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Ismail SHH, Hamdy R, Altaie AM, Fayed B, Dakalbab S, El-Awady R, Soliman SSM. Decoding host cell interaction- and fluconazole-induced metabolic alterations and drug resistance in Candida auris. Mycologia 2024; 116:673-693. [PMID: 39024116 DOI: 10.1080/00275514.2024.2363730] [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: 10/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging drug-resistant pathogen associated with high mortality rates. This study aimed to explore the metabolic alterations and associated pathogenesis and drug resistance in fluconazole-treated Candida auris-host cell interaction. Compared with controls, secreted metabolites from fluconazole-treated C. auris and fluconazole-treated C. auris-host cell co-culture demonstrated notable anti-Candida activity. Fluconazole caused significant reductions in C. auris cell numbers and aggregated phenotype. Metabolites produced by C. auris with potential fungal colonization, invasion, and host immune evasion effects were identified. Metabolites known to enhance biofilm formation produced during C. auris-host cell interaction were inhibited by fluconazole. Fluconazole enhanced the production of metabolites with biofilm inhibition activity, including behenyl alcohol and decanoic acid. Metabolites with potential Candida growth inhibition activity such as 2-palmitoyl glycerol, 1-tetradecanol, and 1-nonadecene were activated by fluconazole. Different patterns of proinflammatory cytokine expression presented due to fluconazole concentration and host cell type (fibroblasts versus macrophages). This highlights the immune response's complexity, emphasizing the necessity for additional research to comprehend cell-type-specific responses to antifungal therapies. Both host cell interaction and fluconazole treatment increased the expression of CDR1 and ERG11 genes, both associated with drug resistance. This study provides insights into pathogenesis in C. auris due to host cell interaction and fluconazole treatment. Understanding these interactions is crucial for enhancing fluconazole sensitivity and effectively combating C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samah H H Ismail
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Rania Hamdy
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zagazig University, P.O. Box 44519, Zagazig, Egypt
| | - Alaa M Altaie
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Bahgat Fayed
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- Department of Chemistry of Natural and Microbial Product, National Research Centre, P.O. Box 12622, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Salam Dakalbab
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Raafat El-Awady
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Sameh S M Soliman
- Research Institute for Medical and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
- College of Pharmacy, University of Sharjah, P.O. Box 27272, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
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2
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Keiser PT, Zhang W, Ricca M, Wacquiez A, Grimins A, Cencic R, Patten JJ, Shah P, Padilha E, Connor JH, Pelletier J, Lyons SM, Saeed M, Brown LE, Porco JA, Davey RA. Amidino-rocaglates (ADRs), a class of synthetic rocaglates, are potent inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 replication through inhibition of viral protein synthesis. Antiviral Res 2024; 230:105976. [PMID: 39117283 DOI: 10.1016/j.antiviral.2024.105976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024]
Abstract
Coronaviruses are highly transmissible respiratory viruses that cause symptoms ranging from mild congestion to severe respiratory distress. The recent outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has underscored the need for new antivirals with broad-acting mechanisms to combat increasing emergence of new variants. Currently, there are only a few antivirals approved for treatment of SARS-CoV-2. Previously, the rocaglate natural product silvestrol and synthetic rocaglates such as CR-1-31b were shown to have antiviral effects by inhibiting eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A1 (eIF4A) function and virus protein synthesis. In this study, we evaluated amidino-rocaglates (ADRs), a class of synthetic rocaglates with the most potent eIF4A-inhibitory activity to-date, for inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 infection. This class of compounds showed low nanomolar potency against multiple SARS-CoV-2 variants and in multiple cell types, including human lung-derived cells, with strong inhibition of virus over host protein synthesis and low cytotoxicity. The most potent ADRs were also shown to be active against two highly pathogenic and distantly related coronaviruses, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Mechanistically, cells with mutations of eIF4A1, which are known to reduce rocaglate interaction displayed reduced ADR-associated loss of cellular function, consistent with targeting of protein synthesis. Overall, ADRs and derivatives may offer new potential treatments for SARS-CoV-2 with the goal of developing a broad-acting anti-coronavirus agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick T Keiser
- Department of Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, 02118, USA; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Wenhan Zhang
- Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Michael Ricca
- Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Alan Wacquiez
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, MA, 02118, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Autumn Grimins
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Regina Cencic
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Oncology and Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6
| | - J J Patten
- Department of Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, 02118, USA; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Pranav Shah
- National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Elias Padilha
- National Institutes of Health, National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - John H Connor
- Department of Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, 02118, USA; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Jerry Pelletier
- Department of Biochemistry, Department of Oncology and Rosalind & Morris Goodman Cancer Research Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada, H3G 1Y6
| | - Shawn M Lyons
- Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Mohsan Saeed
- National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, MA, 02118, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02118, USA
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - John A Porco
- Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Department of Chemistry, Boston University, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Robert A Davey
- Department of Virology, Immunology, and Microbiology, Boston University Medical School, Boston, MA, 02118, USA; National Emerging Infectious Diseases Laboratories, Boston University, MA, 02118, USA.
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3
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Puumala E, Robbins N, Cowen LE. Protocol to evaluate translation inhibition in Candida species using fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103245. [PMID: 39097928 PMCID: PMC11342774 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2024] [Revised: 06/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Translation inhibitors have therapeutic potential against Candida species. Here, we present a protocol to measure translation inhibition in Candida spp. We describe steps for employing an alkynylated methionine analog, L-homopropargylglycine (HPG), that becomes incorporated into newly synthesized proteins. We then detail procedures to perform a click reaction of the alkyne with a fluorescent azide, which is visualized using fluorescence microscopy and quantified by flow cytometry. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Puumala et al.,1 Fu et al.,2 and Iyer et al.3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Puumala
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1M1, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1M1, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1M1, Canada.
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4
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Magari F, Messner H, Salisch F, Schmelzle SM, van Zandbergen G, Fürstner A, Ziebuhr J, Heine A, Müller-Ruttloff C, Grünweller A. Potent anti-coronaviral activity of pateamines and new insights into their mode of action. Heliyon 2024; 10:e33409. [PMID: 39035482 PMCID: PMC11259845 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e33409] [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: 01/11/2024] [Revised: 06/18/2024] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Pateamines, derived from the sponge Mycale hentscheli, function as inhibitors of the RNA helicase eIF4A and exhibit promising antiviral and anticancer properties. eIF4A plays a pivotal role in unwinding stable RNA structures within the 5'-UTR of selected mRNAs, facilitating the binding of the 43S preinitiation complex during translation initiation. Pateamines function by clamping RNA substrates onto the eIF4A surface, effectively preventing eIF4A from carrying out the unwinding step. Rocaglates, a compound class isolated from plants of the genus Aglaia, target the same binding pocket on eIF4A, and based on structural data, a similar mode of action has been proposed for pateamines and rocaglates. In this study, we conducted a detailed characterization of pateamines' binding mode and assessed their antiviral activity against human pathogenic coronaviruses (human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E), Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)). Our findings reveal significant differences in the binding behavior of pateamines compared to rocaglates when interacting with an eIF4A-RNA complex. We also observed that pateamines do not depend on the presence of a polypurine tract in the RNA substrate for efficient RNA clamping, as it is the case for rocaglates. Most notably, pateamines demonstrate potent antiviral activity against coronaviruses in the low nanomolar range. Consequently, pateamines broaden our toolbox for combating viruses that rely on the host enzyme eIF4A to conduct their viral protein synthesis, indicating a possible future treatment strategy against new or re-emerging pathogenic viruses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Magari
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Henri Messner
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | - Florian Salisch
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | | | - Ger van Zandbergen
- Division of Immunology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225, Langen, Germany
- Institute for Immunology, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Research Center for Immunotherapy (FZI), University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Alois Fürstner
- Max-Planck-Institut für Kohlenforschung, 45470, Mülheim Ruhr, Germany
| | - John Ziebuhr
- Institute of Medical Virology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Arnold Grünweller
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, 35032, Marburg, Germany
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5
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Puumala E, Sychantha D, Lach E, Reeves S, Nabeela S, Fogal M, Nigam A, Johnson JW, Aspuru-Guzik A, Shapiro RS, Uppuluri P, Kalyaanamoorthy S, Magolan J, Whitesell L, Robbins N, Wright GD, Cowen LE. Allosteric inhibition of tRNA synthetase Gln4 by N-pyrimidinyl-β-thiophenylacrylamides exerts highly selective antifungal activity. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:760-775.e17. [PMID: 38402621 PMCID: PMC11031294 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Candida species are among the most prevalent causes of systemic fungal infections, which account for ∼1.5 million annual fatalities. Here, we build on a compound screen that identified the molecule N-pyrimidinyl-β-thiophenylacrylamide (NP-BTA), which strongly inhibits Candida albicans growth. NP-BTA was hypothesized to target C. albicans glutaminyl-tRNA synthetase, Gln4. Here, we confirmed through in vitro amino-acylation assays NP-BTA is a potent inhibitor of Gln4, and we defined how NP-BTA arrests Gln4's transferase activity using co-crystallography. This analysis also uncovered Met496 as a critical residue for the compound's species-selective target engagement and potency. Structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies demonstrated the NP-BTA scaffold is subject to oxidative and non-oxidative metabolism, making it unsuitable for systemic administration. In a mouse dermatomycosis model, however, topical application of the compound provided significant therapeutic benefit. This work expands the repertoire of antifungal protein synthesis target mechanisms and provides a path to develop Gln4 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Puumala
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - David Sychantha
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Lach
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Shawn Reeves
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Sunna Nabeela
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA
| | - Meea Fogal
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - AkshatKumar Nigam
- Department of Computer Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA; Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Jarrod W Johnson
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Alán Aspuru-Guzik
- Chemical Physics Theory Group, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada; Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2E4, Canada; Department of Chemical Engineering & Applied Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E5, Canada; Department of Materials Science & Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E4, Canada; Vector Institute for Artificial Intelligence, Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada; Lebovic Fellow, Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CIFAR), Toronto, ON M5G 1M1, Canada; Acceleration Consortium, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Rebecca S Shapiro
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Priya Uppuluri
- Division of Infectious Diseases, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-University of California Los Angeles Medical Center, Torrance, CA 90502, USA; David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA
| | | | - Jakob Magolan
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Gerard D Wright
- M.G. DeGroote Institute for Infectious Disease Research, David Braley Centre for Antibiotic Discovery, Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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6
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Fallah S, Duncan D, Reichl KD, Smith MJ, Wang W, Porco JA, Brown LE, Whitesell L, Robbins N, Cowen LE. A chemical screen identifies structurally diverse metal chelators with activity against the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0409523. [PMID: 38376363 PMCID: PMC10986608 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04095-23] [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: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans, one of the most prevalent human fungal pathogens, causes diverse diseases extending from superficial infections to deadly systemic mycoses. Currently, only three major classes of antifungal drugs are available to treat systemic infections: azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins. Alarmingly, the efficacy of these antifungals against C. albicans is hindered both by basal tolerance toward the drugs and the development of resistance mechanisms such as alterations of the drug's target, modulation of stress responses, and overexpression of efflux pumps. Thus, the need to identify novel antifungal strategies is dire. To address this challenge, we screened 3,049 structurally-diverse compounds from the Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD) chemical library against a C. albicans clinical isolate and identified 17 molecules that inhibited C. albicans growth by >80% relative to controls. Among the most potent compounds were CMLD013360, CMLD012661, and CMLD012693, molecules representing two distinct chemical scaffolds, including 3-hydroxyquinolinones and a xanthone natural product. Based on structural insights, CMLD013360, CMLD012661, and CMLD012693 were hypothesized to exert antifungal activity through metal chelation. Follow-up investigations revealed all three compounds exerted antifungal activity against non-albicans Candida, including Candida auris and Candida glabrata, with the xanthone natural product CMLD013360 also displaying activity against the pathogenic mould Aspergillus fumigatus. Media supplementation with metallonutrients, namely ferric or ferrous iron, rescued C. albicans growth, confirming these compounds act as metal chelators. Thus, this work identifies and characterizes two chemical scaffolds that chelate iron to inhibit the growth of the clinically relevant fungal pathogen C. albicansIMPORTANCEThe worldwide incidence of invasive fungal infections is increasing at an alarming rate. Systemic candidiasis caused by the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans is the most common cause of life-threatening fungal infection. However, due to the limited number of antifungal drug classes available and the rise of antifungal resistance, an urgent need exists for the identification of novel treatments. By screening a compound collection from the Boston University Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), we identified three compounds representing two distinct chemical scaffolds that displayed activity against C. albicans. Follow-up analyses confirmed these molecules were also active against other pathogenic fungal species including Candida auris and Aspergillus fumigatus. Finally, we determined that these compounds inhibit the growth of C. albicans in culture through iron chelation. Overall, this observation describes two novel chemical scaffolds with antifungal activity against diverse fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Fallah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Dustin Duncan
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, Brock University, St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kyle D. Reichl
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Michael J. Smith
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Wenyu Wang
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - John A. Porco
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lauren E. Brown
- Department of Chemistry, Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Leah E. Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Metzner K, O’Meara MJ, Halligan B, Wotring JW, Sexton JZ, O’Meara TR. Imaging-Based Screening Identifies Modulators of the eIF3 Translation Initiation Factor Complex in Candida albicans. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2023; 67:e0050323. [PMID: 37382550 PMCID: PMC10353439 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00503-23] [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: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungal pathogens like Candida albicans can cause devastating human disease. Treatment of candidemia is complicated by the high rate of resistance to common antifungal therapies. Additionally, there is host toxicity associated with many antifungal compounds due to the conservation between essential mammalian and fungal proteins. An attractive new approach for antimicrobial development is to target virulence factors: non-essential processes that are required for the organism to cause disease in human hosts. This approach expands the potential target space while reducing the selective pressure toward resistance, as these targets are not essential for viability. In C. albicans, a key virulence factor is the ability to transition to hyphal morphology. We developed a high-throughput image analysis pipeline to distinguish between yeast and filamentous growth in C. albicans at the single cell level. Based on this phenotypic assay, we screened the FDA drug repurposing library of 2,017 compounds for their ability to inhibit filamentation and identified 33 compounds that block the hyphal transition in C. albicans with IC50 values ranging from 0.2 to 150 μM. Multiple compounds showed a phenyl sulfone chemotype, prompting further analysis. Of these phenyl sulfones, NSC 697923 displayed the most efficacy, and by selecting for resistant mutants, we identified eIF3 as the target of NSC 697923 in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katura Metzner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Matthew J. O’Meara
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Benjamin Halligan
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jesse W. Wotring
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jonathan Z. Sexton
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Teresa R. O’Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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8
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Obermann W, Azri MFD, Konopka L, Schmidt N, Magari F, Sherman J, Silva LMR, Hermosilla C, Ludewig AH, Houhou H, Haeberlein S, Luo MY, Häcker I, Schetelig MF, Grevelding CG, Schroeder FC, Lau GSK, Taubert A, Rodriguez A, Heine A, Yeo TC, Grünweller A, Taroncher-Oldenburg G. Broad anti-pathogen potential of DEAD box RNA helicase eIF4A-targeting rocaglates. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9297. [PMID: 37291191 PMCID: PMC10250355 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35765-6] [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: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibition of eukaryotic initiation factor 4A has been proposed as a strategy to fight pathogens. Rocaglates exhibit the highest specificities among eIF4A inhibitors, but their anti-pathogenic potential has not been comprehensively assessed across eukaryotes. In silico analysis of the substitution patterns of six eIF4A1 aa residues critical to rocaglate binding, uncovered 35 variants. Molecular docking of eIF4A:RNA:rocaglate complexes, and in vitro thermal shift assays with select recombinantly expressed eIF4A variants, revealed that sensitivity correlated with low inferred binding energies and high melting temperature shifts. In vitro testing with silvestrol validated predicted resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans and Leishmania amazonensis and predicted sensitivity in Aedes sp., Schistosoma mansoni, Trypanosoma brucei, Plasmodium falciparum, and Toxoplasma gondii. Our analysis further revealed the possibility of targeting important insect, plant, animal, and human pathogens with rocaglates. Finally, our findings might help design novel synthetic rocaglate derivatives or alternative eIF4A inhibitors to fight pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wiebke Obermann
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | | | - Leonie Konopka
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Nina Schmidt
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Francesca Magari
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Julian Sherman
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Liliana M R Silva
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Carlos Hermosilla
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas H Ludewig
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Hicham Houhou
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Simone Haeberlein
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Mona Yiting Luo
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Irina Häcker
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Marc F Schetelig
- Institute for Insect Biotechnology, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christoph G Grevelding
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Frank C Schroeder
- Boyce Thompson Institute, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Anja Taubert
- Institute of Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Justus Liebig University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ana Rodriguez
- Department of Microbiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Andreas Heine
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tiong Chia Yeo
- Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
| | - Arnold Grünweller
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps University Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Gaspar Taroncher-Oldenburg
- Sarawak Biodiversity Centre, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia.
- Gaspar Taroncher Consulting, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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9
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Metzner K, O’Meara MJ, Halligan B, Wotring JW, Sexton JZ, O’Meara TR. Imaging-based screening identifies modulators of the eIF3 translation initiation factor complex in Candida albicans. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.19.537517. [PMID: 37131825 PMCID: PMC10153179 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.19.537517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Fungal pathogens like Candida albicans can cause devastating human disease. Treatment of candidemia is complicated by the high rate of resistance to common antifungal therapies. Additionally, there is host toxicity associated with many antifungal compounds due to the conservation between essential mammalian and fungal proteins. An attractive new approach for antimicrobial development is to target virulence factors: non-essential processes that are required for the organism to cause disease in human hosts. This approach expands the potential target space while reducing the selective pressure towards resistance, as these targets are not essential for viability. In C. albicans, a key virulence factor is the ability to transition to hyphal morphology. We developed a high-throughput image analysis pipeline to distinguish between yeast and filamentous growth in C. albicans at the single cell level. Based on this phenotypic assay, we screened the FDA drug repurposing library of 2,017 compounds for their ability to inhibit filamentation and identified 33 compounds that block the hyphal transition in C. albicans with IC 50 values ranging from 0.2 to 150 µM. Multiple compounds showed a phenyl vinyl sulfone chemotype, prompting further analysis. Of these phenyl vinyl sulfones, NSC 697923 displayed the most efficacy, and by selecting for resistant mutants, we identified eIF3 as the target of NSC 697923 in C. albicans .
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Affiliation(s)
- Katura Metzner
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Matthew J O’Meara
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Benjamin Halligan
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jesse W. Wotring
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, USA
| | - Jonathan Z Sexton
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- University of Michigan Center for Drug Repurposing, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Gastroenterology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Teresa R O’Meara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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10
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Chen M, Kumakura N, Saito H, Muller R, Nishimoto M, Mito M, Gan P, Ingolia NT, Shirasu K, Ito T, Shichino Y, Iwasaki S. A parasitic fungus employs mutated eIF4A to survive on rocaglate-synthesizing Aglaia plants. eLife 2023; 12:81302. [PMID: 36852480 PMCID: PMC9977294 DOI: 10.7554/elife.81302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Plants often generate secondary metabolites as defense mechanisms against parasites. Although some fungi may potentially overcome the barrier presented by antimicrobial compounds, only a limited number of examples and molecular mechanisms of resistance have been reported. Here, we found an Aglaia plant-parasitizing fungus that overcomes the toxicity of rocaglates, which are translation inhibitors synthesized by the plant, through an amino acid substitution in a eukaryotic translation initiation factor (eIF). De novo transcriptome assembly revealed that the fungus belongs to the Ophiocordyceps genus and that its eIF4A, a molecular target of rocaglates, harbors an amino acid substitution critical for rocaglate binding. Ribosome profiling harnessing a cucumber-infecting fungus, Colletotrichum orbiculare, demonstrated that the translational inhibitory effects of rocaglates were largely attenuated by the mutation found in the Aglaia parasite. The engineered C. orbiculare showed a survival advantage on cucumber plants with rocaglates. Our study exemplifies a plant-fungus tug-of-war centered on secondary metabolites produced by host plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Chen
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of TokyoKashiwaJapan
- RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering ResearchWakoJapan
| | - Naoyoshi Kumakura
- Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohamaJapan
| | - Hironori Saito
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of TokyoKashiwaJapan
- RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering ResearchWakoJapan
| | - Ryan Muller
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Madoka Nishimoto
- Laboratory for Translation Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics ResearchYokohamaJapan
| | - Mari Mito
- RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering ResearchWakoJapan
| | - Pamela Gan
- Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohamaJapan
| | - Nicholas T Ingolia
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, BerkeleyBerkeleyUnited States
| | - Ken Shirasu
- Plant Immunity Research Group, RIKEN Center for Sustainable Resource ScienceYokohamaJapan
- Department of Biological Science, Graduate School of Science, The University of TokyoTokyoJapan
| | - Takuhiro Ito
- Laboratory for Translation Structural Biology, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics ResearchYokohamaJapan
| | - Yuichi Shichino
- RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering ResearchWakoJapan
| | - Shintaro Iwasaki
- Department of Computational Biology and Medical Sciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, The University of TokyoKashiwaJapan
- RNA Systems Biochemistry Laboratory, RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering ResearchWakoJapan
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11
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Compounds for selective translational inhibition. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2022; 69:102158. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2022.102158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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12
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Simm C, Weerasinghe H, Thomas DR, Harrison PF, Newton HJ, Beilharz TH, Traven A. Disruption of Iron Homeostasis and Mitochondrial Metabolism Are Promising Targets to Inhibit Candida auris. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0010022. [PMID: 35412372 PMCID: PMC9045333 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00100-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 01/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections are a global threat, but treatments are limited due to a paucity in antifungal drug targets and the emergence of drug-resistant fungi such as Candida auris. Metabolic adaptations enable microbial growth in nutrient-scarce host niches, and they further control immune responses to pathogens, thereby offering opportunities for therapeutic targeting. Because it is a relatively new pathogen, little is known about the metabolic requirements for C. auris growth and its adaptations to counter host defenses. Here, we establish that triggering metabolic dysfunction is a promising strategy against C. auris. Treatment with pyrvinium pamoate (PP) induced metabolic reprogramming and mitochondrial dysfunction evident in disrupted mitochondrial morphology and reduced tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle enzyme activity. PP also induced changes consistent with disrupted iron homeostasis. Nutrient supplementation experiments support the proposition that PP-induced metabolic dysfunction is driven by disrupted iron homeostasis, which compromises carbon and lipid metabolism and mitochondria. PP inhibited C. auris replication in macrophages, which is a relevant host niche for this yeast pathogen. We propose that PP causes a multipronged metabolic hit to C. auris: it restricts the micronutrient iron to potentiate nutritional immunity imposed by immune cells, and it further causes metabolic dysfunction that compromises the utilization of macronutrients, thereby curbing the metabolic plasticity needed for growth in host environments. Our study offers a new avenue for therapeutic development against drug-resistant C. auris, shows how complex metabolic dysfunction can be caused by a single compound triggering antifungal inhibition, and provides insights into the metabolic needs of C. auris in immune cell environments. IMPORTANCE Over the last decade, Candida auris has emerged as a human pathogen around the world causing life-threatening infections with wide-spread antifungal drug resistance, including pandrug resistance in some cases. In this study, we addressed the mechanism of action of the antiparasitic drug pyrvinium pamoate against C. auris and show how metabolism could be inhibited to curb C. auris proliferation. We show that pyrvinium pamoate triggers sweeping metabolic and mitochondrial changes and disrupts iron homeostasis. PP-induced metabolic dysfunction compromises the utilization of both micro- and macronutrients by C. auris and reduces its growth in vitro and in immune phagocytes. Our findings provide insights into the metabolic requirements for C. auris growth and define the mechanisms of action of pyrvinium pamoate against C. auris, demonstrating how this compound works by inhibiting the metabolic flexibility of the pathogen. As such, our study characterizes credible avenues for new antifungal approaches against C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Simm
- Infection Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Harshini Weerasinghe
- Infection Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - David R. Thomas
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | | | - Hayley J. Newton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Melbourne at the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Traude H. Beilharz
- Development and Stem Cells Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ana Traven
- Infection Program and the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
- Centre to Impact AMR, Monash University, Victoria, Australia
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13
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Greger H. Comparative phytochemistry of flavaglines (= rocaglamides), a group of highly bioactive flavolignans from Aglaia species (Meliaceae). PHYTOCHEMISTRY REVIEWS : PROCEEDINGS OF THE PHYTOCHEMICAL SOCIETY OF EUROPE 2022; 21:725-764. [PMID: 34104125 PMCID: PMC8176878 DOI: 10.1007/s11101-021-09761-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Flavaglines are formed by cycloaddition of a flavonoid nucleus with a cinnamic acid moiety representing a typical chemical character of the genus Aglaia of the family Meliaceae. Based on biosynthetic considerations 148 derivatives are grouped together into three skeletal types representing 77 cyclopenta[b]benzofurans, 61 cyclopenta[bc]benzopyrans, and 10 benzo[b]oxepines. Apart from different hydroxy, methoxy, and methylenedioxy groups of the aromatic rings, important structural variation is created by different substitutions and stereochemistries of the central cyclopentane ring. Putrescine-derived bisamides constitute important building blocks occurring as cyclic 2-aminopyrrolidines or in an open-chained form, and are involved in the formation of pyrimidinone flavaglines. Regarding the central role of cinnamic acid in the formation of the basic skeleton, rocagloic acid represents a biosynthetic precursor from which aglafoline- and rocaglamide-type cyclopentabenzofurans can be derived, while those of the rocaglaol-type are the result of decarboxylation. Broad-based comparison revealed characteristic substitution trends which contribute as chemical markers to natural delimitation and grouping of taxonomically problematic Aglaia species. A wide variety of biological activities ranges from insecticidal, antifungal, antiprotozoal, and anti-inflammatory properties, especially to pronounced anticancer and antiviral activities. The high insecticidal activity of flavaglines is comparable with that of the well-known natural insecticide azadirachtin. Comparative feeding experiments informed about structure-activity relationships and exhibited different substitutions of the cyclopentane ring essential for insecticidal activity. Parallel studies on the antiproliferative activity of flavaglines in various tumor cell lines revealed similar structural prerequisites that let expect corresponding molecular mechanisms. An important structural modification with very high cytotoxic potency was found in the benzofuran silvestrol characterized by an unusual dioxanyloxy subunit. It possessed comparable cytotoxicity to that of the natural anticancer compounds paclitaxel (Taxol®) and camptothecin without effecting normal cells. The primary effect was the inhibition of protein synthesis by binding to the translation initiation factor eIF4A, an ATP-dependent DEAD-box RNA helicase. Flavaglines were also shown to bind to prohibitins (PHB) responsible for regulation of important signaling pathways, and to inhibit the transcriptional factor HSF1 deeply involved in metabolic programming, survival, and proliferation of cancer cells. Flavaglines were shown to be not only promising anticancer agents but gained now also high expectations as agents against emerging RNA viruses like SARS-CoV-2. Targeting the helicase eIF4A with flavaglines was recently described as pan-viral strategy for minimizing the impact of future RNA virus pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harald Greger
- Chemodiversity Research Group, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, Rennweg 14, 1030 Wien, Austria
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14
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Current scenario of the search for new antifungal agents to treat Candida auris infections: An integrative review. J Mycol Med 2021; 32:101232. [PMID: 34883404 DOI: 10.1016/j.mycmed.2021.101232] [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] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Candida auris emerges as an important causative agent of fungal infections, with worrisome mortality rates, mainly in immunocompromised individuals. This scenario is worsened by the limited availability of antifungal drugs and the increasing development of resistance to them. Due to the relevance of C. auris infections to public health, several studies aimed to discover new antifungal compounds capable of overcoming this fungus. Nonetheless, these information are decentralized, precluding the understandment of the current status of the search for new anti-C. auris compounds. Thus, this integrative review aimed to summarize information regarding anti-C. auris compounds reported in literature. After using predefined selection criteria, 71 articles were included in this review, and data from a total of 101 substances were extracted. Most of the studies tested synthetic substances, including several azoles. Moreover, drug repurposing emerges as a suitable strategy to discover new anti-C. auris agents. Few studies, however, assessed the mechanism of action and the in vivo antifungal activity of the compounds. Therefore, more studies must be performed to evaluate the usefulness of these substances as anti-C. auris therapies.
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15
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Garcia-Bustos V, Cabanero-Navalon MD, Ruiz-Saurí A, Ruiz-Gaitán AC, Salavert M, Tormo MÁ, Pemán J. What Do We Know about Candida auris? State of the Art, Knowledge Gaps, and Future Directions. Microorganisms 2021; 9:2177. [PMID: 34683498 PMCID: PMC8538163 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9102177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris has unprecedently emerged as a multidrug resistant fungal pathogen, considered a serious global threat due to its potential to cause nosocomial outbreaks and deep-seated infections with staggering transmissibility and mortality, that has put health authorities and institutions worldwide in check for more than a decade now. Due to its unique features not observed in other yeasts, it has been categorised as an urgent threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other international agencies. Moreover, epidemiological alerts have been released in view of the increase of healthcare-associated C. auris outbreaks in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This review summarises the current evidence on C. auris since its first description, from virulence to treatment and outbreak control, and highlights the knowledge gaps and future directions for research efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Garcia-Bustos
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, 56026 Valencia, Spain;
- Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.C.R.-G.); (M.Á.T.); (J.P.)
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Marta D. Cabanero-Navalon
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, 56026 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Amparo Ruiz-Saurí
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain;
| | - Alba C. Ruiz-Gaitán
- Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.C.R.-G.); (M.Á.T.); (J.P.)
| | - Miguel Salavert
- Department of Internal Medicine and Infectious Diseases, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, 56026 Valencia, Spain;
- Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.C.R.-G.); (M.Á.T.); (J.P.)
| | - María Á. Tormo
- Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.C.R.-G.); (M.Á.T.); (J.P.)
| | - Javier Pemán
- Severe Infection Research Group, Health Research Institute La Fe, 46026 Valencia, Spain; (A.C.R.-G.); (M.Á.T.); (J.P.)
- Department of Medical Microbiology, University and Polytechnic La Fe Hospital, 46026 Valencia, Spain
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16
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Ho JJD, Cunningham TA, Manara P, Coughlin CA, Arumov A, Roberts ER, Osteen A, Kumar P, Bilbao D, Krieger JR, Lee S, Schatz JH. Proteomics reveal cap-dependent translation inhibitors remodel the translation machinery and translatome. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109806. [PMID: 34644561 PMCID: PMC8558842 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Tactical disruption of protein synthesis is an attractive therapeutic strategy, with the first-in-class eIF4A-targeting compound zotatifin in clinical evaluation for cancer and COVID-19. The full cellular impact and mechanisms of these potent molecules are undefined at a proteomic level. Here, we report mass spectrometry analysis of translational reprogramming by rocaglates, cap-dependent initiation disruptors that include zotatifin. We find effects to be far more complex than simple “translational inhibition” as currently defined. Translatome analysis by TMT-pSILAC (tandem mass tag-pulse stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture mass spectrometry) reveals myriad upregulated proteins that drive hitherto unrecognized cytotoxic mechanisms, including GEF-H1-mediated anti-survival RHOA/JNK activation. Surprisingly, these responses are not replicated by eIF4A silencing, indicating a broader translational adaptation than currently understood. Translation machinery analysis by MATRIX (mass spectrometry analysis of active translation factors using ribosome density fractionation and isotopic labeling experiments) identifies rocaglate-specific dependence on specific translation factors including eEF1ε1 that drive translatome remodeling. Our proteome-level interrogation reveals that the complete cellular response to these historical “translation inhibitors” is mediated by comprehensive translational landscape remodeling. Tactical protein synthesis inhibition is actively pursued as a cancer therapy that bypasses signaling redundancies limiting current strategies. Ho et al. show that rocaglates, first identified as inhibitors of eIF4A activity, globally reprogram cellular translation at both protein synthesis machinery and translatome levels, inducing cytotoxicity through anti-survival GEF-H1/RHOA/JNK signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J David Ho
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
| | - Tyler A Cunningham
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology Graduate Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Paola Manara
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Caroline A Coughlin
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Artavazd Arumov
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Sheila and David Fuente Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Evan R Roberts
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Cancer Modeling Shared Resource, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Ashanti Osteen
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Cancer Modeling Shared Resource, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Preet Kumar
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Daniel Bilbao
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Cancer Modeling Shared Resource, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | | | - Stephen Lee
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Jonathan H Schatz
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA; Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA.
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17
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Sieber-Frank J, Stark HJ, Kalteis S, Prigge ES, Köhler R, Andresen C, Henkel T, Casari G, Schubert T, Fischl W, Li-Weber M, Krammer PH, von Knebel Doeberitz M, Kopitz J, Kloor M, Ahadova A. Treatment resistance analysis reveals GLUT-1-mediated glucose uptake as a major target of synthetic rocaglates in cancer cells. Cancer Med 2021; 10:6807-6822. [PMID: 34546000 PMCID: PMC8495295 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.4212] [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: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Rocaglates are natural compounds that have been extensively studied for their ability to inhibit translation initiation. Rocaglates represent promising drug candidates for tumor treatment due to their growth‐inhibitory effects on neoplastic cells. In contrast to natural rocaglates, synthetic analogues of rocaglates have been less comprehensively characterized, but were also shown to have similar effects on the process of protein translation. Here, we demonstrate an enhanced growth‐inhibitory effect of synthetic rocaglates when combined with glucose anti‐metabolite 2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (2DG) in different cancer cell lines. Moreover, we unravel a new aspect in the mechanism of action of synthetic rocaglates involving reduction of glucose uptake mediated by downregulation or abrogation of glucose transporter GLUT‐1 expression. Importantly, cells with genetically induced resistance to synthetic rocaglates showed substantially less pronounced treatment effect on glucose metabolism and did not demonstrate GLUT‐1 downregulation, pointing at the crucial role of this mechanism for the anti‐tumor activity of the synthetic rocaglates. Transcriptome profiling revealed glycolysis as one of the major pathways differentially regulated in sensitive and resistant cells. Analysis of synthetic rocaglate efficacy in a 3D tissue context with a co‐culture of tumor and normal cells demonstrated a selective effect on tumor cells and substantiated the mechanistic observations obtained in cancer cell lines. Increased glucose uptake and metabolism is a universal feature across different tumor types. Therefore, targeting this feature by synthetic rocaglates could represent a promising direction for exploitation of rocaglates in novel anti‐tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Sieber-Frank
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hans-Jürgen Stark
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Simon Kalteis
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elena-Sophie Prigge
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard Köhler
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Carolin Andresen
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | | | | | - Min Li-Weber
- Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter H Krammer
- Tumor Immunology Program, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magnus von Knebel Doeberitz
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Kopitz
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Matthias Kloor
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Aysel Ahadova
- Department of Applied Tumor Biology, Institute of Pathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Collaboration Unit Applied Tumor Biology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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18
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Rana A, Gupta N, Thakur A. Post-transcriptional and translational control of the morphology and virulence in human fungal pathogens. Mol Aspects Med 2021; 81:101017. [PMID: 34497025 DOI: 10.1016/j.mam.2021.101017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2021] [Revised: 08/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level are the key to fungal pathogenesis. Fungal pathogens utilize several mechanisms such as adhesion, invasion, phenotype switching and metabolic adaptations, to survive in the host environment and respond. Post-transcriptional and translational regulations have emerged as key regulatory mechanisms ensuring the virulence and survival of fungal pathogens. Through these regulations, fungal pathogens effectively alter their protein pool, respond to various stress, and undergo morphogenesis, leading to efficient and comprehensive changes in fungal physiology. The regulation of virulence through post-transcriptional and translational regulatory mechanisms is mediated through mRNA elements (cis factors) or effector molecules (trans factors). The untranslated regions upstream and downstream of the mRNA, as well as various RNA-binding proteins involved in translation initiation or circularization of the mRNA, play pivotal roles in the regulation of morphology and virulence by influencing protein synthesis, protein isoforms, and mRNA stability. Therefore, post-transcriptional and translational mechanisms regulating the morphology, virulence and drug-resistance processes in fungal pathogens can be the target for new therapeutics. With improved "omics" technologies, these regulatory mechanisms are increasingly coming to the forefront of basic biology and drug discovery. This review aims to discuss various modes of post-transcriptional and translation regulations, and how these mechanisms exert influence in the virulence and morphogenesis of fungal pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aishwarya Rana
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, 3rd Milestone Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Nidhi Gupta
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, 3rd Milestone Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India
| | - Anil Thakur
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, 3rd Milestone Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, Faridabad 121001, India.
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19
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Mundodi V, Choudhary S, Smith AD, Kadosh D. Global translational landscape of the Candida albicans morphological transition. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2021; 11:6046988. [PMID: 33585865 PMCID: PMC7849906 DOI: 10.1093/g3journal/jkaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen associated with high mortality and/or morbidity rates in a wide variety of immunocompromised individuals, undergoes a reversible morphological transition from yeast to filamentous cells that is required for virulence. While previous studies have identified and characterized global transcriptional mechanisms important for driving this transition, as well as other virulence properties, in C. albicans and other pathogens, considerably little is known about the role of genome-wide translational mechanisms. Using ribosome profiling, we report the first global translational profile associated with C. albicans morphogenesis. Strikingly, many genes involved in pathogenesis, filamentation, and the response to stress show reduced translational efficiency (TE). Several of these genes are known to be strongly induced at the transcriptional level, suggesting that a translational fine-tuning mechanism is in place. We also identify potential upstream open reading frames (uORFs), associated with genes involved in pathogenesis, and novel ORFs, several of which show altered TE during filamentation. Using a novel bioinformatics method for global analysis of ribosome pausing that will be applicable to a wide variety of genetic systems, we demonstrate an enrichment of ribosome pausing sites in C. albicans genes associated with protein synthesis and cell wall functions. Altogether, our results suggest that the C. albicans morphological transition, and most likely additional virulence processes in fungal pathogens, is associated with widespread global alterations in TE that do not simply reflect changes in transcript levels. These alterations affect the expression of many genes associated with processes essential for virulence and pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasanthakrishna Mundodi
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
| | - Saket Choudhary
- Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Andrew D Smith
- Department of Computational Biology and Bioinformatics, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - David Kadosh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX 78229, USA
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20
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Černáková L, Roudbary M, Brás S, Tafaj S, Rodrigues CF. Candida auris: A Quick Review on Identification, Current Treatments, and Challenges. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:4470. [PMID: 33922907 PMCID: PMC8123192 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22094470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 04/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is a novel and major fungal pathogen that has triggered several outbreaks in the last decade. The few drugs available to treat fungal diseases, the fact that this yeast has a high rate of multidrug resistance and the occurrence of misleading identifications, and the ability of forming biofilms (naturally more resistant to drugs) has made treatments of C. auris infections highly difficult. This review intends to quickly illustrate the main issues in C. auris identification, available treatments and the associated mechanisms of resistance, and the novel and alternative treatment and drugs (natural and synthetic) that have been recently reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Černáková
- Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University in Bratislava, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia;
| | - Maryam Roudbary
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran 1449614535, Iran;
| | - Susana Brás
- Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO—‘Laboratório de Investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira’, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal;
| | - Silva Tafaj
- Microbiology Department, University Hospital “Shefqet Ndroqi”, 1044 Tirana, Albania;
| | - Célia F. Rodrigues
- LEPABE—Laboratory for Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy, Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
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21
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Ho JJD, Man JHS, Schatz JH, Marsden PA. Translational remodeling by RNA-binding proteins and noncoding RNAs. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS-RNA 2021; 12:e1647. [PMID: 33694288 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/09/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Responsible for generating the proteome that controls phenotype, translation is the ultimate convergence point for myriad upstream signals that influence gene expression. System-wide adaptive translational reprogramming has recently emerged as a pillar of cellular adaptation. As classic regulators of mRNA stability and translation efficiency, foundational studies established the concept of collaboration and competition between RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) on individual mRNAs. Fresh conceptual innovations now highlight stress-activated, evolutionarily conserved RBP networks and ncRNAs that increase the translation efficiency of populations of transcripts encoding proteins that participate in a common cellular process. The discovery of post-transcriptional functions for long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) was particularly intriguing given their cell-type-specificity and historical definition as nuclear-functioning epigenetic regulators. The convergence of RBPs, lncRNAs, and microRNAs on functionally related mRNAs to enable adaptive protein synthesis is a newer biological paradigm that highlights their role as "translatome (protein output) remodelers" and reinvigorates the paradigm of "RNA operons." Together, these concepts modernize our understanding of cellular stress adaptation and strategies for therapeutic development. This article is categorized under: RNA Interactions with Proteins and Other Molecules > Protein-RNA Interactions: Functional Implications Translation > Translation Regulation Regulatory RNAs/RNAi/Riboswitches > Regulatory RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J David Ho
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Jeffrey H S Man
- Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Respirology, University Health Network, Latner Thoracic Research Laboratories, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jonathan H Schatz
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA.,Division of Hematology, Department of Medicine, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, Florida, USA
| | - Philip A Marsden
- Keenan Research Centre, Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute, St. Michael's Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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22
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Targeting the DEAD-Box RNA Helicase eIF4A with Rocaglates-A Pan-Antiviral Strategy for Minimizing the Impact of Future RNA Virus Pandemics. Microorganisms 2021; 9:microorganisms9030540. [PMID: 33807988 PMCID: PMC8001013 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9030540] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase in pandemics caused by RNA viruses of zoonotic origin highlights the urgent need for broad-spectrum antivirals against novel and re-emerging RNA viruses. Broad-spectrum antivirals could be deployed as first-line interventions during an outbreak while virus-specific drugs and vaccines are developed and rolled out. Viruses depend on the host’s protein synthesis machinery for replication. Several natural compounds that target the cellular DEAD-box RNA helicase eIF4A, a key component of the eukaryotic translation initiation complex eIF4F, have emerged as potential broad-spectrum antivirals. Rocaglates, a group of flavaglines of plant origin that clamp mRNAs with highly structured 5′ untranslated regions (5′UTRs) onto the surface of eIF4A through specific stacking interactions, exhibit the largest selectivity and potential therapeutic indices among all known eIF4A inhibitors. Their unique mechanism of action limits the inhibitory effect of rocaglates to the translation of eIF4A-dependent viral mRNAs and a minor fraction of host mRNAs exhibiting stable RNA secondary structures and/or polypurine sequence stretches in their 5′UTRs, resulting in minimal potential toxic side effects. Maintaining a favorable safety profile while inducing efficient inhibition of a broad spectrum of RNA viruses makes rocaglates into primary candidates for further development as pan-antiviral therapeutics.
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23
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Knowles CM, McIntyre KM, Panepinto JC. Tools for Assessing Translation in Cryptococcus neoformans. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7030159. [PMID: 33668175 PMCID: PMC7995980 DOI: 10.3390/jof7030159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans is a ubiquitous environmental fungus capable of establishing an infection in a human host. Rapid changes in environments and exposure to the host immune system results in a significant amount of cellular stress, which is effectively combated at the level of translatome reprogramming. Repression of translation following stress allows for the specific reallocation of limited resources. Understanding the mechanisms involved in regulating translation in C. neoformans during host infection is critical in the development of new antifungal drugs. In this review, we discuss the main tools available for assessing changes in translation state and translational output during cellular stress.
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24
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Iyer KR, Camara K, Daniel-Ivad M, Trilles R, Pimentel-Elardo SM, Fossen JL, Marchillo K, Liu Z, Singh S, Muñoz JF, Kim SH, Porco JA, Cuomo CA, Williams NS, Ibrahim AS, Edwards JE, Andes DR, Nodwell JR, Brown LE, Whitesell L, Robbins N, Cowen LE. An oxindole efflux inhibitor potentiates azoles and impairs virulence in the fungal pathogen Candida auris. Nat Commun 2020; 11:6429. [PMID: 33353950 PMCID: PMC7755909 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20183-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen that exhibits resistance to multiple drugs, including the most commonly prescribed antifungal, fluconazole. Here, we use a combinatorial screening approach to identify a bis-benzodioxolylindolinone (azoffluxin) that synergizes with fluconazole against C. auris. Azoffluxin enhances fluconazole activity through the inhibition of efflux pump Cdr1, thus increasing intracellular fluconazole levels. This activity is conserved across most C. auris clades, with the exception of clade III. Azoffluxin also inhibits efflux in highly azole-resistant strains of Candida albicans, another human fungal pathogen, increasing their susceptibility to fluconazole. Furthermore, azoffluxin enhances fluconazole activity in mice infected with C. auris, reducing fungal burden. Our findings suggest that pharmacologically targeting Cdr1 in combination with azoles may be an effective strategy to control infection caused by azole-resistant isolates of C. auris.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kali R Iyer
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kaddy Camara
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
- Clark+Elbing LLP, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Richard Trilles
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Jen L Fossen
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Karen Marchillo
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Zhongle Liu
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Shakti Singh
- Division of Infectious Disease, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
| | - José F Muñoz
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sang Hu Kim
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - John A Porco
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christina A Cuomo
- Infectious Disease and Microbiome Program, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Noelle S Williams
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Ashraf S Ibrahim
- Division of Infectious Disease, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John E Edwards
- Division of Infectious Disease, The Lundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA
- David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - David R Andes
- Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Justin R Nodwell
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Lauren E Brown
- Department of Chemistry and Center for Molecular Discovery (BU-CMD), Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Luke Whitesell
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nicole Robbins
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Leah E Cowen
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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25
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Griffith N, Danziger L. Candida auris Urinary Tract Infections and Possible Treatment. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020; 9:antibiotics9120898. [PMID: 33322761 PMCID: PMC7764735 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics9120898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida auris is a globally emerging pathogen that has been identified in urinary tract infections (UTIs) worldwide. The novel pathogen is characterized by common misidentification, difficult eradication, and multidrug resistance. To date, there is a paucity of data to guide the optimal management of C. auris UTIs. This review provides an overview of C. auris as an etiologic agent of UTIs, a comprehensive review of published data on C. auris UTIs, and a proposed treatment algorithm based on patient clinical status, the presence or absence of clinical infection, comorbidities, infection, and therapy history. Echinocandin and liposomal amphotericin B are recommended as first-line agents for most patients with C. auris isolated in the urine, with a focus on infection control measures and appropriate follow-up criteria. A variety of combination therapies, flucytosine, and amphotericin B bladder irrigations are offered as potential alternatives in the event of infection persistence or recurrence. The treatment approach centers on the aggressive treatment of C. auris in most patients, with the goal of preventing subsequent invasive spread, multi-drug resistance, and ultimate mortality. Published literature on C. auris urinary isolation and treatment is imperative for the future evolution of evidence-based treatment recommendations for this unique pathogen of concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Griffith
- Department of Pharmacy Practice (m/c 833), University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
| | - Larry Danziger
- Department of Pharmacy Practice (m/c 833), University of Illinois at Chicago College of Pharmacy, Chicago, IL 60612, USA;
- Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Disease, University of Illinois at Chicago College of Medicine, UIC College of Pharmacy, Suite 164 833 S. Wood Street, Chicago, IL 60612, USA
- Correspondence:
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26
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Mayr EM, Ramírez-Zavala B, Krüger I, Morschhäuser J. A Zinc Cluster Transcription Factor Contributes to the Intrinsic Fluconazole Resistance of Candida auris. mSphere 2020; 5:e00279-20. [PMID: 32321822 PMCID: PMC7178551 DOI: 10.1128/msphere.00279-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Accepted: 04/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The recently emerged pathogenic yeast Candida auris is a major concern for human health, because it is easily transmissible, difficult to eradicate from hospitals, and highly drug resistant. Most C. auris isolates are resistant to the widely used antifungal drug fluconazole due to mutations in the target enzyme Erg11 and high activity of efflux pumps, such as Cdr1. In the well-studied, distantly related yeast Candida albicans, overexpression of drug efflux pumps also is a major mechanism of acquired fluconazole resistance and caused by gain-of-function mutations in the zinc cluster transcription factors Mrr1 and Tac1. In this study, we investigated a possible involvement of related transcription factors in efflux pump expression and fluconazole resistance of C. auris The C. auris genome contains three genes encoding Mrr1 homologs and two genes encoding Tac1 homologs, and we generated deletion mutants lacking these genes in two fluconazole-resistant strains from clade III and clade IV. Deletion of TAC1b decreased the resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole in both strain backgrounds, demonstrating that the encoded transcription factor contributes to azole resistance in C. auris strains from different clades. CDR1 expression was not or only minimally affected in the mutants, indicating that Tac1b can confer increased azole resistance by a CDR1-independent mechanism.IMPORTANCECandida auris is a recently emerged pathogenic yeast that within a few years after its initial description has spread all over the globe. C. auris is a major concern for human health, because it can cause life-threatening systemic infections, is easily transmissible, and is difficult to eradicate from hospital environments. Furthermore, C. auris is highly drug resistant, especially against the widely used antifungal drug fluconazole. Mutations in the drug target and high activity of efflux pumps are associated with azole resistance, but it is not known how drug resistance genes are regulated in C. auris We have investigated the potential role of several candidate transcriptional regulators in the intrinsic fluconazole resistance of C. auris and identified a transcription factor that contributes to the high resistance to fluconazole and voriconazole of two C. auris strains from different genetic clades, thereby providing insight into the molecular basis of drug resistance of this medically important yeast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria Mayr
- Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | | | - Ines Krüger
- Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Joachim Morschhäuser
- Institut für Molekulare Infektionsbiologie, Universität Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
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