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Peng Y, Xu Y, Li S, Shao M, Shen Z, Qi W. Mechanism of Vaginal Epithelial Cell Pyroptosis Induced by the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Am J Reprod Immunol 2024; 92:e13893. [PMID: 38958245 DOI: 10.1111/aji.13893] [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: 03/27/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
PROBLEM Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common mucosal fungal infection, and Candida albicans is the main causative agent. The NLRP3 inflammasome plays an important role in VVC, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. METHOD OF STUDY Vaginal epithelial cells were divided into three groups: control, C. albicans strain SC5314 (wild-type, WT), and WT+ Matt Cooper Compound 950 (MCC950, a specific NLRP3 inhibitor). After human vaginal epithelial cells were pretreated with 1 µmol/L MCC950 for 2 h, C. albicans (MOI = 1) was cocultured with the human vaginal epithelial cells for 12 h. The cell supernatants were collected, LDH was detected, and the IL-1β and IL-18 levels were determined by ELISA. The expression of the pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20 and GSDMD was measured by Western blotting analysis. The protein expression of the pyroptosis-related N-terminus of GSDMD (GSDMD-N) was detected by immunofluorescence. RESULTS In this study, we showed that the WT C. albicans strain induced pyroptosis in vaginal epithelial cells, as indicated by the LDH and proinflammatory cytokine levels and the upregulated levels of the pyroptosis-related proteins NLRP3, Caspase-1 p20, and GSDMD-N. MCC950 reversed the changes in the expression of these proteins and proinflammatory cytokines in vaginal epithelial cells. CONCLUSION C. albicans activated the NLRP3 inflammasome to induce vaginal epithelial cell pyroptosis. MCC950 inhibited the NLRP3 inflammasome, reduced vaginal epithelial cell pyroptosis, and decreased the release of inflammatory cytokines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongmei Peng
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Yanan Xu
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Sainan Li
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Mingkun Shao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Zijia Shen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
| | - Wenjin Qi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China
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Lin J, Miao J, Schaefer KG, Russell CM, Pyron RJ, Zhang F, Phan QT, Solis-Swidergall NV, Liu H, Tashiro M, Dordick JS, Linhardt RJ, Yeaman MR, King GM, Barrera FN, Peters BM, Filler SG. A genome-scale screen identifies sulfated glycosaminoglycans as pivotal in epithelial cell damage by Candida albicans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.23.595417. [PMID: 38826446 PMCID: PMC11142209 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.23.595417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Candidalysin is a cytolytic peptide produced by the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. This peptide is a key virulence factor in mouse models of mucosal and hematogenously disseminated candidiasis. Despite intense interest in the role of candidalysin in C. albicans pathogenicity, its host cell targets have remained elusive. To fill this knowledge gap, we performed a genome-wide loss-of-function CRISPR screen in a human oral epithelial cell line to identify specific host factors required for susceptibility to candidalysin-induced cellular damage. Among the top hits were XYLT2, B3GALT6 and B3GAT3, genes that function in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) biosynthesis. Deletion of these genes led to the absence of GAGs such as heparan sulfate on the epithelial cell surface and increased resistance to damage induced by both candidalysin and live C. albicans. Biophysical analyses including surface plasmon resonance and atomic force and electron microscopy indicated that candidalysin physically binds to sulfated GAGs, facilitating its oligomerization or enrichment on the host cell surface. The addition of exogenous sulfated GAGs or the GAG analogue dextran sulfate protected cells against candidalysin-induced damage. Dextran sulfate, but not non-sulfated dextran, also inhibited epithelial cell endocytosis of C. albicans and fungal-induced epithelial cell cytokine and chemokine production. In a murine model of vulvovaginal candidiasis, topical dextran sulfate administration reduced host tissue damage and decreased intravaginal IL-1β and neutrophil levels. Collectively, these data indicate that GAGs are epithelial cell targets of candidalysin and can be used therapeutically to protect cells from candidalysin-induced damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianfeng Lin
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Jian Miao
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Katherine G Schaefer
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri United States
| | - Charles M Russell
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee United States
| | - Robert J Pyron
- Genome Science and Technology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, United States
| | - Fuming Zhang
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Quynh T Phan
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Norma V Solis-Swidergall
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Hong Liu
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Masato Tashiro
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki, Japan
| | - Jonathan S Dordick
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Robert J Linhardt
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, USA
| | - Michael R Yeaman
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
- Division of Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
| | - Gavin M King
- Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri United States
| | - Francisco N Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee United States
| | - Brian M Peters
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Scott G Filler
- Institute for Infection and Immunity, Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, California, USA
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USA
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Wu H, Li C, Wang Y, Zhang M, Wu D, Shao J, Wang T, Wang C. Transcriptomics Reveals Effect of Pulsatilla Decoction Butanol Extract in Alleviating Vulvovaginal Candidiasis by Inhibiting Neutrophil Chemotaxis and Activation via TLR4 Signaling. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2024; 17:594. [PMID: 38794163 PMCID: PMC11124330 DOI: 10.3390/ph17050594] [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: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The Pulsatilla decoction is a well-known herbal remedy used in clinical settings for treating vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). However, the specific mechanism that makes it effective is still unclear. Recent studies have shown that in cases of VVC, neutrophils recruited to the vagina, influenced by heparan sulfate (HS), do not successfully engulf Candida albicans (C. albicans). Instead, they release many inflammatory factors that cause damage to the vaginal mucosa. This study aims to understand the molecular mechanism by which the n-butanol extract of Pulsatilla decoction (BEPD) treats VVC through transcriptomics. High-performance liquid chromatography was used to identify the primary active components of BEPD. A VVC mouse model was induced using an estrogen-dependent method and the mice were treated daily with BEPD (20 mg/kg, 40 mg/kg, and 80 mg/kg) for seven days. The vaginal lavage fluid of the mice was analyzed for various experimental indices, including fungal morphology, fungal burden, degree of neutrophil infiltration, and cytokines. Various assessments were then performed on mouse vaginal tissues, including pathological assessment, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blot (WB), quantitative real-time PCR, and transcriptome assays. Our results showed that BEPD reduced vaginal redness and swelling, decreased white discharge, inhibited C. albicans hyphae formation, reduced neutrophil infiltration and fungal burden, and attenuated vaginal tissue damage compared with the VVC model group. The high-dose BEPD group even restored the damaged vaginal tissue to normal levels. The medium- and high-dose groups of BEPD also significantly reduced the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and LDH. Additionally, transcriptomic results showed that BEPD regulated several chemokine (CXCL1, CXCL3, and CXCL5) and S100 alarmin (S100A8 and S100A9) genes, suggesting that BEPD may treat VVC by affecting chemokine- and alarmin-mediated neutrophil chemotaxis. Finally, we verified that BEPD protects the vaginal mucosa of VVC mice by inhibiting neutrophil recruitment and chemotaxis in an animal model of VVC via the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. This study provides further evidence to elucidate the mechanism of BEPD treatment of VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wu
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
| | - Can Li
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
| | - Yemei Wang
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Mengxiang Zhang
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Daqiang Wu
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Jing Shao
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Tianming Wang
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
| | - Changzhong Wang
- School of Integrated Traditional and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China; (H.W.); (C.L.); (Y.W.); (M.Z.); (D.W.); (J.S.); (T.W.)
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei 230012, China
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Bharti S, Singh B, Kumar S, Kumar R, Kumar J. Synthesis of bio-stabilized silver nanoparticles using Roccella montagnei, their anticandidal capacities & potential to inhibit the virulence factors in fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:158. [PMID: 38592601 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03928-w] [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: 09/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
Candida species is the causative agent in approximately 80% of invasive mycoses and drug-resistant Candida albicans is among the four strains of 'critical priority group' framed by WHO. Lichens are endowed with some rare phytochemicals and a plethora of therapeutics viz. antifungal capacities of Roccella montagnei. Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using lichen could offer an eco-friendly, and cost-effective alternative against emerging 'microbial resistance.' Therefore, the objective was to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (Rm-AgNPs) using a Hydro-alcoholic (1:1) extract of R. montagnei to develop a potent anticandidal agent against Fluconazole-resistant C. albicans NBC099. UV-Spectroscopy identified AgNPs specific-peak of Rm-AgNPs at 420-440 nm and FTIR revealed the presence of amines, alcohol, aromatic compounds, and acids. SEM and TEM analysis indicated that Rm-AgNPs are spherical shaped with a size range of 10-50 nm. Zetasizer analysis indicated that particles are highly stable and have a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 116 nm with a zeta potential charge of - 41 mV. XRD analysis suggested face centered cubic crystal lattice structure. Results indicated that Rm-AgNPs strongly inhibited the growth of NBC099 at a minimum inhibitory concentration (IC50) of ≤ 15 µg. C. albicans culture treated with Rm-AgNPs at concentrations below IC50, down-regulates the production of different virulence factors in NBC099, viz. hyphal formation (> 85%), biofilms production (> 80%), phospholipase, esterase, proteinase activity. The apoptosis assay demonstrated the Rm-AgNPs induced apoptosis in NBC099 cells via oxidative stress. Interestingly, Rm-AgNPs showed negligible cytotoxicity (< 6%) in murine RAW 246.7 macrophage cells at a concentration above 15 µg/mL. Therefore, Rm-AgNPs have been offered as an anti-candida alternative that can be utilized to improve the efficacy of already available medications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shweta Bharti
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Lucknow, India
| | - Balwant Singh
- Department of Biotechnology, Bundelkhand University, Jhansi, India
| | - Sanket Kumar
- Department of Botany, School of Sciences, IFTM University, Moradabad, 244102, India
| | - Rajesh Kumar
- Department of Environmental Microbiology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, Lucknow, India
| | - Jatinder Kumar
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Integrative Medicine, Jammu, Jammu & Kashmir, India.
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Consuegra-Asprilla JM, Rodríguez-Echeverri C, Posada DH, Gómez BL, González Á. Patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis exhibit a decrease in both the fungicidal activity of neutrophils and the proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Mycoses 2024; 67:e13720. [PMID: 38551114 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13720] [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: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is an important and underestimated fungal infection. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the fungicidal and proliferative capacities of neutrophils and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), respectively and the clinical and microbiological characteristics of a cohort of Colombian patients diagnosed with RVVC. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted. A total of 66 women were included (40 diagnosed with RVVC and 26 healthy women [HW]). Demographic and clinical data were recorded. Vaginal fluid samples were obtained for isolation, identification and antifungal susceptibility testing of Candida species using selective culture media and the Vitek 2.0® system. Blood samples were also obtained to evaluate cell subpopulations; furthermore, neutrophils and PBMCs were isolated to determine their fungicidal and proliferative capacities, respectively. RESULTS The median age was 29 (IQR: 34-23) for RVVC and 24 (IQR: 30-23) for HW. Only two species of the genus Candida were identified: Candida albicans (92.5%) and Candida lusitaniae (7.5%). Resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole, flucytosine and amphotericin B was observed on six C. albicans isolates and one C. lusitaniae isolate. Only the family history of vulvovaginal candidiasis was associated with RVVC occurrence. The RVVC group exhibited a significantly higher number of neutrophils but with lower fungicidal activity in comparison to HW; likewise, PBMCs from RVVC patients presented a lower proliferation index when stimulated with C. albicans. CONCLUSION Contrary to what has been reported worldwide, in Colombian patients with RVVC, C. albicans was the main isolated species without increased antifungal resistance. The diminished fungicidal and proliferative capacities of neutrophils and PBMCs, respectively, could suggest a possible alteration in the innate and adaptive immune responses.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carolina Rodríguez-Echeverri
- Basic and Applied Microbiology Research Group (MICROBA), School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Daniela Herrera Posada
- Sexual Health and Cancer Group, School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Beatriz L Gómez
- Translational Microbiology and Emerging Diseases Research Group (MICROS), School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - Ángel González
- Basic and Applied Microbiology Research Group (MICROBA), School of Microbiology, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
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Yano J, Fidel PL. Impaired neutrophil extracellular trap-forming capacity contributes to susceptibility to chronic vaginitis in a mouse model of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Infect Immun 2024; 92:e0035023. [PMID: 38289125 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00350-23] [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: 08/31/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 03/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), caused by Candida albicans, is characterized by aberrant inflammation by polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) in the vaginal lumen. Data from the established murine model shows that despite potent antifungal properties, PMNs fail to clear C. albicans due to local heparan sulfate that inhibits the interaction between PMNs and C. albicans, resulting in chronic vaginal immunopathology. To understand the role of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in defense against C. albicans at the vaginal mucosa, we investigated the NET-forming capacity of PMNs in chronic VVC-susceptible (CVVC-S/C3H) and -resistant (CVVC-R/CD-1) mouse strains. Immunofluorescence revealed the formation of NETs (release of DNA with PMN-derived antimicrobial proteins) in PMN-C. albicans cocultures using vaginal conditioned medium (VCM) generated from CVVC-R/CD-1 mice, similar to NET-inducing positive controls. Under these NETotic conditions, PMNs released high levels of double-stranded DNA bound with NET-associated proteins, concomitant with substantial C. albicans killing activity. In contrast, PMN-C. albicans cocultures in VCM from CVVC-S/C3H mice lacked NET formation together with reduced antifungal activity. Similar results were observed in vivo: active NET-C. albicans interaction followed by fungal clearance in inoculated CVVC-R/CD-1 mice, and sustained high vaginal fungal burden and no evidence of NETs in inoculated CVVC-S/C3H mice. Furthermore, the level of Ki67 expression, a putative NETotic PMN marker, was significantly reduced in vaginal lavage fluid from CVVC-S/C3H mice compared to CVVC-R/CD-1 mice. Finally, scanning electron microscopy revealed that PMNs in CVVC-R, but not CVVC-S, conditions exhibited NETs in direct contact with C. albicans hyphae in vitro and in vivo. These results suggest that VVC-associated immunopathology includes impaired NET-mediated antifungal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Yano
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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Cohen S, Ost KS, Doran KS. Impact of interkingdom microbial interactions in the vaginal tract. PLoS Pathog 2024; 20:e1012018. [PMID: 38457371 PMCID: PMC10923463 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1012018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/10/2024] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Shirli Cohen
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Kyla S. Ost
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Kelly S. Doran
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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Khamzeh A, Dahlstrand Rudin A, Venkatakrishnan V, Stylianou M, Sanchez Klose FP, Urban CF, Björnsdottir H, Bylund J, Christenson K. High levels of short-chain fatty acids secreted by Candida albicans hyphae induce neutrophil chemotaxis via free fatty acid receptor 2. J Leukoc Biol 2024; 115:536-546. [PMID: 37992073 DOI: 10.1093/jleuko/qiad146] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans belongs to our commensal mucosal flora and in immune-competent individuals in the absence of epithelial damage, this fungus is well tolerated and controlled by our immune defense. However, C. albicans is an opportunistic microorganism that can cause different forms of infections, ranging from superficial to life-threatening systemic infections. C. albicans is polymorphic and switches between different phenotypes (e.g. from yeast form to hyphal form). C. albicans hyphae are invasive and can grow into tissues to eventually reach circulation. During fungal infections, neutrophils in particular play a critical role for the defense, but how neutrophils are directed toward the invasive forms of fungi is less well understood. We set out to investigate possible neutrophil chemoattractants released by C. albicans into culture supernatants. We found that cell-free culture supernatants from the hyphal form of C. albicans induced both neutrophil chemotaxis and concomitant intracellular calcium transients. Size separation and hydrophobic sorting of supernatants indicated small hydrophilic factors as responsible for the activity. Further analysis showed that the culture supernatants contained high levels of short-chain fatty acids with higher levels from hyphae as compared to yeast. Short-chain fatty acids are known neutrophil chemoattractants acting via the neutrophil free fatty acid receptor 2. In line with this, the calcium signaling in neutrophils induced by hyphae culture supernatants was blocked by a free fatty acid receptor 2 antagonist and potently increased in the presence of a positive allosteric modulator. Our data imply that short-chain fatty acids may act as a recruitment signal whereby neutrophils can detect C. albicans hyphae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arsham Khamzeh
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Agnes Dahlstrand Rudin
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Vignesh Venkatakrishnan
- Department of Rheumatology and Inflammations Research, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Guldhedsgatan 10A, 413 46 Gothenburg, Sweden
- Department of Life Sciences, Chalmers University of Technology, Kemigården 4, 412 58 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Marios Stylianou
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Felix P Sanchez Klose
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Constantin F Urban
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Umeå Centre for Microbial Research (UCMR), Umeå University, 901 85 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Halla Björnsdottir
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Johan Bylund
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Karin Christenson
- Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, Sahlgrenska Academy, Institute of Odontology, University of Gothenburg, Medicinaregatan 12A, 413 90 Gothenburg, Sweden
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Huang F, Xie R, Li R, Liu L, Zhao M, Wang Q, Liu W, Ye P, Wang W, Wang X. Attenuation of NLRP3 Inflammasome by Cigarette Smoke is Correlated with Decreased Defense Response of Oral Epithelial Cells to Candida albicans. Curr Mol Med 2024; 24:790-800. [PMID: 37723958 DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230612143038] [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: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is well recognized that both smoke and Candida infection are crucial risk factors for oral mucosal diseases. The nucleotide-binding domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and its downstream effectors, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18, are pivotal to the host defense against Candida and other pathogens. METHODS The present study was designed to explore the effects of cigarette smoke and C. albicans on the NLRP3 inflammasome and its downstream signal pathway via in vitro cell model. Oral epithelial cells (Leuk-1 cells) were exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) for 3 days and/or challenged with C. albicans. RESULTS Microscopically, Leuk-1 cells exerted a defense response to C. albicans by markedly limiting the formation of germ tubes and microcolonies. CSE clearly eliminated the defense response of Leuk-1 cells. Functionally, CSE repressed NLRP3 inflammasome, and IL-1β and IL-18 activation induced by C. albicans in Leuk-1 cells. CONCLUSION Our results suggested that in oral epithelial cells, the NLRP3 inflammasome might be one of the target pathways by which CSE attenuates innate immunity and leads to oral disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Huang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruiqi Xie
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruowei Li
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Liu Liu
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Maomao Zhao
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Disease and STIs, Department of Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Nanjing, China
| | - Weida Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology for Skin Disease and STIs, Department of Mycology, Institute of Dermatology, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) & Peking Union Medical College (PUMC), Nanjing, China
| | - Pei Ye
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenmei Wang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Department of Oral Medicine, Nanjing Stomatological Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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Papic MV, Ljujic B, Zivanovic S, Papic M, Vuletic M, Petrovic I, Gazdic Jankovic M, Virijevic K, Popovic M, Miletic Kovacevic M. Difference in immune responses to Candida albicans in two inbred strains of male rats. Arch Oral Biol 2023; 156:105808. [PMID: 37778290 DOI: 10.1016/j.archoralbio.2023.105808] [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: 07/29/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To investigate the influence of strain differences in immune response on the pathogenesis of oral candidiasis in Dark Agouti (DA) and Albino Oxford (AO) inbred strains of rats. DESIGN Seventy male 8-weeks old DA and AO rats were inoculated with Candida albicans to induce three different experimental models of oral candidiasis, one immunocompetent and two immunocompromised models. The animals were sacrificed after 16 days from the beginning of the experiment followed by collecting the samples of the tongue dorsum and blood for histopathological (PAS and H&E staining), immunohistochemical, qRT-PCR, and oxidative stress analyses. RESULTS Histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses revealed lower levels of epithelial colonization, epithelial damage, and inflammatory infiltration in DA compared to AO strain of rats. DA rats had fewer CD45, CD68, and CD3 positive cells but more HIS 48 positive cells than AO rats. The expressions of IL-1β, TNFα, IFN-γ, IL-10 and TGF-β1 were consistently higher in DA strain across all experimental models. However, the expressions of IL-4 and IL-17 differed inconsistently between DA and AO strain in various experimental models. Strain differences were observed in levels of prooxidative hydrogen peroxide and lipid peroxidation, with higher levels presented in AO rats compared to DA rats, while antioxidative parameters presented little yet inconsistent difference between strains. CONCLUSION DA strain of rats consistently presented lower susceptibility to oral infection with C. albicans compared to AO strain with robust Th1/Th17 immune response indicating the importance of the genetic background on the development of oral candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mirjana V Papic
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Biljana Ljujic
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia; Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Kragujevac, Serbia.
| | - Suzana Zivanovic
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Milos Papic
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Miona Vuletic
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Ivana Petrovic
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University of Kragujevac Clinical Centre, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Marina Gazdic Jankovic
- Department of Genetics, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia; Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Katarina Virijevic
- Department of Natural Sciences, Institute for Information Technologies Kragujevac, University of Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Milica Popovic
- Department of Dentistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
| | - Marina Miletic Kovacevic
- Center for Harm Reduction of Biological and Chemical Hazards, Faculty of Medical Sciences University of Kragujevac, Serbia; Department of Histology and Embryology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of Kragujevac, Kragujevac, Serbia
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11
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Lilly EA, Bender BE, Noverr MC, Fidel PL. Protection against lethal sepsis following immunization with Candida species varies by isolate and inversely correlates with bone marrow tissue damage. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0025223. [PMID: 37702509 PMCID: PMC10580931 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00252-23] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Protection against lethal Candida albicans (Ca)/Staphylococcus aureus (Sa) intra-abdominal infection (IAI)-mediated sepsis can be achieved by a novel form of trained innate immunity (TII) involving Gr-1+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that are induced by inoculation (immunization) with low virulence Candida species [i.e., Candida dubliniensis (Cd)] that infiltrate the bone marrow (BM). In contrast, more virulent Candida species (i.e., C. albicans), even at sub-lethal inocula, fail to induce similar levels of protection. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the level of TII-mediated protection induced by Ca strains inversely correlates with damage in the BM as a reflection of virulence. Mice were immunized by intraperitoneal inoculation with several parental and mutant strains of C. albicans deficient in virulence factors (hyphal formation and candidalysin production), followed by an intraperitoneal Ca/Sa challenge 14 d later and monitored for sepsis and mortality. Whole femur bones were collected 24 h and 13 d after immunization and assessed for BM tissue/cellular damage via ferroptosis and histology. While immunization with standard but not sub-lethal inocula of most wild-type C. albicans strains resulted in considerable mortality, protection against lethal Ca/Sa IAI challenge varied by strain was usually less than that for C. dubliniensis, with no differences observed between parental and corresponding mutants. Finally, levels of protection afforded by the Ca strains were inversely correlated with BM tissue damage (R 2 = -0.773). TII-mediated protection against lethal Ca/Sa sepsis induced by Candida strain immunization inversely correlates with BM tissue/cellular damage as a reflection of localized virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizabeth A. Lilly
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Breah E. Bender
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Mairi C. Noverr
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
| | - Paul L. Fidel
- Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center School of Dentistry, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
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12
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Caetano CF, Gaspar C, Oliveira AS, Palmeira-de-Oliveira R, Rodrigues L, Gonçalves T, Martinez-de-Oliveira J, Palmeira-de-Oliveira A, Rolo J. Study of Ecological Relationship of Yeast Species with Candida albicans in the Context of Vulvovaginal Infections. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2398. [PMID: 37894056 PMCID: PMC10608876 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11102398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2023] [Revised: 09/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the fungal community, the mycobiota, in the health of the vagina is currently an important area of research. The emergence of new sequencing technologies and advances in bioinformatics made possible the discovery of novel fungi inhabiting this niche. Candida spp. constitutes the most important group of opportunistic pathogenic fungi, being the most prevalent fungal species in vulvovaginal infections. However, fungi such as Rhodotorula spp., Naganishia spp. and Malassezia spp. have emerged as potential pathogens in this niche, and therefore it is clinically relevant to understand their ecological interaction with Candida spp. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of yeasts on Candida albicans' pathogenicity, focusing on in-vitro growth, and biofilm formation at different times of co-culture and germ tube formation. The assays were performed with isolated species or with co-cultures of C. albicans (ATCC10231) with one other yeast species: Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (DSM13621), Malassezia furfur (DSM6170) or Naganishia albida (DSM70215). The results showed that M. furfur creates a symbiotic relationship with C. albicans, enhancing the growth rate of the co-culture (149.69%), and of germ tube formation of C. albicans (119.8%) and inducing a higher amount of biofilm biomass of the co-culture, both when mixed (154.1%) and preformed (166.8%). As for the yeasts R. mucilaginosa and N. albida, the relationship is antagonistic (with a significant decrease in all assays), thus possibly repressing the mixture's pathogenicity. These results shed light on the complex interactions between yeasts in the vaginal mycobiome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Filipa Caetano
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.F.C.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Carlos Gaspar
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.F.C.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD: Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Ana Sofia Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.F.C.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Rita Palmeira-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.F.C.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD: Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Lisa Rodrigues
- CNC-UC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- FMUC—Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- CNC-UC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
- FMUC—Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - José Martinez-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.F.C.)
| | - Ana Palmeira-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.F.C.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD: Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Joana Rolo
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (C.F.C.)
- Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
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13
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Manso JA, Carabias A, Sárkány Z, de Pereda JM, Pereira PJB, Macedo-Ribeiro S. Pathogen-specific structural features of Candida albicans Ras1 activation complex: uncovering new antifungal drug targets. mBio 2023; 14:e0063823. [PMID: 37526476 PMCID: PMC10470544 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00638-23] [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: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
An important feature associated with Candida albicans pathogenicity is its ability to switch between yeast and hyphal forms, a process in which CaRas1 plays a key role. CaRas1 is activated by the guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) CaCdc25, triggering hyphal growth-related signaling pathways through its conserved GTP-binding (G)-domain. An important function in hyphal growth has also been proposed for the long hypervariable region downstream the G-domain, whose unusual content of polyglutamine stretches and Q/N repeats make CaRas1 unique within Ras proteins. Despite its biological importance, both the structure of CaRas1 and the molecular basis of its activation by CaCdc25 remain unexplored. Here, we show that CaRas1 has an elongated shape and limited conformational flexibility and that its hypervariable region contains helical structural elements, likely forming an intramolecular coiled-coil. Functional assays disclosed that CaRas1-activation by CaCdc25 is highly efficient, with activities up to 2,000-fold higher than reported for human GEFs. The crystal structure of the CaCdc25 catalytic region revealed an active conformation for the α-helical hairpin, critical for CaRas1-activation, unveiling a specific region exclusive to CTG-clade species. Structural studies on CaRas1/CaCdc25 complexes also revealed an interaction surface clearly distinct from that of homologous human complexes. Furthermore, we identified an inhibitory synthetic peptide, prompting the proposal of a key regulatory mechanism for CaCdc25. To our knowledge, this is the first report of specific inhibition of the CaRas1-activation via targeting its GEF. This, together with their unique pathogen-structural features, disclose a set of novel strategies to specifically block this important virulence-related mechanism. IMPORTANCE Candida albicans is the main causative agent of candidiasis, the commonest fungal infection in humans. The eukaryotic nature of C. albicans and the rapid emergence of antifungal resistance raise the challenge of identifying novel drug targets to battle this prevalent and life-threatening disease. CaRas1 and CaCdc25 are key players in the activation of signaling pathways triggering multiple virulence traits, including the yeast-to-hypha interconversion. The structural similarity of the conserved G-domain of CaRas1 to those of human homologs and the lack of structural information on CaCdc25 has impeded progress in targeting these proteins. The unique structural and functional features for CaRas1 and CaCdc25 presented here, together with the identification of a synthetic peptide capable of specifically inhibiting the GEF activity of CaCdc25, open new possibilities to uncover new antifungal drug targets against C. albicans virulence.
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Affiliation(s)
- José A. Manso
- IBMC–Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Arturo Carabias
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Zsuzsa Sárkány
- IBMC–Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - José M. de Pereda
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas-University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Pedro José Barbosa Pereira
- IBMC–Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Sandra Macedo-Ribeiro
- IBMC–Instituto de Biologia Molecular e Celular, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
- i3S–Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde, Universidade do Porto, Porto, Portugal
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14
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Falsetta ML, Maddipati KR, Honn KV. Inflammation, lipids, and pain in vulvar disease. Pharmacol Ther 2023; 248:108467. [PMID: 37285943 PMCID: PMC10527276 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2023.108467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Localized provoked vulvodynia (LPV) affects ∼14 million people in the US (9% of women), destroying lives and relationships. LPV is characterized by chronic pain (>3 months) upon touch to the vulvar vestibule, which surrounds the vaginal opening. Many patients go months or years without a diagnosis. Once diagnosed, the treatments available only manage the symptoms of disease and do not correct the underlying problem. We have focused on elucidating the underlying mechanisms of chronic vulvar pain to speed diagnosis and improve intervention and management. We determined the inflammatory response to microorganisms, even members of the resident microflora, sets off a chain of events that culminates in chronic pain. This agrees with findings from several other groups, which show inflammation is altered in the painful vestibule. The vestibule of patients is acutely sensitive to inflammatory stimuli to the point of being deleterious. Rather than protect against vaginal infection, it causes heightened inflammation that does not resolve, which coincides with alterations in lipid metabolism that favor production of proinflammatory lipids and not pro-resolving lipids. Lipid dysbiosis in turn triggers pain signaling through the transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 4 receptor (TRPV4). Treatment with specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) that foster resolution reduces inflammation in fibroblasts and mice and vulvar sensitivity in mice. SPMs, specifically maresin 1, act on more than one part of the vulvodynia mechanism by limiting inflammation and acutely inhibiting TRPV4 signaling. Therefore, SPMs or other agents that target inflammation and/or TRPV4 signaling could prove effective as new vulvodynia therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Falsetta
- University of Rochester, OB/GYN Research Division, Rochester, NY, United States of America; University of Rochester, Pharmacology and Physiology Department, Rochester, NY, United States of America.
| | - Krishna Rao Maddipati
- Wayne State University, Pathology Department, Detroit, MI, United States of America; Wayne State University, Lipidomics Core Facility and Bioactive Lipids Research Program, Detroit, MI, United States of America
| | - Kenneth V Honn
- Wayne State University, Pathology Department, Detroit, MI, United States of America; Wayne State University, Lipidomics Core Facility and Bioactive Lipids Research Program, Detroit, MI, United States of America
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15
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Tan Y, Lin Q, Yao J, Zhang G, Peng X, Tian J. In vitro outcomes of quercetin on Candida albicans planktonic and biofilm cells and in vivo effects on vulvovaginal candidiasis. Evidences of its mechanisms of action. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 114:154800. [PMID: 37043980 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Candida albicans is a fungus that produces common fungal infection in humans, including vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). While quercetin (QC) has potential antifungal activities against C. albicans, studies on the in vivo anti-VVC activity of QC are limited. This study evaluated the antifungal capacity of QC against cultured C. albicans strain SC5314 or in C. albicans-infected mice. METHODS Microdilution and XTT reduction assay were used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and biofilm formation of QC on C. albicans, respectively. Immunofluorescence was performed to detect the anti-invasive capacity of QC upon co-culturing C. albicans with VK2/E6E7 cells. The potential anti-VVC effects of QC were assessed in C. albicans-infected mice with VVC. Further, inflammatory cytokine levels were determined using ELISA. PAS and Papanicolaou staining were used to detect C. albicans cells and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) in vaginal tissues. Western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to measure the expression of MAPK, ERK, JUN, and P38. RESULTS MIC and minimal fungicidal concentration (MFC) of QC for C. albicans were 128 μM and > 512 μM, respectively. QC concentration lower than 128 μM (32-128 μM) could not inhibit C. albicans. QC (16 μM) notably inhibited C. albicans biofilm formation and suppressed the adhesion and invasion of C. albicans to VK2/E6E7 cells. In addition, the pharmacokinetic parameters of orally administered QC in mice showed rapid absorption (approximately 1 h) and slow elimination (approximately 6 h). Oral QC showed an effective protective function against C. albicans infection with no toxic effects a in mouse VVC model. QC significantly reduced IL-1α, TNF-α, IL-22 and IL-23 levels in vaginal lavage solution, inhibited invasive C. albicans and PMN infiltration in vaginal tissue, and effectively protected the integrity of vaginal mucosa. CONCLUSIONS The present study showed that QC has rapid oral absorption, slow elimination, good viral distribution, and a lack of toxicity. QC not only inhibited biofilm formation, adhesion, and invasion of C. albicans in vitro, but also ameliorated C. albicans-induced inflammation and protected the integrity of the vaginal mucosa in vivo, suggesting that QC has the potential for the treatment of candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Tan
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221116, P R China; State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Qian Lin
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221116, P R China
| | - Jingchun Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Guimin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Linyi, China
| | - Xue Peng
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221116, P R China.
| | - Jun Tian
- School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province 221116, P R China.
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16
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Sala A, Ardizzoni A, Spaggiari L, Vaidya N, van der Schaaf J, Rizzato C, Cermelli C, Mogavero S, Krüger T, Himmel M, Kniemeyer O, Brakhage AA, King BL, Lupetti A, Comar M, de Seta F, Tavanti A, Blasi E, Wheeler RT, Pericolini E. A New Phenotype in Candida-Epithelial Cell Interaction Distinguishes Colonization- versus Vulvovaginal Candidiasis-Associated Strains. mBio 2023; 14:e0010723. [PMID: 36856418 PMCID: PMC10128025 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00107-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) affects nearly 3/4 of women during their lifetime, and its symptoms seriously reduce quality of life. Although Candida albicans is a common commensal, it is unknown if VVC results from a switch from a commensal to pathogenic state, if only some strains can cause VVC, and/or if there is displacement of commensal strains with more pathogenic strains. We studied a set of VVC and colonizing C. albicans strains to identify consistent in vitro phenotypes associated with one group or the other. We find that the strains do not differ in overall genetic profile or behavior in culture media (i.e., multilocus sequence type [MLST] profile, rate of growth, and filamentation), but they show strikingly different behaviors during their interactions with vaginal epithelial cells. Epithelial infections with VVC-derived strains yielded stronger fungal proliferation and shedding of fungi and epithelial cells. Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) analysis of representative epithelial cell infections with selected pathogenic or commensal isolates identified several differentially activated epithelial signaling pathways, including the integrin, ferroptosis, and type I interferon pathways; the latter has been implicated in damage protection. Strikingly, inhibition of type I interferon signaling selectively increases fungal shedding of strains in the colonizing cohort, suggesting that increased shedding correlates with lower interferon pathway activation. These data suggest that VVC strains may intrinsically have enhanced pathogenic potential via differential elicitation of epithelial responses, including the type I interferon pathway. Therefore, it may eventually be possible to evaluate pathogenic potential in vitro to refine VVC diagnosis. IMPORTANCE Despite a high incidence of VVC, we still have a poor understanding of this female-specific disease whose negative impact on women's quality of life has become a public health issue. It is not yet possible to determine by genotype or laboratory phenotype if a given Candida albicans strain is more or less likely to cause VVC. Here, we show that Candida strains causing VVC induce more fungal shedding from epithelial cells than strains from healthy women. This effect is also accompanied by increased epithelial cell detachment and differential activation of the type I interferon pathway. These distinguishing phenotypes suggest it may be possible to evaluate the VVC pathogenic potential of fungal isolates. This would permit more targeted antifungal treatments to spare commensals and could allow for displacement of pathogenic strains with nonpathogenic colonizers. We expect these new assays to provide a more targeted tool for identifying fungal virulence factors and epithelial responses that control fungal vaginitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Sala
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Andrea Ardizzoni
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Luca Spaggiari
- Clinical and Experimental Medicine PhD Program, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Nikhil Vaidya
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Jane van der Schaaf
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Cosmeri Rizzato
- Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Claudio Cermelli
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Selene Mogavero
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Thomas Krüger
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Maximilian Himmel
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Olaf Kniemeyer
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Axel A. Brakhage
- Department of Molecular and Applied Microbiology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology-Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena, Germany
| | - Benjamin L. King
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Antonella Lupetti
- Department of Translational Research and of New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Manola Comar
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Francesco de Seta
- Institute for Maternal and Child Health—IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, Trieste, Italy
- Department of Medical, Surgical and Health Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Elisabetta Blasi
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Robert T. Wheeler
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
- Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
| | - Eva Pericolini
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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Miao J, Regan J, Cai C, Palmer GE, Williams DL, Kruppa MD, Peters BM. Glycogen Metabolism in Candida albicans Impacts Fitness and Virulence during Vulvovaginal and Invasive Candidiasis. mBio 2023; 14:e0004623. [PMID: 36840583 PMCID: PMC10127583 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00046-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The polymorphic fungus Candida albicans remains a leading cause of both invasive and superficial mycoses, including vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Metabolic plasticity, including carbohydrate catabolism, confers fitness advantages at anatomical site-specific host niches. C. albicans possesses the capacity to accumulate and store carbohydrates as glycogen and can consume intracellular glycogen stores when nutrients become limited. In the vaginal environment, estrogen promotes epithelial glycogen accumulation and C. albicans colonization. However, whether these factors are mechanistically linked is unexplored. Here, we characterized the glycogen metabolism pathways in C. albicans and investigated whether these impact the long-term survival of C. albicans, both in vitro and in vivo during murine VVC, or virulence during systemic infection. SC5314 and 6 clinical isolates demonstrated impaired growth when glycogen was used as the sole carbon source, suggesting that environmental glycogen acquisition is limited. The genetic deletion and complementation of key genes involved in glycogen metabolism in Saccharomyces cerevisiae confirmed that GSY1 and GLC3, as well as GPH1 and GDB1, are essential for glycogen synthesis and catabolism in C. albicans, respectively. Potential compensatory roles for a glucoamylase encoded by SGA1 were also explored. Competitive survival assays revealed that gsy1Δ/Δ, gph1Δ/Δ, and gph1Δ/Δ sga1Δ/Δ mutants exhibited long-term survival defects in vitro under starvation conditions and in vivo during vaginal colonization. A complete inability to catabolize glycogen (gph1Δ/Δ sga1Δ/Δ) also rendered C. albicans significantly less virulent during disseminated infections. This is the first study fully validating the glycogen metabolism pathways in C. albicans, and the results further suggest that intracellular glycogen catabolism positively impacts the long-term fitness of C. albicans in nutrient deficient environments and is important for full virulence. IMPORTANCE Glycogen is a highly branched polymer of glucose and is used across the tree of life as an efficient and compact form of energy storage. Whereas glycogen metabolism pathways have been studied in model yeasts, they have not been extensively explored in pathogenic fungi. Using a combination of microbiologic, molecular genetic, and biochemical approaches, we reveal orthologous functions of glycogen metabolism genes in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. We also provide evidence that extracellular glycogen poorly supports growth across the Candida species and clinical isolates. Competitive fitness assays reveal that the loss of glycogen synthesis or catabolism significantly impacts survival during both in vitro starvation and the colonization of the mouse vagina. Moreover, a global glycogen catabolism mutant is rendered less virulent during murine invasive candidiasis. Therefore, this work demonstrates that glycogen metabolism in C. albicans contributes to survival and virulence in the mammalian host and may be a novel antifungal target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Miao
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jessica Regan
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Program, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Chun Cai
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Glen E. Palmer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - David L. Williams
- Department of Surgery, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease, and Immunity, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
| | - Michael D. Kruppa
- Center of Excellence in Inflammation, Infectious Disease, and Immunity, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee, USA
| | - Brian M. Peters
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Zhao X, Sun D, Zhang A, Huang H, Li Y, Xu D. Candida albicans-induced activation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway and upregulation of IL-6 may contribute to intrauterine adhesion. Sci Rep 2023; 13:579. [PMID: 36631456 PMCID: PMC9834405 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-25471-0] [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: 08/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Iatrogenic injury to endometrial tissue is the main cause of intrauterine adhesions (IUA) and infection can also damage the endometrium. The microbiota plays an important role in the health of the female reproductive tract. However, the mechanism is still unclear. In total, 908 patients with IUA and 11,389 healthy individuals were retrospectively selected for this clinical study. Participant information including vaginal microecological results and human papillomavirus (HPV) status were collected. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors related to IUA. Next, animal experiments were performed in a curettage-induced IUA rat model. After the procedure, rats in the experimental group received a vaginal infusion of a Candida albicans (C. albicans) fungal solution. On days 3, 7, and 14 after curettage and infusion, the expression levels of IL-6, fibrotic pathway-related factors (TGF-β1, Smad 2, and COL1), and estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PR) in rat endometrial tissues were assessed. Fungal infection of the reproductive tract was found to be an independent risk factor for IUA (P < 0.05). The inflammatory response and degree of fibrosis were greater in rats infected with C. albicans than in the controls. The levels of IL-6, TGF-β1, Smad 2, and COL1 expression in endometrial tissues were significantly higher in the experimental group than in the control group (P < 0.05). However, the ER and PR levels were lower in the IUA group than in the non-IUA group (P < 0.05). C. albicans infection may be related to IUA. C. albicans elicits a strong inflammatory response that can lead to more severe endometrial fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingping Zhao
- grid.431010.7Department of Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013 Hunan China
| | - Dan Sun
- grid.431010.7Department of Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013 Hunan China ,grid.412594.f0000 0004 1757 2961The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021 China
| | - Aiqian Zhang
- grid.431010.7Department of Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013 Hunan China
| | - Huan Huang
- grid.431010.7Department of Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013 Hunan China
| | - Yueran Li
- Department of Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
| | - Dabao Xu
- Department of Gynecology, Third Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, 138 Tongzipo Road, Changsha, 410013, Hunan, China.
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Jacobsen ID. The Role of Host and Fungal Factors in the Commensal-to-Pathogen Transition of Candida albicans. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 10:55-65. [PMID: 37151578 PMCID: PMC10154278 DOI: 10.1007/s40588-023-00190-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Abstract Purpose of Review The fungus Candida albicans has evolved to live in close association with warm-blooded hosts and is found frequently on mucosal surfaces of healthy humans. As an opportunistic pathogen, C. albicans can also cause mucosal and disseminated infections (candidiasis). This review describes the features that differentiate the fungus in the commensal versus pathogenic state and the main factors underlying C. albicans commensal-to-pathogen transition. Recent Findings Adhesion, invasion, and tissue damage are critical steps in the infection process. Especially invasion and damage require transcriptional and morphological changes that differentiate C. albicans in the pathogenic from the commensal state. While the commensal-to-pathogen transition has some conserved causes and features in the oral cavity, the female urogenital tract, and the gut, site-specific differences have been identified in recent years. Summary This review highlights how specific factors in the different mucosal niches affect development of candidiasis. Recent evidence suggests that colonization of the gut is not only a risk factor for systemic candidiasis but might also provide beneficial effects to the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilse D. Jacobsen
- Research Group Microbial Immunology, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich Schiller University, Jena, Germany
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20
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Mucosal Infection with Unmasked Candida albicans Cells Impacts Disease Progression in a Host Niche-Specific Manner. Infect Immun 2022; 90:e0034222. [PMID: 36374100 PMCID: PMC9753624 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00342-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Shielding the immunogenic cell wall epitope β(1, 3)-glucan under an outer layer of mannosylated glycoproteins is an essential virulence factor deployed by Candida albicans during systemic infection. Accordingly, mutants with increased β(1, 3)-glucan exposure (unmasking) display increased immunostimulatory capabilities in vitro and attenuated virulence during systemic infection in mice. However, little work has been done to assess the impact of increased unmasking during the two most common manifestations of candidiasis, namely, oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). We have shown previously that the expression of a single hyperactive allele of the MAP3K STE11ΔN467 induces unmasking via the Cek1 MAPK pathway, attenuates fungal burden, and prolongs survival during systemic infection in mice. Here, we expand on these findings and show that infection with an unmasked STE11ΔN467 mutant also impacts disease progression during OPC and VVC murine infection models. Male mice sublingually infected with the STE11ΔN467 mutant showed a significant reduction in tongue fungal burden at 2 days postinfection and a modest reduction at 5 days postinfection. However, we find that selection for STE11ΔN467 suppressor mutants that no longer display increased unmasking occurs within the oral cavity and is likely responsible for the restoration of fungal burden trends to wild-type levels later in the infection. In the VVC infection model, no attenuation in fungal burden was observed. However, polymorphonuclear cell recruitment and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) levels within the vaginal lumen, markers of immunopathogenesis, were increased in mice infected with unmasked STE11ΔN467 cells. Thus, our data suggest a niche-specific impact for unmasking on disease progression.
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Nabeta HW, Lasnik AB, Fuqua JL, Wang L, Rohan LC, Palmer KE. Antiviral lectin Q-Griffithsin suppresses fungal infection in murine models of vaginal candidiasis. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2022; 12:976033. [PMID: 36329822 PMCID: PMC9623022 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.976033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Resistance to antifungal agents in vulvovaginal candidiasis has resulted in increasing morbidity among women globally. It is therefore crucial that new antimycotic agents are developed to counter this rising challenge. Q-Griffithsin (Q-GRFT) is a red algal lectin, manufactured in Nicotiana benthamiana. Griffithsin has well characterized broad spectrum antiviral activity and has demonstrated potent in vitro activity against multiple strains of Candida, including C. albicans. We have been working to incorporate Q-GRFT into topical microbicide products to prevent HIV-1 and HSV-2 transmission. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a prototype Q-GRFT dosage form in prophylactic and therapeutic murine models of vaginal candidiasis, through microbiologic, histopathologic, and immune studies. In a preventive model, in comparison with infected controls, Q-GRFT treatment resulted in a lower fungal burden but did not alter the number of vaginal neutrophils and monocytes. In a therapeutic model, Q-GRFT enhanced fungal clearance when compared with infected untreated controls. Finally, histopathology demonstrated lower vaginal colonization with C. albicans following Q-GRFT treatment. Our results demonstrate that Q-GRFT has significant preventive and therapeutic activity in vaginal candidiasis offering additional benefit as a topical microbicide for prevention of HIV-1 and HSV-2 transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henry W. Nabeta
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
- Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Henry W. Nabeta, ; Kenneth E. Palmer,
| | - Amanda B. Lasnik
- Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
| | - Joshua L. Fuqua
- Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
| | - Lin Wang
- Infectious Diseases, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Lisa C. Rohan
- Infectious Diseases, Magee-Womens Research Institute, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, & Reproductive Sciences, School of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Kenneth E. Palmer
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
- Center for Predictive Medicine for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Louisville, Louisville KY, United States
- *Correspondence: Henry W. Nabeta, ; Kenneth E. Palmer,
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22
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Faria-Gonçalves P, Oliveira AS, Gaspar C, Rodrigues L, Palmeira-de-Oliveira R, Martinez-de-Oliveira J, Gonçalves T, Palmeira-de-Oliveira A, Rolo J. Vulvovaginal Candida albicans Clinical Isolates’ Resistance to Phagocytosis In-Vitro. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12060838. [PMID: 35743869 PMCID: PMC9225182 DOI: 10.3390/life12060838] [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: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Previous studies have revealed that Candida albicans isolates involved in chronic vulvovaginal candidosis (cVVC) phenotypically express less virulent traits than clinical isolates involved in sporadic infections. In this study, we aimed to further explore this finding by studying the behaviour of those same clinical isolates in in-vitro models of infection. Eighteen clinical Candida albicans isolates were collected from women suffering sporadic (eight isolates) or chronic infections (ten isolates). Adhesion to HeLa cells (human cervical cancer epithelial cell line) and resistance to phagocytosis by RAW 264.7 cells (murine macrophages cell line) were tested in-vitro. In addition, phenotypic expression of virulence factors related with either adhesion or resistance to phagocytosis was tested in-vitro. Results indicated that yeast isolates involved in sporadic infection adhered in a higher proportion of HeLa cells than those of chronic infections, which was related with their ability to produce biofilm (p < 0.05). The ability to evade phagocytosis was related to an elevated production of proteases (p < 0.05) by chronic isolates, while sporadic isolates’ resistance to phagocytosis was related to a higher hydrophobicity of cell walls (p < 0.05). We conclude that the evasion of macrophage-mediated phagocytosis related to the production of proteases might be an important factor involved in the recurrence of vulvovaginal candidosis infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Faria-Gonçalves
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (P.F.-G.); (A.S.O.); (C.G.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.); (A.P.-d.-O.)
- FCS-UBI—Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- FMUMN—Faculty of Medicine, University Mandume Ya Ndemufayo, Lubango 3FJP+27X, Angola
| | - Ana Sofia Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (P.F.-G.); (A.S.O.); (C.G.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.); (A.P.-d.-O.)
- FCS-UBI—Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Carlos Gaspar
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (P.F.-G.); (A.S.O.); (C.G.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.); (A.P.-d.-O.)
- FCS-UBI—Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD—Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Lisa Rodrigues
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (L.R.); (T.G.)
- FMUC—Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rita Palmeira-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (P.F.-G.); (A.S.O.); (C.G.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.); (A.P.-d.-O.)
- FCS-UBI—Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD—Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - José Martinez-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (P.F.-G.); (A.S.O.); (C.G.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.); (A.P.-d.-O.)
| | - Teresa Gonçalves
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal; (L.R.); (T.G.)
- FMUC—Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Palmeira-de-Oliveira
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (P.F.-G.); (A.S.O.); (C.G.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.); (A.P.-d.-O.)
- FCS-UBI—Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal
- Labfit-HPRD—Health Products Research and Development Lda, 6200-284 Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Joana Rolo
- CICS-UBI—Health Sciences Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506 Covilhã, Portugal; (P.F.-G.); (A.S.O.); (C.G.); (R.P.-d.-O.); (J.M.-d.-O.); (A.P.-d.-O.)
- Correspondence:
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Rapid Hypothesis Testing in Candida albicans Clinical Isolates Using a Cloning-Free, Modular, and Recyclable System for CRISPR-Cas9 Mediated Mutant and Revertant Construction. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0263021. [PMID: 35612314 PMCID: PMC9241802 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.02630-21] [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
As increasing evidence emerges that interstrain genetic diversity among Candida albicans clinical isolates underpins phenotypic variation compared to the reference isolate SC5314, new genetic tools are required to interrogate gene function across strain backgrounds. Here, the SAT1-flipper plasmid was reengineered to contain a C. albicans codon optimized hygromycin B resistance gene (CaHygB). Cassettes were PCR-amplified from both SAT1-flipper and CaHygB-flipper plasmids using primers with homologous sequences flanking target genes of interest to serve as repair templates. Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes containing proprietary CRISPR RNAs (crRNAs), universal transactivating CRISPR RNA (tracrRNA), and Cas9 protein were assembled in vitro and transformed, along with both repair templates, by electroporation into C. albicans. Homozygous deletion of the ADE2 gene results in red-pigmented colonies and this gene was used to validate our approach. Both in SC5314 and a variety of clinical isolates (529L, JS15, SJCA1, TW1), homozygous gene targeting was nearly 100% when plating on media containing nourseothricin and hygromycin B with transformation efficiencies exceeding 104 homozygous deletion mutants per μg of DNA. A gene reversion system was also employed with plasmids pDUP3 and pDIS3 engineered to contain the ADH1 terminator and an overlap extension PCR-mediated approach combined with CRISPR-Cas9 targeting at the NEUT5 neutral locus. A variety of single or compound mutants (Δ/Δals3, Δ/Δcph1 Δ/Δefg1, Δ/Δece1) and their revertant strains were constructed and phenotypically validated by a variety of assays, including biofilm formation, hyphal growth, and macrophage IL-1β response. Thus, we have established a cloning-free, modular system for highly efficient homozygous gene deletion and reversion in diverse isolates. IMPORTANCE Recently, phenotypic heterogeneity in Candida albicans isolates has been recognized as an underappreciated factor contributing to gene diversification and broadly impacts strain-to-strain antifungal resistance, fitness, and pathogenicity. We have designed a cloning-free genetic system for rapid gene deletion and reversion in C. albicans clinical isolates that interlaces established recyclable genetic systems with CRISPR-Cas9 technology. The SAT1-flipper was reengineered to contain CaHygB encoding resistance to hygromycin B. Using a modular PCR-mediated approach coupled with in vitro ribonucleoprotein assembly with commercial reagents, both SAT1- and CaHygB-flipper cassettes were simultaneously integrated at loci with high efficiency (104 transformants per μg DNA) and upward of 99% homozygous gene targeting across a collection of diverse isolates of various anatomical origin. Revertant strains were constructed by overlap extension PCR with CRISPR-Cas9 targeted integration at the NEUT5 locus. Thus, this facile system will aid in unraveling the genetic factors contributing to the complexity of intraspecies diversity.
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Differential Response of Candida Species Morphologies and Isolates to Fluconazole and Boric Acid. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2022; 66:e0240621. [PMID: 35446135 DOI: 10.1128/aac.02406-21] [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: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most prevalent cause of vulvovaginal candidiasis ("yeast infection" or VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC), although the incidence of non-albicans yeast species is increasing. The azole fluconazole is the primary antifungal drug used to treat RVVC, yet isolates from some species have intrinsic resistance to fluconazole, and recurrent infection can occur even with fluconazole-susceptible populations. The second-line broad-spectrum antimicrobial drug, boric acid, is an alternative treatment that has been found to successfully treat complicated VVC infections. Far less is known about how boric acid inhibits growth of yeast isolates in different morphologies compared to fluconazole. We found significant differences in drug resistance and drug tolerance (the ability of a subpopulation to grow slowly in high levels of drug) between C. albicans, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis isolates, with the specific relationships dependent on both drug and phenotype. Population-level variation for both susceptibility and tolerance was broader for fluconazole than boric acid in all species. Unlike fluconazole, which neither prevented hyphal formation nor disrupted mature biofilms, boric acid inhibited C. albicans hyphal formation and reduced mature biofilm biomass and metabolic activity in all isolates in a dose-dependent manner. Variation in planktonic response did not generally predict biofilm phenotypes for either drug. Overall, our findings illustrate that boric acid is broadly effective at inhibiting growth across many isolates and morphologies, which could explain why it is an effective treatment for RVVC.
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25
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Lemberg C, Martinez de San Vicente K, Fróis-Martins R, Altmeier S, Tran VDT, Mertens S, Amorim-Vaz S, Rai LS, d’Enfert C, Pagni M, Sanglard D, LeibundGut-Landmann S. Candida albicans commensalism in the oral mucosa is favoured by limited virulence and metabolic adaptation. PLoS Pathog 2022; 18:e1010012. [PMID: 35404986 PMCID: PMC9041809 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
As part of the human microbiota, the fungus Candida albicans colonizes the oral cavity and other mucosal surfaces of the human body. Commensalism is tightly controlled by complex interactions of the fungus and the host to preclude fungal elimination but also fungal overgrowth and invasion, which can result in disease. As such, defects in antifungal T cell immunity render individuals susceptible to oral thrush due to interrupted immunosurveillance of the oral mucosa. The factors that promote commensalism and ensure persistence of C. albicans in a fully immunocompetent host remain less clear. Using an experimental model of C. albicans oral colonization in mice we explored fungal determinants of commensalism in the oral cavity. Transcript profiling of the oral isolate 101 in the murine tongue tissue revealed a characteristic metabolic profile tailored to the nutrient poor conditions in the stratum corneum of the epithelium where the fungus resides. Metabolic adaptation of isolate 101 was also reflected in enhanced nutrient acquisition when grown on oral mucosa substrates. Persistent colonization of the oral mucosa by C. albicans also correlated inversely with the capacity of the fungus to induce epithelial cell damage and to elicit an inflammatory response. Here we show that these immune evasive properties of isolate 101 are explained by a strong attenuation of a number of virulence genes, including those linked to filamentation. De-repression of the hyphal program by deletion or conditional repression of NRG1 abolished the commensal behaviour of isolate 101, thereby establishing a central role of this factor in the commensal lifestyle of C. albicans in the oral niche of the host. The oral microbiota represents an important part of the human microbiota and includes several hundreds to several thousands of bacterial and fungal species. One of the most prominent fungus colonizing the oral cavity is the yeast Candida albicans. While the presence of C. albicans usually remains unnoticed, the fungus can under certain circumstances cause lesions on the lining of the mouth referred to as oral thrush or contribute to other common oral diseases such as caries. Maintaining C. albicans commensalism in the oral mucosa is therefore of utmost importance for oral health and overall wellbeing. While overt fungal growth and disease is limited by immunosurveillance mechanisms during homeostasis, C. albicans strives to survive and evades elimination from the host. Here, we show that while commensalism in the oral cavity is characterized by a restricted fungal virulence and hyphal program, enforcing filamentation in a commensal isolate is sufficient for driving pathogenicity and fungus-induced inflammation in the oral mucosa thwarting persistent colonization. Our results further support a critical role for specialized nutrient acquisition allowing the fungus to thrive in the nutrient poor environment of the squamous epithelium. Together, this work revealed key determinants of C. albicans commensalism in the oral niche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina Lemberg
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kontxi Martinez de San Vicente
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Ricardo Fróis-Martins
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Simon Altmeier
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Van Du T. Tran
- Vital-IT Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Sarah Mertens
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Sara Amorim-Vaz
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laxmi Shanker Rai
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Christophe d’Enfert
- Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INRAE, USC2019, Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Paris, France
| | - Marco Pagni
- Vital-IT Group, SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Sanglard
- Institute of Microbiology, University of Lausanne and University Hospital Center, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Salomé LeibundGut-Landmann
- Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- Institute of Experimental Immunology, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
- * E-mail:
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Chen Z, Luo T, Huang F, Yang F, Luo W, Chen G, Cao M, Wang F, Zhang J. Kangbainian Lotion Ameliorates Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Mice by Inhibiting the Growth of Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans and the Dectin-1 Signaling Pathway Activation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:816290. [PMID: 35140608 PMCID: PMC8819624 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.816290] [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: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is an infectious disease caused by Candida species, which affects millions of women worldwide every year. The resistance to available antifungal drugs for clinical treatment is a growing problem. The treatment of refractory VVC caused by azole-resistant Candida is still facing challenges. However, research on new antifungal drugs is progressing slowly. Although a lot of reports on new antifungal drugs, only three new antifungal drugs (Isavuconazole, ibrexafungerp, and rezafungin) and two new formulations of posaconazole were marketed over the last decade. Chinese botanical medicine has advantages in the treatment of drug-resistant VVC, such as outstanding curative effects and low adverse reactions, which can improve patients’ comfort and adherence to therapy. Kangbainian lotion (KBN), a Chinese botanical formulation, has achieved very good clinical effects in the treatment of VVC. In this study, we investigated the antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects of KBN at different doses in fluconazole-resistant (FLC-resistant) VVC model mice. We further studied the antifungal mechanism of KBN against FLC-resistant Candida albicans (C. albicans) and the anti-inflammatory mechanism correlated with the Dectin-1 signaling pathway. In vivo and in vitro results showed that KBN had strong antifungal and anti-inflammatory effects in FLC-resistant VVC, such as inhibiting the growth of C. albicans and vaginal inflammation. Further studies showed that KBN inhibited the biofilm and hypha formation, reduced adhesion, inhibited ergosterol synthesis and the expression of ergosterol synthesis-related genes ERG11, and reduced the expression of drug-resistant efflux pump genes MDR1 and CDR2 of FLC-resistant C. albicans in vitro. In addition, in vivo results showed that KBN reduced the expression of inflammatory factor proteins TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 in vaginal tissues, and inhibited the expression of proteins related to the Dectin-1 signaling pathway. In conclusion, our study revealed that KBN could ameliorate vaginal inflammation in VVC mice caused by FLC-resistance C. albicans. This effect may be related to inhibiting the growth of FLC-resistance C. albicans and Dectin-1 signaling pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zewei Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tengshuo Luo
- School of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, East China Normal University, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengke Huang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fuzhen Yang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wenting Luo
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guanfeng Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Mengfei Cao
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Fengyun Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jun Zhang, ; Fengyun Wang,
| | - Jun Zhang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Jun Zhang, ; Fengyun Wang,
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Yano J, Fidel PL. Methods Related to the Immunopathogenesis of Vulvovaginal Candidiasis and Associated Neutrophil Anergy. Methods Mol Biol 2022; 2542:193-218. [PMID: 36008666 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2549-1_14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common mucosal disease, caused primarily by Candida albicans that affects up to 75% of women of childbearing age. The pathogenesis of VVC and recurrent VVC (RVVC) is largely understood after decades of research. In this regard, an immunopathological response involving the migration of neutrophils that become dysfunctional (anergic) in the vaginal environment leads to the symptomatic conditions. However, immunotherapeutic strategies to correct the immunopathogenesis are still elusive. Much of the mechanistic discoveries have been uncovered using the established mouse model of chronic VVC. This chapter details the methods widely used for the mouse model of experimental VVC and associated outcome measures of the immunopathologic response and resulting symptomatic condition and focuses further on assays used to demonstrate "neutrophil anergy" in the model. These methods may serve as a source or resource for further experimentation with the ultimate goal to reduce or eliminate VVC/RVVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Yano
- Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Paul L Fidel
- Louisiana State University Health, New Orleans, LA, USA.
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Candida albicans Modulates Murine and Human Beta Defensin-1 during Vaginitis. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 8:jof8010020. [PMID: 35049960 PMCID: PMC8778459 DOI: 10.3390/jof8010020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 12/13/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) are two forms of a disease caused by Candida spp. β-defensin (BD) is one of the most important families of antimicrobial peptides in the female genital tract and includes molecules that exert essential local functions as antimicrobial and PMN chemoattractant peptides. However, the information on their role during murine and human VVC and RVVC is limited. Thus, we analyzed the behavior and contribution of BD1 to the local response in a VVC mice model and the local cytokine profile and human BD1 and BD3 expression in cervicovaginal lavage from patients with VVC and RVVC. We demonstrated that, in patients with RVVC BD1, mRNA and protein expression were severely diminished and that the aspartate proteinase and lipase secreted by C. albicans are involved in that decrease. This study provides novel information about the pathogenesis of VVC and describes a highly efficient C. albicans escape strategy for perpetuating the infection; these results may contribute to the development of new or combined treatment approaches.
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Eichelberger KR, Cassat JE. Metabolic Adaptations During Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans Co-Infection. Front Immunol 2021; 12:797550. [PMID: 34956233 PMCID: PMC8692374 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.797550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Successful pathogens require metabolic flexibility to adapt to diverse host niches. The presence of co-infecting or commensal microorganisms at a given infection site can further influence the metabolic processes required for a pathogen to cause disease. The Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the polymorphic fungus Candida albicans are microorganisms that asymptomatically colonize healthy individuals but can also cause superficial infections or severe invasive disease. Due to many shared host niches, S. aureus and C. albicans are frequently co-isolated from mixed fungal-bacterial infections. S. aureus and C. albicans co-infection alters microbial metabolism relative to infection with either organism alone. Metabolic changes during co-infection regulate virulence, such as enhancing toxin production in S. aureus or contributing to morphogenesis and cell wall remodeling in C. albicans. C. albicans and S. aureus also form polymicrobial biofilms, which have greater biomass and reduced susceptibility to antimicrobials relative to mono-microbial biofilms. The S. aureus and C. albicans metabolic programs induced during co-infection impact interactions with host immune cells, resulting in greater microbial survival and immune evasion. Conversely, innate immune cell sensing of S. aureus and C. albicans triggers metabolic changes in the host cells that result in an altered immune response to secondary infections. In this review article, we discuss the metabolic programs that govern host-pathogen interactions during S. aureus and C. albicans co-infection. Understanding C. albicans-S. aureus interactions may highlight more general principles of how polymicrobial interactions, particularly fungal-bacterial interactions, shape the outcome of infectious disease. We focus on how co-infection alters microbial metabolism to enhance virulence and how infection-induced changes to host cell metabolism can impact a secondary infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara R. Eichelberger
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Kara R. Eichelberger, ; James E. Cassat,
| | - James E. Cassat
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Center for Bone Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Vanderbilt Institute for Infection, Immunology, and Inflammation (VI4), Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, United States
- *Correspondence: Kara R. Eichelberger, ; James E. Cassat,
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Yano J, White DJ, Sampson AP, Wormley FL, Fidel PL. Leukotrienes Are Dispensable for Vaginal Neutrophil Recruitment as Part of the Immunopathological Response During Experimental Vulvovaginal Candidiasis. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:739385. [PMID: 34867856 PMCID: PMC8635733 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.739385] [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: 07/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Recruitment of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMNs) into the vaginal lumen is the hallmark of an acute immunopathologic inflammatory response during vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida albicans. Recurrent VVC (RVVC) remains a chronic health burden in affected women worldwide despite the use of antifungal therapy. Based on the role leukotrienes (LTs) play in promoting inflammation, leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs) targeted for LTB4 (etalocib) or LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 (zafirlukast or montelukast) have been shown to reduce inflammation of epithelial tissues. An open-label pilot study using long-term regimens of zafirlukast in women with RVVC indicated the potential for some relief from recurrent episodes. To investigate this clinical observation further, we evaluated the effects of LT antagonistic agents and LT deficiency on the immunopathogenic response in a mouse model of VVC. Results showed that mice given daily intraperitoneal injections of individual LTRAs, starting 2days prior to vaginal inoculation with C. albicans and continuing through 14days post-inoculation, had no measurable reduction in PMN migration. The LTRAs were also ineffective in reducing levels of the hallmark vaginal inflammatory markers (S100A8, IL-1β) and tissue damage (LDH) associated with the immunopathogenic response. Finally, LT-deficient 5-lipoxygenase knockout mice showed comparable levels of vaginal fungal burden and PMN infiltration to wild-type mice following inoculation with a vaginal (ATCC 96113) or laboratory (SC5314) C. albicans isolate. These results indicate that despite some clinical evidence suggestive of off-target efficacy of LTRAs in RVVC, LTs and associated signaling pathways appear to be dispensable in the immunopathogenesis of VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junko Yano
- Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology, School of Dentistry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
| | - David J White
- Department of Genitourinary Medicine, University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony P Sampson
- Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Floyd L Wormley
- Department of Biology, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth, TX, United States
| | - Paul L Fidel
- Center of Excellence in Oral and Craniofacial Biology, School of Dentistry, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, United States
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Abe M, Kinjo Y, Sadamoto S, Shinozaki M, Nagi M, Shibuya K, Miyazaki Y. α-galactosylceramide-stimulated invariant natural killer T-cells play a protective role in murine vulvovaginal candidiasis by Candida albicans. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0259306. [PMID: 34784362 PMCID: PMC8594805 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0259306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common superficial candidiasis; however, a host’s immunological mechanism against vaginal Candida infection remains unknown. Objectives In this study, we aimed to elucidate the effect of iNKT cell activation on vulvovaginal candidiasis. Methods Using a vulvovaginal candidiasis model with estrogenized mice, we evaluated the fungal burden and number of leukocyte infiltrations in the vaginal lavage of wild-type C57BL/6J mice after Candida albicans inoculation. One day before C. albicans inoculation, α-galactosylceramide (the α-GalCer group) or sterile phosphate-buffered saline (the sham group) was intraperitoneally injected into the mice. We also evaluated the level of antimicrobial peptide S100A8 in the vaginal lavage and analyzed the correlation between S100A8 concentration and the number of vaginal leukocyte infiltrations. Moreover, the number of uterine and vaginal immune cells were evaluated using flow cytometry. Results The number of vaginal leukocyte infiltrations was significantly higher in the α-GalCer group than in the sham group 3 days after C. albicans inoculation. In addition, the fungal burden was significantly lower in the α-GalCer group than the sham group at 7 days after inoculation. In the analysis of S100A8 concentration of vaginal lavage, there were no significant differences between these two groups, although S100A8 concentration and the number of vaginal leukocyte infiltrations were positively correlated in the α-GalCer group. Moreover, the number of vaginal iNKT cells, NK cells and CD8+ T-cells was significantly higher in the α-GalCer group 3 days after inoculation. Conclusions α-GalCer-stimulated iNKT cells likely play a protective role against vulvovaginal candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Abe
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yuki Kinjo
- Department of Bacteriology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Jikei Center for Biofilm Science and Technology, The Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Intelligent Network for Infection Control, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Sota Sadamoto
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Shinozaki
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Minoru Nagi
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazutoshi Shibuya
- Department of Surgical Pathology, Toho University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshitsugu Miyazaki
- Department of Chemotherapy and Mycoses, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
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He Y, Tang R, Deng J, Cai T, He P, Wu J, Cao Y. Effects of oestrogen on vulvovaginal candidosis. Mycoses 2021; 65:4-12. [PMID: 34699636 DOI: 10.1111/myc.13385] [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: 08/14/2021] [Revised: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
As a frequently occurring infectious disease mainly caused by Candida albicans, vulvovaginal candidosis (VVC) affects more than 100 million women worldwide every year. Multiple factors that influence C. albicans colonisation have been linked to the incidence of VVC, including high levels of circulating oestrogen due to pregnancy, the use of oral contraceptives, and hormone replacement therapy. This review provides an overview of the current understanding of the mechanism(s) by which oestrogen contributes to VVC, which might provide meaningful guidance to the prevention and treatment of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufei He
- Department of Dermatology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China.,Institute of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruoyu Tang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogen Biology, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jie Deng
- Institute of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tongkai Cai
- Shanghai Diacart Biomedical Science and Technology Limited Company, Shanghai, China
| | - Ping He
- Renji Hospital, Medical School of Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jianhua Wu
- Department of Dermatology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yongbing Cao
- Institute of Vascular Disease, Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Thrombin-Derived C-Terminal Peptide Reduces Candida-Induced Inflammation and Infection In Vitro and In Vivo. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0103221. [PMID: 34424043 PMCID: PMC8522777 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01032-21] [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] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections due to the opportunistic fungus Candida have been on the rise in the last decades, especially in immunocompromised individuals and hospital settings. Unfortunately, the treatments available today are limited. Thrombin-derived C-terminal peptide (TCP-25) is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects. In this work, we, for the first time, demonstrate the ability of TCP-25 ability to counteract Candidain vitro and in vivo. Using a combination of viable count assay (VCA), radial diffusion assay (RDA), and fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy analyses, TCP-25 was found to exert a direct fungicidal activity. An inhibitory activity of TCP-25 on NF-κB activation induced by both zymosan alone and heat-killed C. albicans was demonstrated in vitro using THP-1 cells, and in vivo using NF-κB reporter mice. Moreover, the immunomodulatory property of TCP-25 was further substantiated in vitro by analyzing cytokine responses in human blood stimulated with zymosan, and in vivo employing a zymosan-induced peritonitis model in C57BL/6 mice. The therapeutic potential of TCP-25 was demonstrated in mice infected with luminescent C. albicans. Finally, the binding between TCP-25 and zymosan was investigated using circular dichroism spectroscopy and intrinsic fluorescence analysis. Taken together, our results show that TCP-25 has a dual function by inhibiting Candida as well as the associated zymosan-induced inflammation. The latter function is accompanied by a change in secondary structure upon binding to zymosan. TCP-25, therefore, shows promise as a novel drug candidate against Candida infections.
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Liu J, Willems HME, Sansevere EA, Allert S, Barker KS, Lowes DJ, Dixson AC, Xu Z, Miao J, DeJarnette C, Tournu H, Palmer GE, Richardson JP, Barrera FN, Hube B, Naglik JR, Peters BM. A variant ECE1 allele contributes to reduced pathogenicity of Candida albicans during vulvovaginal candidiasis. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1009884. [PMID: 34506615 PMCID: PMC8432879 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1009884] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), caused primarily by the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, results in significant quality-of-life issues for women worldwide. Candidalysin, a toxin derived from a polypeptide (Ece1p) encoded by the ECE1 gene, plays a crucial role in driving immunopathology at the vaginal mucosa. This study aimed to determine if expression and/or processing of Ece1p differs across C. albicans isolates and whether this partly underlies differential pathogenicity observed clinically. Using a targeted sequencing approach, we determined that isolate 529L harbors a similarly expressed, yet distinct Ece1p isoform variant that encodes for a predicted functional candidalysin; this isoform was conserved amongst a collection of clinical isolates. Expression of the ECE1 open reading frame (ORF) from 529L in an SC5314-derived ece1Δ/Δ strain resulted in significantly reduced vaginopathogenicity as compared to an isogenic control expressing a wild-type (WT) ECE1 allele. However, in vitro challenge of vaginal epithelial cells with synthetic candidalysin demonstrated similar toxigenic activity amongst SC5314 and 529L isoforms. Creation of an isogenic panel of chimeric strains harboring swapped Ece1p peptides or HiBiT tags revealed reduced secretion with the ORF from 529L that was associated with reduced virulence. A genetic survey of 78 clinical isolates demonstrated a conserved pattern between Ece1p P2 and P3 sequences, suggesting that substrate specificity around Kex2p-mediated KR cleavage sites involved in protein processing may contribute to differential pathogenicity amongst clinical isolates. Therefore, we present a new mechanism for attenuation of C. albicans virulence at the ECE1 locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junyan Liu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Hubertine M. E. Willems
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Emily A. Sansevere
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Stefanie Allert
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knöll Institute, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
| | - Katherine S. Barker
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - David J. Lowes
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Andrew C. Dixson
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Zhenbo Xu
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jian Miao
- School of Food Science and Engineering, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Green Processing of Natural Products and Product Safety, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, China
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Christian DeJarnette
- Integrated Program in Biomedical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Helene Tournu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Glen E. Palmer
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Jonathan P. Richardson
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Francisco N. Barrera
- Department of Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Bernhard Hube
- Department of Microbial Pathogenicity Mechanisms, Hans Knöll Institute, Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology, Jena, Germany
- Institute of Microbiology, Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, Jena, Germany
| | - Julian R. Naglik
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Brian M. Peters
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
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Cordisco E, Petenatti E, Svetaz L, Sortino M. Evaluation of the antifungal photodynamic activity of Thymophylla pentachaeta extracts against Candida albicans and its virulence factors. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2021; 90:153608. [PMID: 34148723 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2021.153608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida albicans is one of the most common causative of opportunistic infections. Treatment of candidiasis is challenging considering the few antifungal drugs available and the increase in resistance. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a recently developed therapeutic option that combines a non-toxic photosensitizer (PS) and light to kill the microbial pathogens. Targeting virulence, defined as the ability of a pathogen to cause overt disease, represents another attractive target for the development of novel antifungal agents. Thymophylla pentachaeta (DC.) Small var. belenidium (DC.) is an endemic plant from Argentina in which the presence of thiophenes, biologically active compounds whose antifungal activity is enhanced by irradiation with Ultraviolet A (UVA), have been already described. PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the photodynamic antifungal activity of hexane (Hex), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH) extracts from T. pentachaeta var. belenidium and their inhibitory effects on C. albicans virulence factors as well as biofilm formation and eradication. STUDY DESIGN/METHODS Antifungal photodynamic activity of Hex, DCM, EtOAc and MeOH extracts from different parts of the plant were assessed with the microbroth dilution, bioautography and the time-kill assays, under light and darkness conditions. The capacities of the most active extracts of inhibiting Candida virulence factors (adherence to epithelial cells, germ tube and pseudomycelium formation and hydrolytic enzyme secretion) were assessed. In addition, the activity against biofilm formation and eradication has been investigated by reaction with 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) that quantifies living cells in these structures. RESULTS Hex and DCM extracts from T. pentachaeta roots exhibited high photodynamic antifungal activity against C. albicans [Minimal fungicide concentrations (MFCs)= 7.8 µg/ml] under UVA light irradiation. Chemical analysis of active extracts (Hex and DCM from roots) revealed the presence of photoactive thiophenes. Both extracts generate reactive oxygen species through type I and II mechanisms. These extracts, at sub-inhibitory concentrations, under light conditions decreased the adherence of C. albicans to Buccal Epithelial Cells (BEC), inhibited germ tube formation and reduced esterase production. Finally, they demonstrated activity against preformed biofilms submitted to irradiation (MFCs= 3.91 µg/ml and 15.63 µg/ml for Hex and DCM extracts, respectively). CONCLUSION Taking together, results demonstrated the strong photodynamic effects of T. pentachaeta root extracts under UVA irradiation, making them valuable alternatives to the already established antifungal drugs against C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Estefanía Cordisco
- Área Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Elisa Petenatti
- Herbario, Facultad de Química, Bioquímica y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de San Luis, Chacabuco 917, 5700 San Luis, Argentina
| | - Laura Svetaz
- Área Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina
| | - Maximiliano Sortino
- Área Farmacognosia, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina; Centro de Referencia de Micología, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, 2000 Rosario, Argentina.
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van Riel SJJM, Lardenoije CMJG, Oudhuis GJ, Cremers NAJ. Treating (Recurrent) Vulvovaginal Candidiasis with Medical-Grade Honey-Concepts and Practical Considerations. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7080664. [PMID: 34436203 PMCID: PMC8400673 DOI: 10.3390/jof7080664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 08/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a relapsing vaginal fungal infection caused by Candida species. The prevalence varies among age populations and can be as high as 9%. Treatment options are limited, and in 57% of the cases, relapses occur within six months after fluconazole maintenance therapy, which is the current standard of care. The pathogenesis of RVVC is multifactorial, and recent studies have demonstrated that the vaginal microenvironment and activity of the immune system have a strong influence on the disease. Medical-grade honey (MGH) has protective, antimicrobial, and immunomodulatory activity and forms a putative alternative treatment. Clinical trials have demonstrated that honey can benefit the treatment of bacterial and Candida-mediated vaginal infections. We postulate that MGH will actively fight ongoing infections; eradicate biofilms; and modulate the vaginal microenvironment by its anti-inflammatory, antioxidative, and immunomodulatory properties, and subsequently may decrease the number of relapses when compared to fluconazole. The MGH formulation L-Mesitran Soft has stronger antimicrobial activity against various Candida species than its raw honey. In advance of a planned randomized controlled clinical trial, we present the setup of a study comparing L-Mesitran Soft with fluconazole and its practical considerations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senna J. J. M. van Riel
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands; (S.J.J.M.v.R.); (C.M.J.G.L.)
| | - Celine M. J. G. Lardenoije
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Maastricht University Medical Centre, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands; (S.J.J.M.v.R.); (C.M.J.G.L.)
| | - Guy J. Oudhuis
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, NUTRIM School of Nutrition and Translational Research in Metabolism, Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, 6202 AZ Maastricht, The Netherlands;
| | - Niels A. J. Cremers
- Triticum Exploitatie B.V., Sleperweg 44, 6222 NK Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +31-43-325-1773
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37
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Lowes DJ, Miao J, Al-waqfi RA, Avad KA, Hevener KE, Peters BM. Identification of Dual-Target Compounds with Antifungal and Anti-NLRP3 Inflammasome Activity. ACS Infect Dis 2021; 7:2522-2535. [PMID: 34260210 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.1c00270] [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: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Invasive and superficial infections caused by the Candida species result in significant global morbidity and mortality. As the pathogenicity of these organisms is intimately intertwined with host immune response, therapies to target both the fungus and host inflammation may be warranted. Structural similarities exist between established inhibitors of the NLRP3 inflammasome and those of fungal acetohydroxyacid synthase (AHAS). Therefore, we leveraged this information to conduct an in silico molecular docking screen to find novel polypharmacologic inhibitors of these targets that resulted in the identification of 12 candidate molecules. Of these, compound 10 significantly attenuated activation of the NLPR3 inflammasome by LPS + ATP, while also demonstrating growth inhibitory activity against C. albicans that was alleviated in the presence of exogenous branched chain amino acids, consistent with targeting of fungal AHAS. SAR studies delineated an essential molecular scaffold required for dual activity. Ultimately, 10 and its analog 10a resulted in IC50 (IL-1β release) and MIC50 (fungal growth) values with low μM potency against several Candida species. Collectively, this work demonstrates promising potential of dual-target approaches for improved management of fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J Lowes
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Jian Miao
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Rand A Al-waqfi
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Kristiana A. Avad
- Graduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Graduate Health Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
- Doctor of Pharmacy Program, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Kirk E Hevener
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
| | - Brian M Peters
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee 38163, United States
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Ardizzoni A, Wheeler RT, Pericolini E. It Takes Two to Tango: How a Dysregulation of the Innate Immunity, Coupled With Candida Virulence, Triggers VVC Onset. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:692491. [PMID: 34163460 PMCID: PMC8215348 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.692491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a symptomatic inflammation of the vagina mainly caused by C. albicans. Other species, such as C. parapsilosis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, and C. krusei, are mainly associated to the recurrent form of the disease (RVVC), although with a lower frequency. In its yeast form, C. albicans is tolerated by the vaginal epithelium, but switching to the invasive hyphal form, co-regulated with the expression of genes encoding virulence factors such as secreted aspartyl proteases (Sap) and candidalysin, allows for tissue damage. Vaginal epithelial cells play an important role by impairing C. albicans tissue invasion through several mechanisms such as epithelial shedding, secretion of mucin and strong interepithelial cell connections. However, morphotype switching coupled to increasing of the fungal burden can overcome the tolerance threshold and trigger an intense inflammatory response. Pathological inflammation is believed to be facilitated by an altered vaginal microbiome, i.e., Lactobacillus dysbiosis. Notwithstanding the damage caused by the fungus itself, the host response to the fungus plays an important role in the onset of VVC, exacerbating fungal-mediated damage. This response can be triggered by host PRR-fungal PAMP interaction and other more complex mechanisms (i.e., Sap-mediated NLRP3 activation and candidalysin), ultimately leading to strong neutrophil recruitment. However, recruited neutrophils appear to be ineffective at reducing fungal burden and invasion; therefore, they seem to contribute more to the symptoms associated with vaginitis than to protection against the disease. Recently, two aspects of the vulvovaginal environment have been found to associate with VVC and induce neutrophil anergy in vitro: perinuclear anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (pANCA) and heparan sulfate. Interestingly, CAGTA antibodies have also been found with higher frequency in VVC as compared to asymptomatic colonized women. This review highlights and discusses recent advances on understanding the VVC pathogenesis mechanisms as well as the role of host defenses during the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Ardizzoni
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Robert T Wheeler
- Department of Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and Engineering, University of Maine, Orono, ME, United States
| | - Eva Pericolini
- Department of Surgical, Medical, Dental and Morphological Sciences with Interest in Transplant, Oncological and Regenerative Medicine, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Graduate School of Microbiology and Virology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
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39
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Wang JM, Woodruff AL, Dunn MJ, Fillinger RJ, Bennett RJ, Anderson MZ. Intraspecies Transcriptional Profiling Reveals Key Regulators of Candida albicans Pathogenic Traits. mBio 2021; 12:e00586-21. [PMID: 33879584 PMCID: PMC8092256 DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00586-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The human commensal and opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans displays extensive genetic and phenotypic variation across clinical isolates. Here, we performed RNA sequencing on 21 well-characterized isolates to examine how genetic variation contributes to gene expression differences and to link these differences to phenotypic traits. C. albicans adapts primarily through clonal evolution, and yet hierarchical clustering of gene expression profiles in this set of isolates did not reproduce their phylogenetic relationship. Strikingly, strain-specific gene expression was prevalent in some strain backgrounds. Association of gene expression with phenotypic data by differential analysis, linear correlation, and assembly of gene networks connected both previously characterized and novel genes with 23 C. albicans traits. Construction of de novo gene modules produced a gene atlas incorporating 67% of C. albicans genes and revealed correlations between expression modules and important phenotypes such as systemic virulence. Furthermore, targeted investigation of two modules that have novel roles in growth and filamentation supported our bioinformatic predictions. Together, these studies reveal widespread transcriptional variation across C. albicans isolates and identify genetic and epigenetic links to phenotypic variation based on coexpression network analysis.IMPORTANCE Infectious fungal species are often treated uniformly despite clear evidence of genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity being widespread across strains. Identifying the genetic basis for this phenotypic diversity is extremely challenging because of the tens or hundreds of thousands of variants that may distinguish two strains. Here, we use transcriptional profiling to determine differences in gene expression that can be linked to phenotypic variation among a set of 21 Candida albicans isolates. Analysis of this transcriptional data set uncovered clear trends in gene expression characteristics for this species and new genes and pathways that were associated with variation in pathogenic processes. Direct investigation confirmed functional predictions for a number of new regulators associated with growth and filamentation, demonstrating the utility of these approaches in linking genes to important phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua M Wang
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Andrew L Woodruff
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew J Dunn
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Robert J Fillinger
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Richard J Bennett
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Matthew Z Anderson
- Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
- Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
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40
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Yadav S, Verma V, Dhanda RS, Khurana S, Yadav M. Latent Upregulation of Nlrp3, Nlrc4 and Aim2 Differentiates between Asymptomatic and Symptomatic Trichomonas vaginalis Infection. Immunol Invest 2021; 51:1127-1148. [PMID: 33866944 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2021.1909062] [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: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Trichomonas vaginalis is a parasitic protozoan that causes trichomoniasis. The involvement of NLRP3 inflammasome in trichomoniasis has been discussed in recent studies. The present study aimed to find out the involvement of Nlrp3, Nlrc4, and Aim2 in the BALB/c mouse model infected with symptomatic and asymptomatic isolates of T. vaginalis by quantitative real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Our results showed a significantly increased expression of Nlrp3 in the vaginal tissue of the symptomatic group on the 2nd dpi and 14th dpi in the asymptomatic group, respectively. The cervical tissue of asymptomatic groups expressed higher Nlrp3 on 14th dpi than the symptomatic group. The Nlrc4 was expressed on 14th dpi in the vaginal and cervical tissues of mice infected with asymptomatic group as compared to the symptomatic group. Aim2 expression in vaginal tissue was highest at early time points in both the infected groups as compared to controls. However, in cervical tissues, a significant increase of Aim2 expression was observed on 14th dpi in asymptomatic as compared to the symptomatic group. The significantly higher expression of caspase-1 and caspase-4 was observed in cervical tissues of the asymptomatic group on 14th dpi as compared to the symptomatic group, respectively. All NLRs together resulted in higher IL-1β expression in the vaginal tissues of the symptomatic and asymptomatic groups. We conclude from this study that early expression of Nlrp3, Nlrc4, and Aim2 was seen in the symptomatic group as compared to the late-onset asymptomatic in the vaginal and cervical tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonal Yadav
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research (ACBR), University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Vivek Verma
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research (ACBR), University of Delhi, Delhi, India
| | | | - Sumeeta Khurana
- Department of Medical Parasitology, PGIMER, Chandigarh, India
| | - Manisha Yadav
- Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Centre for Biomedical Research (ACBR), University of Delhi, Delhi, India
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41
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Abdallah BM, Ali EM. Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using the Lotus lalambensis Aqueous Leaf Extract and Their Anti-Candidal Activity against Oral Candidiasis. ACS OMEGA 2021; 6:8151-8162. [PMID: 33817474 PMCID: PMC8014928 DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.0c06009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Oral candidiasis is widely spread in both humans and animals, which is caused mainly by Candida albicans. In this study, we aimed to biosynthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the first time using the Lotus lalambensis Schweinf leaf extract (L-AgNPs) and investigated their anti-candidal potency alone or in combination with the leaf extract of L. lalambensis (L-AgNPs/LL) against C. albicans. The biosynthesized L-AgNPs were characterized by imaging (transmission electron microscopy, TEM), UV-vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results of the disk diffusion method showed the potent synergistic anti-candidal activity of L-AgNPs/LL (24 mm inhibition zone). L-AgNPs/LL completely inhibited the morphogenesis of C. albicans and suppressed the adhesion and the formation of the biofilm of C. albicans by 82.5 and 78.7%, respectively. Further, L-AgNPs/LL inhibited the production of antioxidant enzymes of C. albicans by 80%. SEM and TEM revealed deteriorations in the cell wall ultrastructure in L-AgNPs/LL-treated C. albicans. Interestingly, L-AgNPs/LL showed less than 5% cytotoxicity when examined with either the primary bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cell (BMSCs) or MCF-7 cell line at MIC values of L-AgNPs/LL. In conclusion, we identified L-AgNPs/LL as a potential biosynthesized-based drug for oral candidiasis in humans and animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Basem M. Abdallah
- Department
of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Endocrine
Research (KMEB), Department of Endocrinology, University of Southern Denmark, Odense DK-5000, Denmark
| | - Enas M. Ali
- Department
of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
- Department
of Botany and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Cairo University, Cairo 12613, Egypt
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42
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Peters BM, Coleman BM, Willems HME, Barker KS, Aggor FEY, Cipolla E, Verma AH, Bishu S, Huppler AH, Bruno VM, Gaffen SL. The Interleukin (IL) 17R/IL-22R Signaling Axis Is Dispensable for Vulvovaginal Candidiasis Regardless of Estrogen Status. J Infect Dis 2021; 221:1554-1563. [PMID: 31805183 DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiz649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans, a ubiquitous commensal fungus that colonizes human mucosal tissues and skin, can become pathogenic, clinically manifesting most commonly as oropharyngeal candidiasis and vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Studies in mice and humans convincingly show that T-helper 17 (Th17)/interleukin 17 (IL-17)-driven immunity is essential to control oral and dermal candidiasis. However, the role of the IL-17 pathway during VVC remains controversial, with conflicting reports from human data and mouse models. Like others, we observed induction of a strong IL-17-related gene signature in the vagina during estrogen-dependent murine VVC. As estrogen increases susceptibility to vaginal colonization and resulting immunopathology, we asked whether estrogen use in the standard VVC model masks a role for the Th17/IL-17 axis. We demonstrate that mice lacking IL-17RA, Act1, or interleukin 22 showed no evidence for altered VVC susceptibility or immunopathology, regardless of estrogen administration. Hence, these data support the emerging consensus that Th17/IL-17 axis signaling is dispensable for the immunopathogenesis of VVC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian M Peters
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.,Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Bianca M Coleman
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Hubertine M E Willems
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Katherine S Barker
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Felix E Y Aggor
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ellyse Cipolla
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Akash H Verma
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Srinivas Bishu
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Anna H Huppler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Vincent M Bruno
- Institute for Genome Sciences, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Sarah L Gaffen
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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43
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The Neutral Vaginal pH in Mice That Is Typical of Most Mammalian Species Should Not Deter Research Using Experimental Murine Models of Candida Vaginitis. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00624-20. [PMID: 33199352 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00624-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
For over three decades, investigators have used estrogen-dependent rodent animal models to study pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) or test promising antifungal drugs. One disparity not well publicized is that rodents maintain near neutral vaginal pH, which is in contrast to the acidic vaginal pH in women. In this issue of Infection and Immunity, Miao and coworkers (J. Miao, H. M. E. Willems, and B. M. Peters, Infect Immun 89:e00550-20, 2021, https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00550-20) have addressed the topic with an elegant study that not only confirms the near neutral vaginal pH in mice, but also reveals a stable vaginal pH that is not influenced by exogenous reproductive hormones or C. albicans vaginal colonization. More importantly, they make a convincing argument that the neutral vaginal pH should not deter using the model for research purposes. This commentary further emphasizes the points made and attempts to provide a more global perspective on this interesting property of the animal model.
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44
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Exogenous Reproductive Hormones nor Candida albicans Colonization Alter the Near Neutral Mouse Vaginal pH. Infect Immun 2021; 89:IAI.00550-20. [PMID: 33106292 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00550-20] [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: 08/31/2020] [Accepted: 10/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
While human vaginal pH in childbearing-age women is conclusively acidic, the mouse vaginal pH is reported as being near neutral. However, this information appears to be somewhat anecdotal with respect to vulvovaginal candidiasis, as such claims in the literature frequently lack citations of studies that specifically address this physiological factor. Given the disparate pH between mice and humans, the role of exogenous hormones and colonization by the fungal pathogen Candida albicans in shaping vaginal pH was assessed. Use of a convenient modified vaginal lavage technique with the pH indicator dye phenol red demonstrated that indeed vaginal pH was near neutral (7.2 ± 0.24) and was not altered by delivery of progesterone or estrogen in C57BL/6 mice. These trends were conserved in DBA/2 and CD-1 mouse backgrounds, commonly used in the mouse model of vaginitis. It was also determined that vaginal colonization with C. albicans did not alter the globally neutral vaginal pH over the course of one week. Construction and validation of a C. albicans reporter strain expressing GFPy, driven by the pH-responsive PHR1 promoter, confirmed the murine vaginal pH to be at least ≥6.0. Collectively, our data convincingly demonstrate a stable and conserved near neutrality of the mouse vaginal pH during vulvovaginal candidiasis and should serve as a definitive source for future reference. Implications and rationale for disparate pH in this model system are also discussed.
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45
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Response to "caution regarding interpretations of intrauterine γδ T cells in protection against experimental vaginal candidiasis". Mucosal Immunol 2021; 14:776-777. [PMID: 33731829 PMCID: PMC8075854 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-021-00396-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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46
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Recurrent vulvovaginal Candida spp isolates phenotypically express less virulence traits. Microb Pathog 2020; 148:104471. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2020.104471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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47
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Monin L, Ushakov DS, Arnesen H, Bah N, Jandke A, Muñoz-Ruiz M, Carvalho J, Joseph S, Almeida BC, Green MJ, Nye E, Hatano S, Yoshikai Y, Curtis M, Carlsen H, Steinhoff U, Boysen P, Hayday A. γδ T cells compose a developmentally regulated intrauterine population and protect against vaginal candidiasis. Mucosal Immunol 2020; 13:969-981. [PMID: 32472066 PMCID: PMC7567646 DOI: 10.1038/s41385-020-0305-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 04/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
This most comprehensive analysis to date of γδ T cells in the murine uterus reveals them to compose a unique local T-cell compartment. Consistent with earlier reports, most cells expressed a canonical Vγ6Vδ1 TCR, and produced interleukin (IL)-17A upon stimulation. Nonetheless, contrasting with earlier reports, uterine γδ T cells were not obviously intraepithelial, being more akin to sub-epithelial Vγ6Vδ1+ T cells at several other anatomical sites. By contrast to other tissues however, the uterine compartment also included non-Vγ6+, IFN-γ-producing cells; was strikingly enriched in young mice; expressed genes hitherto associated with the uterus, including the progesterone receptor; and did not require microbes for development and/or maintenance. This notwithstanding, γδ T-cell deficiency severely impaired resistance to reproductive tract infection by Candida albicans, associated with decreased responses of IL-17-dependent neutrophils. These findings emphasise tissue-specific complexities of different mucosal γδ cell compartments, and their evident importance in lymphoid stress-surveillance against barrier infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Monin
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - D S Ushakov
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - H Arnesen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - N Bah
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Team, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - A Jandke
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - M Muñoz-Ruiz
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - J Carvalho
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - S Joseph
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - B C Almeida
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - M J Green
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - E Nye
- Experimental Histopathology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - S Hatano
- Division of Immunology and Genome Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Y Yoshikai
- Division of Immunology and Genome Biology, Medical Institute of Bioregulation, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - M Curtis
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - H Carlsen
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - U Steinhoff
- Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, University of Marburg, 35037, Marburg, Germany
| | - P Boysen
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences (NMBU), N-0102, Oslo, Norway
| | - A Hayday
- ImmunoSurveillance Lab, The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Peter Gorer Department of Immunobiology, School of Immunology and Microbial Sciences, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
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48
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Camilli G, Griffiths JS, Ho J, Richardson JP, Naglik JR. Some like it hot: Candida activation of inflammasomes. PLoS Pathog 2020; 16:e1008975. [PMID: 33119702 PMCID: PMC7595283 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1008975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Camilli
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - James S. Griffiths
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jemima Ho
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan P. Richardson
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Julian R. Naglik
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
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Alvendal C, Mohanty S, Bohm-Starke N, Brauner A. Anti-biofilm activity of chlorhexidine digluconate against Candida albicans vaginal isolates. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0238428. [PMID: 32941438 PMCID: PMC7498037 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0238428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) causes significant morbidity. Candida albicans is the main pathogen associated with both sporadic and recurrent candidiasis. Due to unsatisfactory treatment effect, the impact of chlorhexidine digluconate and fluconazole alone or in combination on C. albicans and biofilm was investigated. METHODS Vaginal C. albicans isolates from 18 patients with recurrent candidiasis and commensals from 19 asymptomatic women were isolated by culture. Crystal violet, XTT and colony forming unit assay were used to analyze the effect of chlorhexidine digluconate and fluconazole on growth of C. albicans, formation of new and already established, mature, biofilm. RESULTS Fluconazole reduced the growth of planktonic C. albicans. However, in established biofilm, fluconazole had no effect on the candida cells and was not able to disperse and reduce the biofilm. By contrast, chlorhexidine digluconate had a direct killing effect on C. albicans grown both planktonically and in biofilm. Chlorhexidine digluconate also dispersed mature biofilm and inhibited formation of new biofilm. No major differences were observed between commensal isolates and candida causing recurrent vulvovaginitis with respect to biofilm or growth after chlorhexidine digluconate treatment. CONCLUSION Biofilm is a problem in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis reducing the effect of antifungal treatment. Development of new treatment strategies are urgently needed to decrease the recurrences. In already established biofilm, chlorhexidine digluconate dispersed the biofilm and was more effective in eradicating candida compared to fluconazole. Future treatment strategy may thus be a combination of chlorhexidine digluconate and fluconazole and prophylactic use of chlorhexidine digluconate to prevent biofilm formation and restrict infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cathrin Alvendal
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Soumitra Mohanty
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Nina Bohm-Starke
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Department of Clinical Sciences, Karolinska Institutet, Danderyd Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Annelie Brauner
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet and Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
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Mosca V, S Arita G, Vilegas LV, Faria DR, Sakita KM, Vendramini FA, Capoci IR, Becker TC, de Oliveira AG, Kioshima ÉS, S Bonfim-Mendonça PD, Svidzinski TI. Vulvovaginal candidiasis in a murine model of diabetes emphasizing the invasive ability of etiological agents. Future Microbiol 2020; 15:1001-1013. [PMID: 32811174 DOI: 10.2217/fmb-2019-0223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Aim: To compare the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis by three Candida species in diabetic mice. Materials & methods: Estrogenized and diabetic mice were challenged with C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. glabrata. Results: Diabetic animals infected with C. albicans and C. tropicalis maintained the highest fungal burden, despite of high levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), respectively. For C. glabrata, the results were similar in diabetic and nondiabetic groups. Conclusion: C. tropicalis was as invasive as C. albicans, and both were more effective than C. glabrata. This ability was attributed to filamentation, which may be stimulated by glucose levels from vaginal fluid. In addition, the high burden may be attributed to the apparent immunological inefficiency of the diabetic host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valéria Mosca
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Glaucia S Arita
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Lenisa V Vilegas
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Daniella R Faria
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Karina M Sakita
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Franciele Avr Vendramini
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Isis Rg Capoci
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Tania Ca Becker
- Laboratory of Pathology, Department of Basic Health Sciences, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Admilton G de Oliveira
- Laboratory of Electron Microscopy & Microanalysis - LMEM, Londrina, PR 86057-970, Brazil
| | - Érika S Kioshima
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Patrícia de S Bonfim-Mendonça
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
| | - Terezinha Ie Svidzinski
- State University of Maringá, Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Medical Mycology, Department of Clinical Analysis & Biomedicine Maringá, PR 87020-900, Brazil
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