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Liu F, Zeng M, Zhou X, Huang F, Song Z. Aspergillus fumigatus escape mechanisms from its harsh survival environments. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 108:53. [PMID: 38175242 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-023-12952-z] [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: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is a ubiquitous pathogenic mold and causes several diseases, including mycotoxicosis, allergic reactions, and systemic diseases (invasive aspergillosis), with high mortality rates. In its ecological niche, the fungus has evolved and mastered many reply strategies to resist and survive against negative threats, including harsh environmental stress and deficiency of essential nutrients from natural environments, immunity responses and drug treatments in host, and competition from symbiotic microorganisms. Hence, treating A. fumigatus infection is a growing challenge. In this review, we summarized A. fumigatus reply strategies and escape mechanisms and clarified the main competitive or symbiotic relationships between A. fumigatus, viruses, bacteria, or fungi in host microecology. Additionally, we discussed the contemporary drug repertoire used to treat A. fumigatus and the latest evidence of potential resistance mechanisms. This review provides valuable knowledge which will stimulate further investigations and clinical applications for treating and preventing A. fumigatus infections. KEY POINTS: • Harsh living environment was a great challenge for A. fumigatus survival. • A. fumigatus has evolved multiple strategies to escape host immune responses. • A. fumigatus withstands antifungal drugs via intrinsic escape mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangyan Liu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng Zeng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Yongchuan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 402160, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Fujiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhangyong Song
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China.
- Molecular Biotechnology Platform, Public Center of Experimental Technology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, 646000, People's Republic of China.
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Tian P, Li QQ, Guo MJ, Zhu YZ, Zhu RQ, Guo YQ, Yang Y, Liu YY, Yu L, Li YS, Li JB. Zidovudine in synergistic combination with nitrofurantoin or omadacycline: in vitro and in murine urinary tract or lung infection evaluation against multidrug-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2024; 68:e0034424. [PMID: 39194261 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00344-24] [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: 03/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Limited treatment options and multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae present a significant therapeutic challenge, underscoring the need for novel approaches. Drug repurposing is a promising tool for augmenting the activity of many antibiotics. This study aimed to identify novel synergistic drug combinations against K. pneumoniae based on drug repurposing. We used the clinically isolated GN 172867 MDR strain of K. pneumoniae to determine the reversal resistance activity of zidovudine (AZT). The combined effects of AZT and various antibiotics, including nitrofurantoin (NIT) and omadacycline (OMC), were examined using the checkerboard method, growth curves, and crystal violet assays to assess biofilms. An in vitro combination activity testing was carried out in 12 isolates of K. pneumoniae. In vivo murine urinary tract and lung infection models were used to evaluate the therapeutic effects of AZT + NIT and AZT + OMC, respectively. The fractional inhibitory concentration index and growth curve demonstrated that AZT synergized with NIT or OMC against K. pneumoniae strains. In addition, AZT + NIT inhibited biofilm formation and cleared mature biofilms. In vivo, compared with untreated GN 172867-infected mice, AZT + NIT and AZT + OMC treatment decreased colony counts in multiple tissues (P < 0.05) and pathological scores in the bladder and kidneys (P < 0.05) and increased the survival rate by 60% (P < 0.05). This study evaluated the combination of AZT and antibiotics to treat drug-resistant K. pneumoniae infections and found novel drug combinations for the treatment of acute urinary tract infections. These findings suggest that AZT may exert significant anti-resistance activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Tian
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Qing-Qing Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ming-Juan Guo
- Department of Hepatology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yun-Zhu Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Rong-Qing Zhu
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Qin Guo
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yi Yang
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Yan-Yan Liu
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Liang Yu
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Ya-Sheng Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Jia-Bin Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases & Anhui Center for Surveillance of Bacterial Resistance, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
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Wang X, Jin X, Zhao F, Xu Z, Tan W, Zhang J, Xu Y, Luan X, Fang M, Xie Z, Chang W, Lou H. Structure-Based Optimization of Novel Sterol 24-C-Methyltransferase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Candida albicans Infections. J Med Chem 2024; 67:9318-9341. [PMID: 38764175 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.4c00470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2024]
Abstract
Interfering with sterol biosynthesis is an important strategy for developing safe and effective antifungal drugs. We previously identified compound H55 as an allosteric inhibitor of the fungal-specific C-24 sterol methyltransferase Erg6 for treating Candida albicans infections. Herein, 62 derivatives of H55 were designed and synthesized based on target-ligand interactions to identify more active candidates. Among them, d28 displayed the most potent antivirulence ability (MHIC50 = 0.25 μg/mL) by targeting Erg6, exhibiting an 8-fold increase in potency compared with H55. Moreover, d28 significantly outperformed H55 in inhibiting cell adhesion and biofilm formation, and exhibited minimal cytotoxicity and negligible potential to induce drug resistance. Of note, the coadministration of d28 and other sterol biosynthesis inhibitors, such as tridemorph or terbinafine, demonstrated a strong synergistic antifungal action in vitro and in vivo in a murine skin infection model. These results support the potential application of d28 in the treatment of C. albicans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Wang
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Xueyang Jin
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Fabao Zhao
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Zejun Xu
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Wenzhuo Tan
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Jiaozhen Zhang
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Yuliang Xu
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, The Second Hospital, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250013, China
| | - Xiaoyi Luan
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Min Fang
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Zhiyu Xie
- Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion of Henan Province, Institute of Surface Micro and Nano Materials, College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Xuchang University, Xuchang 461002, China
| | - Wenqiang Chang
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
| | - Hongxiang Lou
- Department of Natural Product Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Chemical Biology (Ministry of Education), School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Cheeloo College of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250012, China
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Biswas B, Gangwar G, Nain V, Gupta I, Thakur A, Puria R. Rapamycin and Torin2 inhibit Candida auris TOR: Insights through growth profiling, docking, and MD simulations. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:8445-8461. [PMID: 36264093 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2022.2134927] [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: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The fungus Candida auris is a pathogen of utmost concern due to its rapid emergence across the globe, acquired antifungal drug tolerance, thermotolerance, and ability to survive in hospital settings and preserved foods. Recent incidences of comorbidity of corona patients with its infection in hospital settings highlighted the importance of understanding the pathobiology and drug tolerance of this fungus on priority. The Target of rapamycin (TOR) is a central regulator of growth across eukaryotes with an illustrated role in fungal pathology. The role of the TOR signalling pathway in the growth of C. auris is yet to be described. In-silico, analysis revealed the presence of highly conserved Tor kinase, components of TORC, and key downstream components in C. auris. Rapamycin and Torin2, the specific inhibitors of Tor reduce the growth of C. auris. An inhibition of Tor leads to cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase with a defect in cytokinesis. Interestingly, with an insignificant difference in growth at 30 and 37 °C, a sharp decline in growth is seen with Torin2 at 37 °C. The heterogeneous response emphasizes the importance of physiology-based differential cellular response at different temperatures. In addition, the inhibition of Tor suppresses the biofilm formation. In silico studies through docking and simulations showed rapamycin and torin2 as specific inhibitors of C. auris Tor kinase (CauTor kinase) and hence can be exploited for a thorough understanding of the TOR signalling pathway in pathobiology and drug tolerance of C. auris. HIGHLIGHTSConservation of TOR signalling pathway in Candida aurisRapamycin and torin2 are specific inhibitors of Cau TorUnderstanding of the role of TOR signalling pathway through the use of inhibitors rapamycin and torin2.Heterogenous response of C. auris to torin2 at different physiological conditions.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biswambhar Biswas
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, 3rd Milestone Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Garima Gangwar
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Vikrant Nain
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Ishaan Gupta
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, Delhi, India
| | - Anil Thakur
- Regional Centre for Biotechnology, 3rd Milestone Gurgaon-Faridabad Expressway, Faridabad, Haryana, India
| | - Rekha Puria
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, India
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He Z, Yang H, Gu Y, Xie Y, Wu J, Wu C, Song J, Zhao M, Zong D, Du W, Qiao J, Pang Y, Liu Y. Green Synthesis of MOF-Mediated pH-Sensitive Nanomaterial AgNPs@ZIF-8 and Its Application in Improving the Antibacterial Performance of AgNPs. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:4857-4870. [PMID: 37662688 PMCID: PMC10473413 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s418308] [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: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose Herein, an emerging drug delivery system was constructed based on zeolite imidazole backbone (ZIF-8) to improve antibacterial defects of nanosilver (AgNPs), such as easily precipitated and highly cytotoxic. Methods The homogeneous dispersion of AgNPs on ZIF-8 was confirmed by UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, particle size analysis, zeta potential analysis, and SEM. The appropriate AgNPs loading ratio on ZIF-8 was screened through the cell and antibacterial experiments based on biosafety and antibacterial performance. The optimal environment for AgNPs@ZIF-8 to exert antibacterial performance was probed in the context of bacterial communities under different acid-base conditions. The potential mechanism of AgNPs@ZIF-8 to inhibit the common clinical strains was investigated by observing the biofilm metabolic activity and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bacteria. Results The successful piggybacking of AgNPs by ZIF-8 was confirmed using UV-Vis spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, particle size analysis, zeta potential analysis, and SEM characterization methods. Based on the bacterial growth curve (0-24 hours), the antibacterial ability of AgNPs@ZIF-8 was found to be superior to AgNPs. When the mass ratio of ZIF-8 and AgNPs was 1:0.25, the selection of AgNPs@ZIF-8 was based on its superior antimicrobial efficacy and enhanced biocompatibility. Notably, under weakly acidic bacterial microenvironments (pH=6.4), AgNPs@ZIF-8 demonstrated a more satisfactory antibacterial effect. In addition, experiments on biofilms showed that concentrations of AgNPs@ZIF-8 exceeding 1×MIC resulted in more than 50% biofilm removal. The nanomedicine was found to increase ROS levels upon detecting the ROS concentration in bacteria. Conclusion Novel nanocomposites consisting of low cytotoxicity drug carrier ZIF-8 loaded with AgNPs exhibited enhanced antimicrobial effects compared to AgNPs alone. The pH-responsive nano drug delivery system, AgNPs@ZIF-8, exhibited superior antimicrobial activity in a mildly acidic environment. Moreover, AgNPs@ZIF-8 effectively eradicated pathogenic bacterial biofilms and elevated the intracellular level of ROS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiqiang He
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Huan Yang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yufan Gu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yuhan Xie
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianan Wu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Wu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiawei Song
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Maofang Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Da Zong
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenlong Du
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaju Qiao
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yipeng Pang
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
- School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yi Liu
- Department of Biophysics, School of Life Sciences, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
- School of Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, 221004, People’s Republic of China
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Vanhoffelen E, Michiels L, Brock M, Lagrou K, Reséndiz-Sharpe A, Vande Velde G. Powerful and Real-Time Quantification of Antifungal Efficacy against Triazole-Resistant and -Susceptible Aspergillus fumigatus Infections in Galleria mellonella by Longitudinal Bioluminescence Imaging. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0082523. [PMID: 37466453 PMCID: PMC10433797 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.00825-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus fumigatus is an environmental mold that causes life-threatening respiratory infections in immunocompromised patients. The plateaued effectiveness of antifungal therapy and the increasing prevalence of triazole-resistant isolates have led to an urgent need to optimize and expand the current treatment options. For the transition of in vitro research to in vivo models in the time- and resource-consuming preclinical drug development pipeline, Galleria mellonella larvae have been introduced as a valuable in vivo screening intermediate. Despite the high potential of this model, the current readouts of fungal infections in G. mellonella are insensitive, irreproducible, or invasive. To optimize this model, we aimed for the longitudinal quantification of the A. fumigatus burden in G. mellonella using noninvasive bioluminescence imaging (BLI). Larvae were infected with A. fumigatus strains expressing a red-shifted firefly luciferase, and the substrate dosage was optimized for the longitudinal visualization of the fungal burden without affecting larval health. The resulting photon flux was successfully validated for fungal quantification against colony forming units (CFU) analyses, which revealed an increased dynamic range from BLI detection. Comparison of BLI to survival rates and health index scores additionally revealed improved sensitivity for the early discrimination of differences in fungal burdens as early as 1 day after infection. This was confirmed by the improved detection of treatment efficacy against triazole-susceptible and -resistant strains. In conclusion, we established a refined G. mellonella aspergillosis model that enables the noninvasive real-time quantification of A. fumigatus by BLI. This model provides a quick and reproducible in vivo system for the evaluation of treatment options and is in line with 3Rs recommendations. IMPORTANCE Triazole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus strains are rapidly emerging, and resistant infections are difficult to treat, causing mortality rates of up to 88%. The recent WHO priority list underscores A. fumigatus as one of the most critical fungal pathogens for which innovative antifungal treatment should be (urgently) prioritized. Here, we deliver a Galleria mellonella model for triazole-susceptible and -resistant A. fumigatus infections combined with a statistically powerful quantitative, longitudinal readout of the A. fumigatus burden for optimized preclinical antifungal screening. G. mellonella larvae are a convenient invertebrate model for in vivo antifungal screenings, but so far, the model has been limited by variable and insensitive observational readouts. We show that bioluminescence imaging-based fungal burden quantification outperforms these readouts in reliability, sensitivity, and time to the detection of treatment effects in both triazole-susceptible and -resistant infections and can thus lead to better translatability from in vitro antifungal screening results to in vivo confirmation in mouse and human studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eliane Vanhoffelen
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical MRI Unit/MoSAIC, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Lauren Michiels
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical MRI Unit/MoSAIC, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Matthias Brock
- School of Life Sciences, Fungal Biology Group, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Katrien Lagrou
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Transplantation, Laboratory of Clinical Bacteriology and Mycology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Reference Center for Mycosis, University Hospitals Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Greetje Vande Velde
- Department of Imaging and Pathology, Biomedical MRI Unit/MoSAIC, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Jia G, Hu J, Tan L, Li L, Gao L, Sun Y. In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of Synergistic Effects of Everolimus in Combination with Antifungal Agents on Exophiala dermatitidis. Microbiol Spectr 2023; 11:e0530222. [PMID: 37140396 PMCID: PMC10269510 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.05302-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
To investigate the combined function of the novel oral mTOR inhibitor, everolimus, with antifungal agents and their potential mechanisms against Exophiala dermatitidis, the CLSI microliquid-based dilution method M38-A2, chequerboard technique, and disk diffusion testing were performed. The efficacy of everolimus was evaluated in combination with itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and amphotericin B against 16 clinically isolated strains of E. dermatitidis. The synergistic effect was determined by measuring the MIC and fractional inhibitory concentration index. Dihydrorhodamine 123 was used for the quantification of ROS levels. The differences in the expression of antifungal susceptibility-associated genes were analyzed following different types of treatment. Galleria mellonella was used as the in vivo model. While everolimus alone showed minimal antifungal effects, combinations with itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, or amphotericin B resulted in synergy in 13/16 (81.25%), 2/16 (12.5%), 14/16 (87.75%), and 5/16 (31.25%) of isolates, respectively. The disk diffusion assay revealed that the combination of everolimus and antifungal drugs showed no significant increase in the inhibition zones compared with the single agent, but no antagonistic effects were observed. Combination of everolimus and antifungal agents resulted in increased ROS activity (everolimus + posaconazole versus posaconazole [P < 0.05], everolimus + amphotericin B versus amphotericin B [P < 0.002]). Simultaneously, compared to mono-treatment, the combination of everolimus + itraconazole suppressed the expression of MDR2 (P < 0.05) and the combination of everolimus + amphotericin B suppressed the expression of MDR3 (P < 0.05) and CDR1B (P < 0.02). In vivo, combinations of everolimus and antifungal agents improved survival rates, particularly the combination of everolimus + amphotericin B (P < 0.05). In summary, the in vivo and in vitro experiments performed in our study suggest that the combination of everolimus with azoles or amphotericin B can have synergistic effects against E. dermatitidis, potentially due to the induction of ROS activity and inhibition of efflux pumps, providing a promising new approach for the treatment of E. dermatitidis infections. IMPORTANCE Cancer patients with E. dermatitidis infection have high mortality if untreated. Clinically, the conventional treatment of E. dermatitidis is poor due to the long-term use of antifungal drugs. In this study, we have for the first time investigated the interaction and action mechanism of everolimus combined with itraconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and amphotericin B on E. dermatitidis in vitro and in vivo, which provided new ideas and direction for further exploring the mechanism of drug combination and clinical treatment of E. dermatitidis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gengpei Jia
- Department of General Medicine, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China
| | - Jing Hu
- Department of Dermatology, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lihua Tan
- Department of Dermatology, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China
| | - Longting Li
- Department of Reproductive Medicine, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China
| | - Lujuan Gao
- Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital (Xiamen), Fudan University, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
- Department of Dermatology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Xiamen Clinical Research Center for Cancer Therapy, Xiamen, Fujian Province, China
| | - Yi Sun
- Department of Dermatology, Jingzhou Hospital Affiliated to Yangtze University, Jingzhou, Hubei Province, China
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Druseikis M, Mottola A, Berman J. The Metabolism of Susceptibility: Clearing the FoG Between Tolerance and Resistance in Candida albicans. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2023; 10:36-46. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-023-00189-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/30/2023]
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9
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Hu W, Zhang Y, Ning J, Li M, Tang Y, Li L, Cheng F, Yu W. Anti-tumor effect of AZD8055 against bladder cancer and bladder cancer-associated macrophages. Heliyon 2023; 9:e14272. [PMID: 36938467 PMCID: PMC10020012 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e14272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The increased activity of the mTOR pathway in bladder cancer has been extensively studied, but no satisfactory mTOR inhibitor has been found in bladder cancer. The role of AZD8055, a second-generation mTOR inhibitor, has not been reported in bladder cancer. Herein, we investigated the effects of AZD8055 on bladder cells and their interaction with macrophages in vivo and in vitro. In four bladder cancer cell lines, the phosphorylation of mTOR, AKT and S6K1 was suppressed by AZD8055. AZD8055 inhibited proliferation and induced G1 cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis of bladder cancer cells in a concentration-dependent manner. AZD8055 also inhibits the migration and invasion of bladder cancer cells by blocking EMT and MMP9. In addition, AZD8055 inhibited chemotaxis and M2 phenotype of macrophage after co-culture with bladder cancer cells. These anti-tumor effects of AZD8055 were verified in vivo. Our findings collectively demonstrated that low-dose AZD8055 induces cytotoxicity and apoptosis, and inhibits the Akt/mTOR activation, invasion and migration of bladder cancer. These findings also demonstrate that AZD8055 partially blocked the interactions of bladder cancer cells and macrophages. In conclusion, AZD8055 is a promising mTOR inhibitor for bladder cancer.
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10
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Ye J, Wang Y, Lin S, Wang Y, Chen P, Hong L, Jia X, Kang J, Wu Z, Wang H. Metabolomics analysis of the effect of acidification on rhizosphere soil microecosystem of tea tree. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2023; 14:1137465. [PMID: 36909384 PMCID: PMC9998672 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1137465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Acidification can seriously affect the growth of tea trees and the yield and quality of tea leaves. In this study, we analyzed the effects of acidification on the physicochemical properties, microorganisms and metabolites of tea rhizosphere soils with different pH values, and the results showed that with the increase of soil pH, the organic matter content, cation exchange capacity, microbial biomass carbon, microbial biomass nitrogen, microbial respiration intensity, bacterial number and actinomyces number in tea rhizosphere soil all showed an increasing trend, while the fungi number decreased. The results of soil metabolite analysis showed that 2376, 2377 and 2359 metabolites were detected in tea rhizosphere soil with pH values of 3.29, 4.74 and 5.32, respectively, and the number of similar compounds reached 2331, accounting for more than 98%. The results of soil metabolite content analysis showed that with the increase of soil pH, the total contents of metabolite of tea rhizosphere soil increased significantly. The results of correlation analysis between physicochemical indexes of soil and microorganisms and soil metabolites showed that physicochemical indexes of soil and microorganisms were significantly correlated with 221 soil metabolites, among which 55 were significantly positively correlated and 166 were significantly negatively correlated. Based on correlation interaction network analysis, 59 characteristic compounds were obtained and divided into 22 categories, among which 7 categories compounds showed a significant increasing trend with the increase of soil pH, while the other 15 categories compounds showed the opposite trend. Based on the functional analysis of characteristic metabolites, this study found that with the increase of soil pH in tea rhizosphere, the diversity and number of soil microorganisms increased, and the cyclic ability of C and N of tea rhizosphere soil was enhanced, which in turn might lead to the enhancement of resistance of tea tree and promote the growth of tea tree.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianghua Ye
- College of Tea and Food, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, China
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuhua Wang
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shaoxiong Lin
- College of Life Science, Longyan University, Longyan, China
| | - Yuchao Wang
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Pengyuan Chen
- College of Life Science, Longyan University, Longyan, China
| | - Lei Hong
- College of Life Science, Longyan University, Longyan, China
| | - Xiaoli Jia
- College of Tea and Food, Wuyi University, Wuyishan, China
| | - Jiaqian Kang
- College of Life Science, Longyan University, Longyan, China
| | - Zeyan Wu
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Haibin Wang
- College of Life Science, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
- College of Life Science, Longyan University, Longyan, China
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11
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Jemel S, Raveloarisaona Y, Bidaud AL, Djenontin E, Kallel A, Guillot J, Kallel K, Botterel F, Dannaoui E. In vitro and in vivo evaluation of antifungal combinations against azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus isolates. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 12:1038342. [PMID: 36733850 PMCID: PMC9887171 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2022.1038342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Azole resistance in Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) has become a widespread threat and a major concern for optimal management of patients with invasive aspergillosis (IA). Combination of echinocandins with azoles is an attractive alternative option for the treatment of IA due to azole-resistant Af strains. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo combination of caspofungin (CAS) with either voriconazole (VRZ) or posaconazole (PSZ). In vitro interactions were assessed by two methods, and an animal model of IA in Galleria mellonella was used for in vivo evaluation. Assessment of efficacy was based on larvae mortality. Groups of 10 larvae were infected by 3 clinical strains of Af (azole susceptible, AfS; PSZ resistant, AfR1; VRZ and PSZ resistant strain, AfR2). In vitro, combination of CAS and azoles was indifferent against AfS, and AfR2, and a synergy was found for AfR1. When compared to VRZ monotherapy, the combination of VRZ at 4 µg/larva with CAS at 4 µg/larva improved survival of AfR2-infected larvae (p=0.0066). Combination of PSZ at 4µg/larva with CAS at 4 µg/larva improved survival of AfR1-infected larvae compared to CAS (p=0.0002) and PSZ (0.0024) monotherapy. Antagonism was never observed. In conclusion, the combination of caspofungin with azoles is a promising alternative for the treatment of azole resistant strains of Af.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sana Jemel
- Université Paris Est Créteil, Dynamyc, Créteil, France
- Université Tunis EL Manar, Faculté de médecine de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisie
- UR17SP03, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire La Rabta, Jabbari, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Yannick Raveloarisaona
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
- Université de Paris-Cité, Faculté Médecine, Paris, France
| | - Anne-Laure Bidaud
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
- Université de Paris-Cité, Faculté Médecine, Paris, France
| | - Elie Djenontin
- Université Paris Est Créteil, Dynamyc, Créteil, France
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
| | - Aicha Kallel
- Université Tunis EL Manar, Faculté de médecine de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisie
- UR17SP03, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire La Rabta, Jabbari, Tunis, Tunisie
| | - Jacques Guillot
- Dermatology-Parasitology-Mycology, Oniris, Nantes, France
- Univ. Angers, Univ. Brest, IRF, SFR ICAT, Angers, France
| | - Kalthoum Kallel
- Université Tunis EL Manar, Faculté de médecine de Tunis, Tunis, Tunisie
- UR17SP03, Centre Hospitalo-Universitaire La Rabta, Jabbari, Tunis, Tunisie
| | | | - Eric Dannaoui
- Université Paris Est Créteil, Dynamyc, Créteil, France
- Unité de Parasitologie-Mycologie, Service de Microbiologie, Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP), Hôpital Européen Georges Pompidou, Paris, France
- Université de Paris-Cité, Faculté Médecine, Paris, France
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12
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Wu T, Xia J, Ge F, Qiu H, Tian L, Liu X, Liu R, Jiang A, Zhu J, Shi L, Yu H, Zhao M, Ren A. Target of Rapamycin Mediated Ornithine Decarboxylase Antizyme Modulate Intracellular Putrescine and Ganoderic Acid Content in Ganoderma lucidum. Microbiol Spectr 2022; 10:e0163322. [PMID: 36125287 PMCID: PMC9604110 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.01633-22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Putrescine (Put) has been shown to play an important regulatory role in cell growth in organisms. As the primary center regulating the homeostasis of polyamine (PA) content, ornithine decarboxylase antizyme (AZ) can regulate PA content through feedback. Nevertheless, the regulatory mechanism of Put is poorly understood in fungi. Here, our analysis showed that GlAZ had a modulate effect on intracellular Put content by interacting with ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) proteins and reducing its intracellular protein levels. In addition, GlAZ upregulated the metabolic pathway of ganoderic acid (GA) biosynthesis in Ganoderma lucidum by modulating the intracellular Put content. However, a target of rapamycin (TOR) was found to promote the accumulation of intracellular Put after the GlTOR inhibitor Rap was added exogenously, and unbiased analyses demonstrated that GlTOR may promote Put production through its inhibitory effect on the level of GlAZ protein in GlTOR-GlAZ-cosilenced strains. The effect of TOR on fungal secondary metabolism was further explored, and the content of GA in the GlTOR-silenced strain after the exogenous addition of the inhibitor Rap was significantly increased compared with that in the untreated wild-type (WT) strain. Silencing of TOR in the GlTOR-silenced strains caused an increase in GA content, which returned to the WT state after replenishing Put. Moreover, the content of GA in GlTOR-GlAZ-cosilenced strains was also not different from that in the WT strain. Consequently, these results strongly indicate that GlTOR affects G. lucidum GA biosynthesis via GlAZ. IMPORTANCE Research on antizyme (AZ) in fungi has focused on the mechanism by which AZ inhibits ornithine decarboxylase (ODC). Moreover, there are existing reports on the regulation of AZ protein translation by TOR. However, little is known about the mechanisms that influence AZ in fungal secondary metabolism. Here, both intracellular Put content and GA biosynthesis in G. lucidum were shown to be regulated through protein interactions between GlAZ and GlODC. Furthermore, exploration of upstream regulators of GlAZ suggested that GlAZ was regulated by the upstream protein GlTOR, which affected intracellular Put levels and ganoderic acid (GA) biosynthesis. The results of our work contribute to the understanding of the upstream regulation of Put and provide new insights into PA regulatory systems and secondary metabolism in fungi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Wu
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Hainan, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiale Xia
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Feng Ge
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hao Qiu
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Li Tian
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaotian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Rui Liu
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ailiang Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Liang Shi
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Hanshou Yu
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingwen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ang Ren
- Key Laboratory of Microbiology for Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Microbiology, College of Life Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Jiangsu, People’s Republic of China
- Sanya Institute of Nanjing Agricultural University, Hainan, People’s Republic of China
- Institute of Biology, Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China
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13
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Li L, Wu H, Zhu S, Ji Z, Chi X, Xie F, Hao Y, Lu H, Yang F, Yan L, Zhang D, Jiang Y, Ni T. Discovery of Novel 7-Hydroxy-5-oxo-4,5-dihydrothieno[3,2- b]pyridine-6-carboxamide Derivatives with Potent and Selective Antifungal Activity against Cryptococcus Species. J Med Chem 2022; 65:11257-11269. [PMID: 35922963 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii can cause fatal invasive infections, especially in immunocompromised patients. However, few antifungal drugs are available to help treat cryptococcosis. In this study, by compound library screening, we presented the first report of hit compound P163-0892, which had potent in vitro and in vivo antifungal activity against Cryptococcus spp. In vitro tests showed that P163-0892 was not cytotoxic and had highly selective and strong antifungal activities against Cryptococcus spp. with MIC values less than 1 μg/mL. Synergism of P163-0892 and fluconazole was also observed in vitro. The in vivo antifungal efficacy of P163-0892 was assessed in a wax moth larval fungal infection model, and treatment with 10 mg/kg P163-0892 caused a significant reduction in fungal burden and significant extension of the survival time. Taken together, our data indicate that the hit compound P163-0892 warrants further investigation as a novel anti-Cryptococcus agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liping Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Shuo Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhe Ji
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xiaochen Chi
- Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Navy Medical University, PLA, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China.,School of Chinese Materia Medica, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Fei Xie
- Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Navy Medical University, PLA, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yumeng Hao
- Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Navy Medical University, PLA, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hui Lu
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Feng Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lan Yan
- Center for New Drug Research, School of Pharmacy, Navy Medical University, PLA, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Dazhi Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China.,Department of Organic Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Navy Medical University, PLA, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Yuanying Jiang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Tingjunhong Ni
- Department of Pharmacy, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji University, No. 1239 Siping Road, Shanghai 200092, China
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14
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Kane A, Carter DA. Augmenting Azoles with Drug Synergy to Expand the Antifungal Toolbox. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:482. [PMID: 35455479 PMCID: PMC9027798 DOI: 10.3390/ph15040482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections impact the lives of at least 12 million people every year, killing over 1.5 million. Wide-spread use of fungicides and prophylactic antifungal therapy have driven resistance in many serious fungal pathogens, and there is an urgent need to expand the current antifungal arsenal. Recent research has focused on improving azoles, our most successful class of antifungals, by looking for synergistic interactions with secondary compounds. Synergists can co-operate with azoles by targeting steps in related pathways, or they may act on mechanisms related to resistance such as active efflux or on totally disparate pathways or processes. A variety of sources of potential synergists have been explored, including pre-existing antimicrobials, pharmaceuticals approved for other uses, bioactive natural compounds and phytochemicals, and novel synthetic compounds. Synergy can successfully widen the antifungal spectrum, decrease inhibitory dosages, reduce toxicity, and prevent the development of resistance. This review highlights the diversity of mechanisms that have been exploited for the purposes of azole synergy and demonstrates that synergy remains a promising approach for meeting the urgent need for novel antifungal strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dee A. Carter
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences and Sydney ID, University of Sydney, Camperdown, NSW 2006, Australia;
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