially impacts the SM production and growth of Af293 and CEA17. As opposed to the ΔcrzACEA17 mutant, the ΔcrzAAf293 mutant fails to activate cell wall remodeling genes upon CSP exposure, which most likely severely affects its macrostructure and extinguishes its CPE. This study describes how heterogeneity in the response to an antifungal agent between A. fumigatus strains stems from heterogeneity in the function of a transcription factor and its downstream target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Cristina Colabardini
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903, Brazil
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Zhiqiang Dong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Lakhansing Pardeshi
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- Genomics, Bioinformatics and Single Cell Analysis Core, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, 999078, China
| | - Marina Campos Rocha
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos CEP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Jonas Henrique Costa
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo CEP 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Thaila Fernanda dos Reis
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903, Brazil
| | - Alec Brown
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Qais Z Jaber
- School of Chemistry, Raymond & Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Micha Fridman
- School of Chemistry, Raymond & Beverly Sackler Faculty of Exact Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 6997801, Israel
| | - Taicia Fill
- Instituto de Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo CEP 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Antonis Rokas
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN 37235, USA
| | - Iran Malavazi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Saúde, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos CEP 13565-905, Brazil
| | - Koon Ho Wong
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, University of Macau, Macau 999078, China
| | - Gustavo Henrique Goldman
- Faculdade de Ciências Farmacêuticas de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo CEP 14040-903, Brazil
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Abd El-Hameed RH, Sayed AI, Mahmoud Ali S, Mosa MA, Khoder ZM, Fatahala SS. Synthesis of novel pyrroles and fused pyrroles as antifungal and antibacterial agents. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2021; 36:2183-2198. [PMID: 34602000 PMCID: PMC8491725 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2021.1984904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 09/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pyrroles and its fused forms possess antimicrobial activities, they can easily interact with biomolecules of living systems. A series of substituted pyrroles, and its fused pyrimidines and triazines forms have been synthesised, all newly synthesised compound structures were confirmed by spectroscopic analysis. Generally, the compounds inhibited growth of some important human pathogens, the best effect was given by: 2a, 3c, 4d on Gram-positive bacteria and was higher on yeast (C. albicans), by 5c on Gram-negative bacteria and by 5a then 3c on filamentous fungi (A. fumigatus and F. oxysporum). Such results present good antibacterial and antifungal potential candidates to help overcome the global problem of antibiotic resistance and opportunistic infections outbreak. Compound 3c gave the best anti-phytopathogenic effect at a 50-fold lower concentration than Kocide 2000, introducing a safe commercial candidate for agricultural use. The effect of the compounds on DNA was monitored to detect the mode of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rania Helmy Abd El-Hameed
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Amira Ibrahim Sayed
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Shima Mahmoud Ali
- Department of Chemistry, The state University of New York at Buffalo, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mohamed A. Mosa
- Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Zainab M. Khoder
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
- Plant Pathology Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Samar Said Fatahala
- Pharmaceutical Organic Chemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Helwan University, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
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Gao L, Ouyang H, Pei C, Zhou H, Yang J, Jin C. Emp47 and Vip36 are required for polarized growth and protein trafficking between ER and Golgi apparatus in opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Fungal Genet Biol 2021; 158:103638. [PMID: 34798270 DOI: 10.1016/j.fgb.2021.103638] [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: 09/25/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In Aspergillus fumigatus, an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing fatal invasive aspergillosis, N-glycosylation is vital for polarized growth. To investigate its mechanism, two putative L-type lectin genes emp47 (AFUB_032470) and vip36 (AFUB_027870) were identified in A. fumigatus. Deletion of the emp47 or vip36 gene resulted in delayed germination and abnormal polarity. Also, the Δemp47 displayed an increased resistance to azoles whereas the Δvip36 showed an increased susceptibility to amphotericin B. Secretome analysis revealed that 205 proteins were differentially secreted in the Δemp47 and 145 of them were reduced, while 153 proteins displayed a differential secretion and 134 of them were increased in the Δvip36 as compared with that of the wild-type strain. Also, potential cargo glycoproteins of Emp47 and Vip36 were identified by comparative secretome analysis. Our results suggest that Emp47 is responsible for the transport of proteins from endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to Golgi, while Vip36 acts in protein retrieval from Golgi to ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linlu Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Haomiao Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Caixia Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Hui Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Jinghua Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Cheng Jin
- State Key Laboratory of Mycology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
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Pleiotropic Effects of the P5-Type ATPase SpfA on Stress Response Networks Contribute to Virulence in the Pathogenic Mold Aspergillus fumigatus. mBio 2021; 12:e0273521. [PMID: 34663092 PMCID: PMC8524344 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.02735-21] [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] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a human-pathogenic mold that extracts nutrients from the environment or from host tissues by secreting hydrolytic enzymes. The ability of A. fumigatus to adjust secretion levels in proportion to demand relies on the assistance of the unfolded protein response (UPR), an adaptive stress response pathway that regulates the unique protein-folding environment of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The P5-type ATPase Spf1 has recently been implicated in a novel mechanism of ER homeostasis that involves correcting errors in ER-membrane protein targeting. However, the contribution of this protein to the biology of A. fumigatus is unknown. Here, we employed a gene knockout and RNA sequencing strategy to determine the functional role of the A. fumigatus gene coding for the orthologous P5 ATPase SpfA. The data reveal that the spfA gene is induced by ER stress in a UPR-dependent manner. In the absence of spfA, the A. fumigatus transcriptome shifts toward a profile of altered redox and lipid balance, in addition to a signature of ER stress that includes srcA, encoding a second P-type ATPase in the ER. A ΔspfA deletion mutant showed increased sensitivity to ER stress, oxidative stress, and antifungal drugs that target the cell wall or plasma membrane. The combined loss of spfA and srcA exacerbated these phenotypes and attenuated virulence in two animal infection models. These findings demonstrate that the ER-resident ATPases SpfA and SrcA act jointly to support diverse adaptive functions of the ER that are necessary for fitness in the host environment. IMPORTANCE The fungal UPR is an adaptive signaling pathway in the ER that buffers fluctuations in ER stress but also serves as a virulence regulatory hub in species of pathogenic fungi that rely on secretory pathway homeostasis for pathogenicity. This study demonstrates that the gene encoding the ER-localized P5-type ATPase SpfA is a downstream target of the UPR in the pathogenic mold A. fumigatus and that it works together with a second ER-localized P-type ATPase, SrcA, to support ER homeostasis, oxidative stress resistance, susceptibility to antifungal drugs, and virulence of A. fumigatus.
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Fan Y, Korfanty GA, Xu J. Genetic Analyses of Amphotericin B Susceptibility in Aspergillus fumigatus. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:860. [PMID: 34682281 PMCID: PMC8538161 DOI: 10.3390/jof7100860] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2021] [Revised: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous saprophytic mold that can cause a range of clinical syndromes, from allergic reactions to invasive infections. Amphotericin B (AMB) is a polyene antifungal drug that has been used to treat a broad range of systemic mycoses since 1958, including as a primary treatment option against invasive aspergillosis in regions with high rates (≥10%) of environmental triazole resistance. However, cases of AMB-resistant A. fumigatus strains have been increasingly documented over the years, and high resistance rates were recently reported in Brazil and Canada. The objective of this study is to identify candidate mutations associated with AMB susceptibility using a genome-wide association analysis of natural strains, and to further investigate a subset of the mutations in their putative associations with differences in AMB minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and in growths at different AMB concentrations through the analysis of progeny from a laboratory genetic cross. Together, our results identified a total of 34 candidate single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with AMB MIC differences-comprising 18 intergenic variants, 14 missense variants, one synonymous variant, and one non-coding transcript variant. Importantly, progeny from the genetic cross allowed us to identify putative SNP-SNP interactions impacting progeny growth at different AMB concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jianping Xu
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (Y.F.); (G.A.K.)
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Kalantari K, Rosner MH. Recent advances in the pharmacological management of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2021; 14:1401-1411. [PMID: 34493146 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2021.1978287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Acute kidney injury is a common occurrence in patients with sepsis and portends a high mortality as well as increased morbidity with numerous sequelae including the development of chronic kidney disease. Currently, there are no specific therapies that either prevent AKI or hasten its recovery. Thus, clinicians typically rely on management of the underlying infection, optimization of hemodynamic parameters as well as avoidance of nephrotoxins to maximize outcomes. AREAS COVERED Recent advances in understanding the mechanisms of sepsis as well as how these pathways may interact to lead to acute kidney injury have opened the door to the development of new, targeted therapies. This review focuses on the operative pathways in sepsis that have been identified as critical in leading to acute kidney injury and associated therapeutic agents that target these pathways. EXPERT OPINION Despite increased understanding of the pathogenesis of sepsis, development of effective therapeutics to decrease the incidence of AKI have lagged. This is likely due to the complex pathophysiology with overlapping pathways and need for multiple therapies guided by specific biomarkers. Biomarkers that detail operative pathways may be able to guide the institution of more specific therapies with the hope for improved outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kambiz Kalantari
- Divison of Nephrology, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
| | - Mitchell H Rosner
- Divison of Nephrology, University of Virginia Health, Charlottesville, Virginia, USA
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Garcia-Rubio R, Jimenez-Ortigosa C, DeGregorio L, Quinteros C, Shor E, Perlin DS. Multifactorial Role of Mitochondria in Echinocandin Tolerance Revealed by Transcriptome Analysis of Drug-Tolerant Cells. mBio 2021; 12:e0195921. [PMID: 34372698 PMCID: PMC8406274 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.01959-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause significant mortality and morbidity worldwide, and the limited existing antifungal reservoir is further weakened by the emergence of strains resistant to echinocandins, a first line of antifungal therapy. Candida glabrata is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that rapidly develops mutations in the echinocandin drug target β-1,3-glucan synthase (GS), which are associated with drug resistance and clinical failure. Although echinocandins are considered fungicidal in Candida sp., a subset of C. glabrata cells survive echinocandin exposure, forming a drug-tolerant cell reservoir, from which resistant mutations are thought to emerge. Despite their importance, the physiology of rare drug-tolerant cells is poorly understood. We used fluorescence-activated cell sorting to enrich for echinocandin-tolerant cells, followed by modified single-cell RNA sequencing to examine their transcriptional landscape. This analysis identified a transcriptional signature distinct from the stereotypical yeast environmental stress response and characterized by upregulation of pathways involved in chromosome structure and DNA topology and downregulation of oxidative stress responses, of which the latter was observed despite increased levels of reactive oxygen species. Further analyses implicated mitochondria in echinocandin tolerance, wherein inhibitors of mitochondrial complexes I and IV reduced echinocandin-mediated cell killing, but mutants lacking various mitochondrial components all showed an echinocandin hypotolerant phenotype. Finally, GS enzyme complexes purified from mitochondrial mutants exhibited normal in vitro inhibition kinetics, indicating that mitochondrial defects influence cell survival downstream of the drug-target interaction. Together, these results provide new insights into the C. glabrata response to echinocandins and reveal a multifactorial role of mitochondria in echinocandin tolerance. IMPORTANCE Echinocandin drugs are a first-line therapy to treat invasive candidiasis, which is a major source of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida glabrata is a prominent bloodstream fungal pathogen, and it is notable for rapidly developing echinocandin-resistant strains associated with clinical failure. Echinocandin resistance is thought to emerge within a small echinocandin-tolerant subset of C. glabrata cells that are not killed by drug exposure, but mechanisms underlying echinocandin tolerance are still unknown. Here, we describe the unique transcriptional signature of echinocandin-tolerant cells and the results of follow-up analyses, which reveal a multifactorial role of mitochondria in C. glabrata echinocandin tolerance. In particular, although chemical inhibition of respiratory chain enzymes increased echinocandin tolerance, deletion of multiple mitochondrial components made C. glabrata cells hypotolerant to echinocandins. Together, these results provide new insights into the C. glabrata response to echinocandins and reveal the involvement of mitochondria in echinocandin tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rocio Garcia-Rubio
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Lucius DeGregorio
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - Christopher Quinteros
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - Erika Shor
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Medical Sciences, Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
| | - David S. Perlin
- Center for Discovery and Innovation, Hackensack Meridian Health, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Medical Sciences, Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine, Nutley, New Jersey, USA
- Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
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Liang T, Chen W, Yang X, Wang Q, Wan Z, Li R, Liu W. The Elevated Endogenous Reactive Oxygen Species Contribute to the Sensitivity of the Amphotericin B-Resistant Isolate of Aspergillus flavus to Triazoles and Echinocandins. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:680749. [PMID: 34413836 PMCID: PMC8369828 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.680749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus flavus has been frequently reported as the second cause of invasive aspergillosis (IA), as well as the leading cause in certain tropical countries. Amphotericin B (AMB) is a clinically important therapy option for a range of invasive fungal infections including invasive aspergillosis, and in vitro resistance to AMB was associated with poor outcomes in IA patients treated with AMB. Compared with the AMB-susceptible isolates of A. terreus, the AMB-resistant isolates of A. terreus showed a lower level of AMB-induced endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS), which was an important cause of AMB resistance. In this study, we obtained one AMB-resistant isolate of A. flavus, with an AMB MIC of 32 μg/mL, which was sensitive to triazoles and echinocandins. This isolate presented elevated endogenous ROS levels, which strongly suggested that no contribution of decreased AMB-induced endogenous ROS for AMB-resistance, opposite to those observed in A. terreus. Further, we confirmed that the elevated endogenous ROS contributed to the sensitivity of the AMB-resistant A. flavus isolate to triazoles and echinocandins. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the causes of elevated endogenous ROS and the resistance mechanism to AMB in A. flavus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyu Liang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Chen
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyu Yang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Qiqi Wang
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Zhe Wan
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Ruoyu Li
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Dermatology and Venerology, Peking University First Hospital, National Clinical Research Center for Skin and Immune Diseases, Research Center for Medical Mycology, Peking University, Beijing Key Laboratory of Molecular Diagnosis on Dermatoses, Beijing, China
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Staerck C, Yaakoub H, Vandeputte P, Tabiasco J, Godon C, Gastebois A, Giraud S, Guillemette T, Calenda A, Delneste Y, Fleury M, Bouchara JP. The Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-Anchored Superoxide Dismutase of Scedosporium apiospermum Protects the Conidia from Oxidative Stress. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:575. [PMID: 34356954 PMCID: PMC8304446 DOI: 10.3390/jof7070575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/13/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Scedosporium species are common fungal pathogens in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). To colonize the CF lungs, fungi must cope with the host immune response, especially the reactive oxygen species (ROS) released by phagocytic cells. To this aim, pathogens have developed various antioxidant systems, including superoxide dismutases (SODs) which constitute the first-line protection against oxidative stress. Interestingly, one of the S. apiospermum SOD-encoding genes (SODD gene) exhibits a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor-binding site and encodes a conidial-specific surface SOD. In this study, a SODDΔ mutant was engineered from a non-homologous end joining-deficient strain (KU70Δ) of S. apiospermum. Compared to its parent strain, the double mutant KU70Δ/SODDΔ exhibited increased susceptibility to various oxidizing agents and triazole antifungals. In addition, the loss of SodD resulted in an increased intracellular killing of the conidia by M1 macrophages derived from human blood monocytes, suggesting the involvement of this superoxide dismutase in the evasion to the host defenses. Nevertheless, one cannot disregard an indirect role of the enzyme in the synthesis or assembly of the cell wall components since transmission electron microscopic analysis revealed a thickening of the inner cell wall layer of the conidia. Further studies are needed to confirm the role of this enzyme in the pathogenesis of Scedosporium infections, including the production of a recombinant protein and study of its protective effect against the infection in a mouse model of scedosporiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cindy Staerck
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Hajar Yaakoub
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Patrick Vandeputte
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Julie Tabiasco
- Université d’Angers, Université de Nantes, CHU Angers, Inserm, CRCINA, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (J.T.); (Y.D.)
| | - Charlotte Godon
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Amandine Gastebois
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Sandrine Giraud
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Thomas Guillemette
- Université d’Angers, Institut Agro, INRAE, IRHS, SFR QUASAV, F-49000 Angers, France;
| | - Alphonse Calenda
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Yves Delneste
- Université d’Angers, Université de Nantes, CHU Angers, Inserm, CRCINA, SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (J.T.); (Y.D.)
| | - Maxime Fleury
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
| | - Jean-Philippe Bouchara
- Université d’Angers, Université de Bretagne Occidentale, CHU Angers, Groupe d’Etude des Interactions Hôte-Pathogène (GEIHP, EA3142), SFR ICAT, F-49000 Angers, France; (C.S.); (H.Y.); (P.V.); (C.G.); (A.G.); (S.G.); (A.C.); (M.F.)
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Bhattacharya S, Oliveira NK, Savitt AG, Silva VKA, Krausert RB, Ghebrehiwet B, Fries BC. Low Glucose Mediated Fluconazole Tolerance in Cryptococcus neoformans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060489. [PMID: 34207384 PMCID: PMC8233753 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 06/13/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic meningoencephalitis is caused by Cryptococcus neoformans and is treated in many parts of the world with fluconazole (FLC) monotherapy, which is associated with treatment failure and poor outcome. In the host, C. neoformans propagates predominantly under low glucose growth conditions. We investigated whether low glucose, mimicked by growing in synthetic media (SM) with 0.05% glucose (SMlowglu), affects FLC-resistance. A > 4-fold increase in FLC tolerance was observed in seven C. neoformans strains when minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined in SMlowglu compared to MIC in SM with normal (2%) glucose (SMnlglu). In SMlowglu, C. neoformans cells exhibited upregulation of efflux pump genes AFR1 (8.7-fold) and AFR2 (2.5-fold), as well as decreased accumulation (2.6-fold) of Nile Red, an efflux pump substrate. Elevated intracellular ATP levels (3.2-fold and 3.4-fold), as well as decreased mitochondrial reactive oxygen species levels (12.8-fold and 17-fold), were found in the presence and absence of FLC, indicating that low glucose altered mitochondrial function. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that mitochondria of C. neoformans grown in SMlowglu were fragmented, whereas normal glucose promoted a reticular network of mitochondria. Although mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was not markedly affected in SMlowglu, it significantly decreased in the presence of FLC (12.5-fold) in SMnlglu, but remained stable in SMlowglu-growing C. neoformans cells. Our data demonstrate that increased FLC tolerance in low glucose-growing C. neoformans is the result of increased efflux pump activities and altered mitochondrial function, which is more preserved in SMlowglu. This mechanism of resistance is different from FLC heteroresistance, which is associated with aneuploidy of chromosome 1 (Chr1).
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Affiliation(s)
- Somanon Bhattacharya
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (S.B.); (V.K.A.S.)
| | - Natalia Kronbauer Oliveira
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (N.K.O.); (A.G.S.); (R.B.K.)
| | - Anne G. Savitt
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (N.K.O.); (A.G.S.); (R.B.K.)
| | - Vanessa K. A. Silva
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (S.B.); (V.K.A.S.)
| | - Rachel B. Krausert
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (N.K.O.); (A.G.S.); (R.B.K.)
| | - Berhane Ghebrehiwet
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA;
| | - Bettina C. Fries
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (S.B.); (V.K.A.S.)
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; (N.K.O.); (A.G.S.); (R.B.K.)
- Veterans Administration Medical Center, Northport, NY 11768, USA
- Correspondence:
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Xu Q, Liu Y, Cai L, Cao Y, Chen F, Zhou L, Zhu P, Jiang H, Jiang QY, Sun Y, Chen J. A green electrolysis of silver-decorated MoS 2 nanocomposite with an enhanced antibacterial effect and low cytotoxicity. NANOSCALE ADVANCES 2021; 3:3460-3469. [PMID: 36133707 PMCID: PMC9417968 DOI: 10.1039/d1na00100k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
To tackle the devastating microbial infections for the public health, a continuous search for effective and safe nanobiocides based on their prominent nanoscale effects has been extensively explored during past decades. In this study, a green electrolysis method was employed to synthesize silver-doped molybdenum sulfide (Ag@MoS2) composite materials. The obtained nanocomposites exhibited a sheet-like structure with a large specific surface area, which contributed to the efficient loading and refined distribution of silver nanoparticles. G- E. coli and G + S. aureus were used as model bacteria for the antibacterial test, which revealed enhanced antibacterial activity of produced nanocomposites with an identified destructive effect on preformed biofilms. It was found that within 72 hour incubation, 20 μg mL-1 Ag@MoS2 was sufficient to inhibit the growth of E. coli and S. aureus without visible colony formation, pointing to a desirable long-term antibacterial activity. Further a mechanistic antibiosis study of Ag@MoS2 indicated the involvement of a generation of reactive oxygen species. Notably, owing to the well-distributed silver nanoparticles on the nontoxic MoS2 nanosheet, the cytotoxicity evaluation results revealed that produced nanocomposites exhibited negligible toxicity to mammalian cells, and thereby held promising potential for biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilan Xu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Yuhui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Nuclear Resources and Environment, School of Nuclear Science and Engineering, East China University of Technology Nanchang 330013 China
| | - Ling Cai
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Yue Cao
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Feng Chen
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Liuzhu Zhou
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Ping Zhu
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Huijun Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Qiao-Yan Jiang
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Yang Sun
- Department of Forensic Medicine, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
| | - Jin Chen
- Center for Global Health, The Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
- Jiangsu Province Engineering Research Center of Antibody Drug, Key Laboratory of Antibody Technique of National Health Commission, Nanjing Medical University Nanjing 211166 China
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Fan Y, Wang Y, Korfanty GA, Archer M, Xu J. Genome-Wide Association Analysis for Triazole Resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus. Pathogens 2021; 10:701. [PMID: 34199862 PMCID: PMC8227032 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10060701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous fungus and the main agent of aspergillosis, a common fungal infection in the immunocompromised population. Triazoles such as itraconazole and voriconazole are the common first-line drugs for treating aspergillosis. However, triazole resistance in A. fumigatus has been reported in an increasing number of countries. While most studies of triazole resistance have focused on mutations in the triazole target gene cyp51A, >70% of triazole-resistant strains in certain populations showed no mutations in cyp51A. To identify potential non-cyp51A mutations associated with triazole resistance in A. fumigatus, we analyzed the whole genome sequences and triazole susceptibilities of 195 strains from 12 countries. These strains belonged to three distinct clades. Our genome-wide association study (GWAS) identified a total of six missense mutations significantly associated with itraconazole resistance and 18 missense mutations with voriconazole resistance. In addition, to investigate itraconazole and pan-azole resistance, Fisher's exact tests revealed 26 additional missense variants tightly linked to the top 20 SNPs obtained by GWAS, of which two were consistently associated with triazole resistance. The large number of novel mutations related to triazole resistance should help further investigations into their molecular mechanisms, their clinical importance, and the development of a comprehensive molecular diagnosis toolbox for triazole resistance in A. fumigatus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Jianping Xu
- Department of Biology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada; (Y.F.); (Y.W.); (G.A.K.); (M.A.)
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Physiological Responses of Aspergillus niger Challenged with Itraconazole. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:AAC.02549-20. [PMID: 33820768 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02549-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus niger is an opportunistic pathogen commonly found in a variety of indoor and outdoor environments. An environmental isolate of A. niger from a pig farm was resistant to itraconazole, and in-depth investigations were conducted to better understand cellular responses that occur during growth when this pathogen is exposed to an antifungal. Using a combination of cultivation techniques, antibiotic stress testing, and label-free proteomics, this study investigated the physiological and metabolic responses of A. niger to sublethal levels of antifungal stress. Challenging A. niger with itraconazole inhibited growth, and the MIC was estimated to be > 16 mg · liter-1 Through the proteome analysis, 1,305 unique proteins were identified. During growth with 2 and 8 mg · liter-1 itraconazole, a total of 91 and 50 proteins, respectively, were significantly differentially expressed. When challenged with itraconazole, A. niger exhibited decreased expression of peroxidative enzymes, increased expression of an ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporter most likely involved as an azole efflux pump, and inhibited ergosterol synthesis; however, several ergosterol biosynthesis proteins increased in abundance. Furthermore, reduced expression of proteins involved in the production of ATP and reducing power from both the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) and glyoxylate cycles was observed. The mode of action of triazoles in A. niger therefore appears more complex than previously anticipated, and these observations may help highlight future targets for antifungal treatment.
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Nanoemulsified Butenafine for Enhanced Performance against Experimental Cutaneous Leishmaniasis. J Immunol Res 2021; 2021:8828750. [PMID: 33880383 PMCID: PMC8046526 DOI: 10.1155/2021/8828750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Revised: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The production of ergosterol lipid involves the activity of different enzymes and is a crucial event for the Leishmania membrane homeostasis. Such enzymes can be blocked by azoles and allylamines drugs, such as the antifungal butenafine chloride. This drug was active on parasites that cause cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. Based on the leishmanicidal activity of butenafine chloride and considering the absence of reports about the therapeutic potential of this drug in cutaneous leishmaniasis, the present work is aimed at analyzing the efficacy of butenafine formulated in two different topical delivery systems, the self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery systems (BUT-SNEDDS) and in a SNEDDS-based nanogel (BUT-SNEDDS gel) as well as in the free form in experimental cutaneous leishmaniasis. Physical studies showed that both formulations were below 300 nm with low polydispersity (<0.5) and good colloidal stability (around -25 mV). Increased steady-state flux was reported for nanoenabled butenafine formulations with reduced lag time in Franz cell diffusion assays across Strat-M membranes. No toxic or inflammatory reactions were detected in animals treated with BUT-SNEDDS, BUT-SNEDDS gel, or butenafine. Animals topically treated with butenafine (free or nanoformulated) showed small dermal lesions and low tissue parasitism. Furthermore, BUT-SNEDD gel and butenafine presented similar efficacy than the standard drug Glucantime given by the intralesional route. Increased levels of IFN-γ were observed in animals treated with BUT-SNEDDS gel or butenafine. Based on these data, the antifungal drug butenafine chloride can be considered an interesting repurposed drug for the treatment of cutaneous leishmaniasis.
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Azish M, Shams-Ghahfarokhi M, Razzaghi-Abyaneh M. Antifungal activity and mechanism of action of dichloromethane extract fraction A from Streptomyces libani against Aspergillus fumigatus. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 131:1212-1225. [PMID: 33590651 DOI: 10.1111/jam.15040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
AIMS This study aimed to investigate the mechanism of antifungal action of Streptomyces libani dichloromethane extract fraction A (DCEFA) against Aspergillus fumigatus and the host cytotoxicity. METHODS AND RESULTS DCEFA was purified from S. libani by autobiography and showed strong antifungal activity against A. fumigatus. A combination of electron microscopy, cell permeability assays, total oxidant status (TOS) assay, cell cytotoxicity assay and haemolysis activity was carried out to determine the target site of DCEFA. Exposure of A. fumigatus to DCEFA caused the damage to membranous cellular structures and increased release of cellular materials, potassium ions and TOS production. DCEFA was bound to ergosterol but did not affect fungal cell wall and ergosterol content. DCEFA did not show any obvious haemolytic activity for RBCs and toxicity against HEK-293 cell line. CONCLUSIONS DCEFA may inhibit A. fumigatus growth by targeting fungal cell membrane which results in the leakage of potassium ions and other cellular components, TOS production and final cell death. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY DCEFA of S. libani could be considered as a potential source of novel antifungals which may be useful for drug development against A. fumigatus as a life-threatening human pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Azish
- Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - M Shams-Ghahfarokhi
- Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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