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Basotra SD, Kumari Y, Vij M, Tyagi A, Sharma D, Bhattacharyya MS. ASLdC3: A Derivative of Acidic Sophorolipid Disrupts Mitochondrial Function, Induces ROS Generation, and Inhibits Biofilm Formation in Candida albicans. ACS Infect Dis 2024. [PMID: 39093050 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.4c00155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Fungal infections account for more than 140 million cases of severe and life-threatening conditions each year, causing approximately 1.7 million deaths annually. Candida albicans and related species are the most common human fungal pathogens, causing both superficial (mucosal and cutaneous) and life-threatening invasive infections (candidemia) with a 40-75% mortality rate. Among many virulence factors of Candida albicans, morphological transition from yeast to hyphae, secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, and formation of biofilms are considered to be crucial for pathogenicity. However, the arsenals for the treatment against these pathogens are restricted to only a few classes of approved drugs, the efficacy of which is being compromised by host toxicity, fungistatic activity, and the emergence of drug resistance. In this study, we have described the development of a molecule, exhibiting excellent antifungal activity (MIC 8 μg/mL), by tailoring acidic sophorolipids with aryl alcohols via enzyme catalysis. This novel derivative, ASLdC3, is a surface-active compound that lowers the surface tension of the air-water interface up to 2-fold before reaching the critical micelle concentration of 25 μg/mL. ASLdC3 exhibits excellent antibiofilm properties against Candida albicans and other nonalbicans Candida species. The molecule primarily exhibits its antifungal activity by perturbing mitochondrial function through the alteration of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS damages fungal cell membrane function and cell wall integrity, eventually leading to cell death. ASLdC3 was found to be nontoxic in in vitro assay and nonhemolytic. Besides, it does not cause toxicity in the C. elegans model. Our study provides a valuable foundation for the potential of acidic sophorolipid as a nontoxic, biodegradable precursor for the design and synthesis of novel molecules for use as antimicrobial drugs as well as for other clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandal Deep Basotra
- Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre (BERPDC), CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sector-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Yachna Kumari
- Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre (BERPDC), CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sector-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Mansi Vij
- Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre (BERPDC), CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sector-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Arpit Tyagi
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
- GN Ramachandran Protein Centre, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sector-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Deepak Sharma
- GN Ramachandran Protein Centre, CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sector-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
| | - Mani Shankar Bhattacharyya
- Biochemical Engineering Research and Process Development Centre (BERPDC), CSIR-Institute of Microbial Technology (IMTECH), Sector-39A, Chandigarh 160036, India
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Sousa IS, Tavares LFS, Silva BA, Moreno DSA, Alviano CS, Santos ALS, Kneipp LF. Calcineurin activity in Fonsecaea pedrosoi: tacrolimus and cyclosporine A inhibited conidia growth, filamentation and showed synergism with itraconazole. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01463-2. [PMID: 39044105 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01463-2] [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: 04/30/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Fonsecaea pedrosoi is a melanized fungus that causes chromoblastomycosis (CBM), a tropical neglected disease responsible for chronic and disability-related subcutaneous mycosis. Given the challenging nature of CBM treatment, the study of new targets and novel bioactive drugs capable of improving patient life quality is urgent. In the present work, we detected a calcineurin activity in F. pedrosoi conidial form, employing primarily colorimetric, immunoblotting and flow cytometry assays. Our findings reveal that the calcineurin activity of F. pedrosoi was stimulated by Ca2+/calmodulin, inhibited by EGTA and specific inhibitors, such as tacrolimus (FK506) and cyclosporine A (CsA), and proved to be insensitive to okadaic acid. In addition, FK506 and CsA were able to affect the cellular viability and the fungal proliferation. This effect was corroborated by transmission electron microscopy that showed both calcineurin inhibitors promoted profound changes in the ultrastructure of conidia, causing mainly cytoplasm condensation and intense vacuolization that are clear indication of cell death. Our data indicated that FK506 exhibited the highest effectiveness, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 3.12 mg/L, whereas CsA required 15.6 mg/L to inhibit 100% of conidial growth. Interestingly, when both were combined with itraconazole, they demonstrated anti-F. pedrosoi activity, exhibiting a synergistic effect. Moreover, the fungal filamentation was affected after treatment with both calcineurin inhibitors. These data corroborate with other calcineurin studies in fungal cells and open up further discussions aiming to establish the role of this enzyme as a potential target for antifungal therapy against CBM infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid S Sousa
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Lucilene F S Tavares
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Bianca A Silva
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Daniela S A Moreno
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, IMPG, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Celuta S Alviano
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, IMPG, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, 21941-902, Brazil
| | - André L S Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Lucimar F Kneipp
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, 21040-900, Brazil.
- Rede Micologia RJ, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro, 21941-901, Brazil.
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Yu J, Lai J, Neal BM, White BJ, Banik MT, Dai SY. Genomic Diversity and Phenotypic Variation in Fungal Decomposers Involved in Bioremediation of Persistent Organic Pollutants. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:418. [PMID: 37108874 PMCID: PMC10145412 DOI: 10.3390/jof9040418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Fungi work as decomposers to break down organic carbon, deposit recalcitrant carbon, and transform other elements such as nitrogen. The decomposition of biomass is a key function of wood-decaying basidiomycetes and ascomycetes, which have the potential for the bioremediation of hazardous chemicals present in the environment. Due to their adaptation to different environments, fungal strains have a diverse set of phenotypic traits. This study evaluated 320 basidiomycetes isolates across 74 species for their rate and efficiency of degrading organic dye. We found that dye-decolorization capacity varies among and within species. Among the top rapid dye-decolorizing fungi isolates, we further performed genome-wide gene family analysis and investigated the genomic mechanism for their most capable dye-degradation capacity. Class II peroxidase and DyP-type peroxidase were enriched in the fast-decomposer genomes. Gene families including lignin decomposition genes, reduction-oxidation genes, hydrophobin, and secreted peptidases were expanded in the fast-decomposer species. This work provides new insights into persistent organic pollutant removal by fungal isolates at both phenotypic and genotypic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiali Yu
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Innovation Hub, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.Y.)
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Jingru Lai
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Innovation Hub, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.Y.)
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Brian M. Neal
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Innovation Hub, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.Y.)
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Bert J. White
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Innovation Hub, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.Y.)
| | - Mark T. Banik
- USDA Forest Service, Northern Research Station, Center for Forest Mycology Research, Madison, WI 53726, USA
| | - Susie Y. Dai
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Innovation Hub, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA; (J.Y.)
- Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
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Silver(I) 1,10-Phenanthroline Complexes Are Active against Fonsecaea pedrosoi Viability and Negatively Modulate Its Potential Virulence Attributes. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9030356. [PMID: 36983524 PMCID: PMC10057124 DOI: 10.3390/jof9030356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The genus Fonsecaea is one of the etiological agents of chromoblastomycosis (CBM), a chronic subcutaneous disease that is difficult to treat. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of copper(II), manganese(II) and silver(I) complexes coordinated with 1,10-phenanthroline (phen)/1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) on Fonsecaea spp. Our results revealed that most of these complexes were able to inhibit F. pedrosoi, F. monophora and F. nubica conidial viability with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.6 to 100 µM. The most effective complexes against F. pedrosoi planktonic conidial cells, the main etiologic agent of CBM, were [Ag(phen)2]ClO4 and [Ag2(3,6,9-tdda)(phen)4].EtOH, (tdda: 3,6,9-trioxaundecanedioate), displaying MIC values equal to 1.2 and 0.6 µM, respectively. These complexes were effective in reducing the viability of F. pedrosoi biofilm formation and maturation. Silver(I)-tdda-phen, combined with itraconazole, reduced the viability and extracellular matrix during F. pedrosoi biofilm development. Moreover, both silver(I) complexes inhibited either metallo- or aspartic-type peptidase activities of F. pedrosoi as well as its conidia into mycelia transformation and melanin production. In addition, the complexes induced the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species in F. pedrosoi. Taken together, our data corroborate the antifungal action of metal-phen complexes, showing they represent a therapeutic option for fungal infections, including CBM.
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Sousa IS, Mello TP, Pereira EP, Granato MQ, Alviano CS, Santos ALS, Kneipp LF. Biofilm Formation by Chromoblastomycosis Fungi Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa: Involvement with Antifungal Resistance. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8090963. [PMID: 36135688 PMCID: PMC9504689 DOI: 10.3390/jof8090963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with chromoblastomycosis (CBM) suffer chronic tissue lesions that are hard to treat. Considering that biofilm is the main growth lifestyle of several pathogens and it is involved with both virulence and resistance to antimicrobial drugs, we have investigated the ability of CBM fungi to produce this complex, organized and multicellular structure. Fonsecaea pedrosoi and Phialophora verrucosa conidial cells were able to adhere on a polystyrene abiotic substrate, differentiate into hyphae and produce a robust viable biomass containing extracellular matrix. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed the tridimensional architecture of the mature biofilms, revealing a dense network of interconnected hyphae, inner channels and amorphous extracellular polymeric material. Interestingly, the co-culture of each fungus with THP-1 macrophage cells, used as a biotic substrate, induced the formation of a mycelial trap covering and damaging the macrophages. In addition, the biofilm-forming cells of F. pedrosoi and P. verrucosa were more resistant to the conventional antifungal drugs than the planktonic-growing conidial cells. The efflux pump activities of P. verrucosa and F. pedrosoi biofilms were significantly higher than those measured in conidia. Taken together, the data pointed out the biofilm formation by CBM fungi and brought up a discussion of the relevance of studies about their antifungal resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid S. Sousa
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Thaís P. Mello
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Elaine P. Pereira
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Marcela Q. Granato
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
| | - Celuta S. Alviano
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, Brazil
| | - André L. S. Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ—Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20020-000, Brazil
| | - Lucimar F. Kneipp
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro 21040-900, Brazil
- Rede Micologia RJ—Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (FAPERJ), Rio de Janeiro 20020-000, Brazil
- Correspondence:
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Santos ALS, Braga-Silva LA, Gonçalves DS, Ramos LS, Oliveira SSC, Souza LOP, Oliveira VS, Lins RD, Pinto MR, Muñoz JE, Taborda CP, Branquinha MH. Repositioning Lopinavir, an HIV Protease Inhibitor, as a Promising Antifungal Drug: Lessons Learned from Candida albicans-In Silico, In Vitro and In Vivo Approaches. J Fungi (Basel) 2021; 7:jof7060424. [PMID: 34071195 PMCID: PMC8229492 DOI: 10.3390/jof7060424] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The repurposing strategy was applied herein to evaluate the effects of lopinavir, an aspartic protease inhibitor currently used in the treatment of HIV-infected individuals, on the globally widespread opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans by using in silico, in vitro and in vivo approaches in order to decipher its targets on fungal cells and its antifungal mechanisms of action. Secreted aspartic proteases (Saps) are the obviously main target of lopinavir. To confirm this hypothesis, molecular docking assays revealed that lopinavir bound to the Sap2 catalytic site of C. albicans as well as inhibited the Sap hydrolytic activity in a typically dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of Saps culminated in the inability of C. albicans yeasts to assimilate the unique nitrogen source (albumin) available in the culture medium, culminating with fungal growth inhibition (IC50 = 39.8 µM). The antifungal action of lopinavir was corroborated by distinct microscopy analyses, which evidenced drastic and irreversible changes in the morphology that justified the fungal death. Furthermore, our results revealed that lopinavir was able to (i) arrest the yeasts-into-hyphae transformation, (ii) disturb the synthesis of neutral lipids, including ergosterol, (iii) modulate the surface-located molecules, such as Saps and mannose-, sialic acid- and N-acetylglucosamine-containing glycoconjugates, (iv) diminish the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, such as Saps and esterase, (v) negatively influence the biofilm formation on polystyrene surface, (vi) block the in vitro adhesion to epithelial cells, (vii) contain the in vivo infection in both immunocompetent and immunosuppressed mice and (viii) reduce the Sap production by yeasts recovered from kidneys of infected animals. Conclusively, the exposed results highlight that lopinavir may be used as a promising repurposing drug against C. albicans infection as well as may be used as a lead compound for the development of novel antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- André L. S. Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica (PPGBq), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
- Correspondence: (A.L.S.S.); (M.H.B.); Tel.: +55-21-3938-0366 (A.L.S.S.)
| | - Lys A. Braga-Silva
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica (PPGBq), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Diego S. Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica (PPGBq), Instituto de Química (IQ), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-909, Brazil
| | - Lívia S. Ramos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
| | - Simone S. C. Oliveira
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
| | - Lucieri O. P. Souza
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
| | - Vanessa S. Oliveira
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 50740-465, Brazil; (V.S.O.); (R.D.L.)
| | - Roberto D. Lins
- Instituto Aggeu Magalhães, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Recife 50740-465, Brazil; (V.S.O.); (R.D.L.)
| | - Marcia R. Pinto
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói 24210-130, Brazil;
| | - Julian E. Muñoz
- MICROS Group, Medicine Traslacional Institute, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá 111221, Colombia;
| | - Carlos P. Taborda
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-060, Brazil;
- Laboratório de Micologia Médica—LIM53/IMTSP, Universidade de São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Marta H. Branquinha
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-901, Brazil; (L.A.B.-S.); (D.S.G.); (L.S.R.); (S.S.C.O.); (L.O.P.S.)
- Correspondence: (A.L.S.S.); (M.H.B.); Tel.: +55-21-3938-0366 (A.L.S.S.)
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Granato MQ, Mello TP, Nascimento RS, Pereira MD, Rosa TLSA, Pessolani MCV, McCann M, Devereux M, Branquinha MH, Santos ALS, Kneipp LF. Silver(I) and Copper(II) Complexes of 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dione Against Phialophora verrucosa: A Focus on the Interaction With Human Macrophages and Galleria mellonella Larvae. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:641258. [PMID: 34025603 PMCID: PMC8138666 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.641258] [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: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Phialophora verrucosa is a dematiaceous fungus that causes mainly chromoblastomycosis, but also disseminated infections such as phaeohyphomycosis and mycetoma. These diseases are extremely hard to treat and often refractory to current antifungal therapies. In this work, we have evaluated the effect of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) and its metal-based complexes, [Ag (phendione)2]ClO4 and [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2.4H2O, against P. verrucosa, focusing on (i) conidial viability when combined with amphotericin B (AmB); (ii) biofilm formation and disarticulation events; (iii) in vitro interaction with human macrophages; and (iv) in vivo infection of Galleria mellonella larvae. The combination of AmB with each of the test compounds promoted the additive inhibition of P. verrucosa growth, as judged by the checkerboard assay. During the biofilm formation process over polystyrene surface, sub-minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of phendione and its silver(I) and copper(II) complexes were able to reduce biomass and extracellular matrix production. Moreover, a mature biofilm treated with high concentrations of the test compounds diminished biofilm viability in a concentration-dependent manner. Pre-treatment of conidial cells with the test compounds did not alter the percentage of infected THP-1 macrophages; however, [Ag(phendione)2]ClO4 caused a significant reduction in the number of intracellular fungal cells compared to the untreated system. In addition, the killing process was significantly enhanced by post-treatment of infected macrophages with the test compounds. P. verrucosa induced a typically cell density-dependent effect on G. mellonella larvae death after 7 days of infection. Interestingly, exposure to the silver(I) complex protected the larvae from P. verrucosa infection. Collectively, the results corroborate the promising therapeutic potential of phendione-based drugs against fungal infections, including those caused by P. verrucosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Q. Granato
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Thaís P. Mello
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Renata S. Nascimento
- Laboratório de Citotoxicidade e Genotoxicidade (LaCiGen), Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcos D. Pereira
- Laboratório de Citotoxicidade e Genotoxicidade (LaCiGen), Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Malachy McCann
- Department of Chemistry, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland, Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Michael Devereux
- Center for Biomimetic and Therapeutic Research, Focas Research Institute, Technological University Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Marta H. Branquinha
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André L. S. Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Laboratório de Citotoxicidade e Genotoxicidade (LaCiGen), Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucimar F. Kneipp
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Souto XM, Ramos LS, Oliveira SSC, Branquinha MH, Santos ALS. The serine peptidase inhibitor N-ρ-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone (TPCK) affects the cell biology of Candida haemulonii species complex. Fungal Biol 2020; 125:378-388. [PMID: 33910679 DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2020.12.004] [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: 08/02/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Candida haemulonii species complex (C. haemulonii, C. haemulonii var. vulnera and Candida duobushaemulonii) is composed by emerging and multidrug-resistant (MDR) yeasts. Candidiasis, the disease caused by these species, is difficult to treat and culminates in clinical failures and patient death. It is well-known that Candida peptidases play important roles in the fungus-host interactions, and hence these enzymes are promising targets for developing new antifungal drugs. Recently, serine-type peptidases were described in clinical isolates of C. haemulonii complex with the ability to cleave relevant key host proteins. Herein, the effects of serine peptidase inhibitors (SPIs) on the cell biology of this fungal complex were evaluated. Initially, eight distinct SPIs (phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride - PMSF, 4-(2-aminoethyl) benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride - AEBSF, N-α-tosyl-l-lysine chloromethyl ketone hydrochloride - TLCK, N-p-tosyl-l-phenylalanine chloromethyl ketone - TPCK, simeprevir, boceprevir, danoprevir and telaprevir) were tested on the fungal growth. TPCK showed the best efficacy in controlling cell proliferation, being selected for the following experiments. This SPI induced changes in the architecture of yeast cells, as observed by scanning electron microscopy, besides injuries at the plasma membrane and reduction in the ergosterol content. TPCK also diminished the ability of yeasts to adhere to abiotic (polystyrene and glass) and biotic (murine macrophages) surfaces in a typically concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the 24 h-treatment of the mature biofilm promoted a decrease in biomass, viability and extracellular matrix. Altogether, our results highlight that SPIs may be promising new therapeutic agents in the treatment of candidiasis caused by emergent, opportunistic and MDR species forming the C. haemulonii complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- X M Souto
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - L S Ramos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - S S C Oliveira
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - M H Branquinha
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - A L S Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
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9
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Granato MQ, Sousa IS, Rosa TLSA, Gonçalves DS, Seabra SH, Alviano DS, Pessolani MCV, Santos ALS, Kneipp LF. Aspartic peptidase of Phialophora verrucosa as target of HIV peptidase inhibitors: blockage of its enzymatic activity and interference with fungal growth and macrophage interaction. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2020; 35:629-638. [PMID: 32037904 PMCID: PMC7034032 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2020.1724994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Revised: 01/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Phialophora verrucosa causes several fungal human diseases, mainly chromoblastomycosis, which is extremely difficult to treat. Several studies have shown that human immunodeficiency virus peptidase inhibitors (HIV-PIs) are attractive candidates for antifungal therapies. This work focused on studying the action of HIV-PIs on peptidase activity secreted by P. verrucosa and their effects on fungal proliferation and macrophage interaction. We detected a peptidase activity from P. verrucosa able to cleave albumin, sensitive to pepstatin A and HIV-PIs, especially lopinavir, ritonavir and amprenavir, showing for the first time that this fungus secretes aspartic-type peptidase. Furthermore, lopinavir, ritonavir and nelfinavir reduced the fungal growth, causing remarkable ultrastructural alterations. Lopinavir and ritonavir also affected the conidia-macrophage adhesion and macrophage killing. Interestingly, P. verrucosa had its growth inhibited by ritonavir combined with either itraconazole or ketoconazole. Collectively, our results support the antifungal action of HIV-PIs and their relevance as a possible alternative therapy for fungal infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Q. Granato
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ingrid S. Sousa
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Diego S. Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sergio H. Seabra
- Laboratório de Tecnologia em Cultura de Células, Centro Universitário Estadual da Zona Oeste (UEZO), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela S. Alviano
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, IMPPG, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - André L. S. Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucimar F. Kneipp
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos (LTBBF), Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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10
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Palmeira VF, Goulart FRV, Granato MQ, Alviano DS, Alviano CS, Kneipp LF, Santos ALS. Fonsecaea pedrosoi Sclerotic Cells: Secretion of Aspartic-Type Peptidase and Susceptibility to Peptidase Inhibitors. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1383. [PMID: 30008700 PMCID: PMC6033999 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Fonsecaea pedrosoi is a dematiaceous fungus and the main causative agent of chromoblastomycosis that is a chronic disease usually affecting the human skin and subcutaneous tissues, which causes deformations and incapacities, being frequently refractory to available therapies. A typical globe-shaped, multiseptated and pigmented cells, known as sclerotic cells, are found in the lesions of infected individuals. In the present work, we have investigated the production of aspartic-type peptidase in F. pedrosoi sclerotic cells as well as the effect of peptidase inhibitors (PIs) on its enzymatic activity and viability. Our data showed that sclerotic cells are able to secrete pepstatin A-sensible aspartic peptidase when grown under chemically defined conditions. In addition, aspartic PIs (ritonavir, nelfinavir, indinavir, and saquinavir), which are clinically used in the HIV chemotherapy, significantly decreased the fungal peptidase activity, varying from 55 to 99%. Moreover, sclerotic cell-derived aspartic peptidase hydrolyzed human albumin, an important serum protein, as well as laminin, an extracellular matrix component, but not immunoglobulin G and fibronectin. It is well-known that aspartic peptidases play important physiological roles in fungal cells. With this task in mind, the effect of pepstatin A, a classical aspartic peptidase inhibitor, on the F. pedrosoi proliferation was evaluated. Pepstatin A inhibited the fungal viability in both cellular density- and drug-concentration manners. Moreover, HIV-PIs at 10 μM powerfully inhibited the viability (>65%) of F. pedrosoi sclerotic cells. The detection of aspartic peptidase produced by sclerotic cells, the parasitic form of F. pedrosoi, may contribute to reveal new virulence markers and potential targets for chromoblastomycosis therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanila F Palmeira
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fatima R V Goulart
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcela Q Granato
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela S Alviano
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Celuta S Alviano
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucimar F Kneipp
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André L S Santos
- Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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11
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Trichosporon asahii secretes a 30-kDa aspartic peptidase. Microbiol Res 2017; 205:66-72. [DOI: 10.1016/j.micres.2017.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 08/22/2017] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
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12
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Vicente VA, Weiss VA, Bombassaro A, Moreno LF, Costa FF, Raittz RT, Leão AC, Gomes RR, Bocca AL, Fornari G, de Castro RJA, Sun J, Faoro H, Tadra-Sfeir MZ, Baura V, Balsanelli E, Almeida SR, Dos Santos SS, Teixeira MDM, Soares Felipe MS, do Nascimento MMF, Pedrosa FO, Steffens MB, Attili-Angelis D, Najafzadeh MJ, Queiroz-Telles F, Souza EM, De Hoog S. Comparative Genomics of Sibling Species of Fonsecaea Associated with Human Chromoblastomycosis. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:1924. [PMID: 29062304 PMCID: PMC5640708 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.01924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2017] [Accepted: 09/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Fonsecaea and Cladophialophora are genera of black yeast-like fungi harboring agents of a mutilating implantation disease in humans, along with strictly environmental species. The current hypothesis suggests that those species reside in somewhat adverse microhabitats, and pathogenic siblings share virulence factors enabling survival in mammal tissue after coincidental inoculation driven by pathogenic adaptation. A comparative genomic analysis of environmental and pathogenic siblings of Fonsecaea and Cladophialophora was undertaken, including de novo assembly of F. erecta from plant material. The genome size of Fonsecaea species varied between 33.39 and 35.23 Mb, and the core genomes of those species comprises almost 70% of the genes. Expansions of protein domains such as glyoxalases and peptidases suggested ability for pathogenicity in clinical agents, while the use of nitrogen and degradation of phenolic compounds was enriched in environmental species. The similarity of carbohydrate-active vs. protein-degrading enzymes associated with the occurrence of virulence factors suggested a general tolerance to extreme conditions, which might explain the opportunistic tendency of Fonsecaea sibling species. Virulence was tested in the Galleria mellonella model and immunological assays were performed in order to support this hypothesis. Larvae infected by environmental F. erecta had a lower survival. Fungal macrophage murine co-culture showed that F. erecta induced high levels of TNF-α contributing to macrophage activation that could increase the ability to control intracellular fungal growth although hyphal death were not observed, suggesting a higher level of extremotolerance of environmental species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vania A Vicente
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Vinícius A Weiss
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Sector of Technological and Professional Education, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Amanda Bombassaro
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Leandro F Moreno
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Flávia F Costa
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Roberto T Raittz
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Sector of Technological and Professional Education, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Aniele C Leão
- Bioprocess Engineering and Biotechnology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Sector of Technological and Professional Education, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Renata R Gomes
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Anamelia L Bocca
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | - Gheniffer Fornari
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Jiufeng Sun
- Guangdong Provincial Institute of Public Health, Guangdong Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Guangzhou, China
| | - Helisson Faoro
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Valter Baura
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Balsanelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Sandro R Almeida
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Suelen S Dos Santos
- Department of Clinical and Toxicological Analysis, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcus de Melo Teixeira
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil.,Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
| | - Maria S Soares Felipe
- Department of Genomic Sciences and Biotechnology, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasilia, Brazil
| | | | - Fabio O Pedrosa
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Maria B Steffens
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Sector of Technological and Professional Education, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | | | - Mohammad J Najafzadeh
- Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Flávio Queiroz-Telles
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Clinical Hospital of the Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Emanuel M Souza
- Laboratory of Bioinformatics, Sector of Technological and Professional Education, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,Department of Biochemistry, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil
| | - Sybren De Hoog
- Microbiology, Parasitology and Pathology Post-Graduation Program, Department of Basic Pathology, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.,CBS-KNAW Fungal Biodiversity Centre, Utrecht, Netherlands.,Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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13
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Abstract
Chromoblastomycosis (CBM), also known as chromomycosis, is one of the most prevalent implantation fungal infections, being the most common of the gamut of mycoses caused by melanized or brown-pigmented fungi. CBM is mainly a tropical or subtropical disease that may affect individuals with certain risk factors around the world. The following characteristics are associated with this disease: (i) traumatic inoculation by implantation from an environmental source, leading to an initial cutaneous lesion at the inoculation site; (ii) chronic and progressive cutaneous and subcutaneous tissular involvement associated with fibrotic and granulomatous reactions associated with microabscesses and often with tissue proliferation; (iii) a nonprotective T helper type 2 (Th2) immune response with ineffective humoral involvement; and (iv) the presence of muriform (sclerotic) cells embedded in the affected tissue. CBM lesions are clinically polymorphic and are commonly misdiagnosed as various other infectious and noninfectious diseases. In its more severe clinical forms, CBM may cause an incapacity for labor due to fibrotic sequelae and also due to a series of clinical complications, and if not recognized at an early stage, this disease can be refractory to antifungal therapy.
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14
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Cordeiro RDA, Serpa R, Mendes PBL, Evangelista AJDJ, Andrade ARC, Franco JDS, Pereira VDS, Alencar LPD, Oliveira JSD, Camargo ZPD, Lima Neto RGD, Castelo-Branco DDSCM, Brilhante RSN, Rocha MFG, Sidrim JJC. The HIV aspartyl protease inhibitor ritonavir impairs planktonic growth, biofilm formation and proteolytic activity in Trichosporon spp. BIOFOULING 2017; 33:640-650. [PMID: 28871863 DOI: 10.1080/08927014.2017.1350947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated the effect of the protease inhibitor ritonavir (RIT) on Trichosporon asahii and Trichosporon inkin. Susceptibility to RIT was assessed by the broth microdilution assay and the effect of RIT on protease activity was evaluated using azoalbumin as substrate. RIT was tested for its anti-biofilm properties and RIT-treated biofilms were assessed regarding protease activity, ultrastructure and matrix composition. In addition, antifungal susceptibility, surface hydrophobicity and biofilm formation were evaluated after pre-incubation of planktonic cells with RIT for 15 days. RIT (200 μg ml-1) inhibited Trichosporon growth. RIT (100 μg ml-1) also reduced protease activity of planktonic and biofilm cells, decreased cell adhesion and biofilm formation, and altered the structure of the biofilm and the protein composition of the biofilm matrix. Pre-incubation with RIT (100 μg ml-1) increased the susceptibility to amphotericin B, and reduced surface hydrophobicity and cell adhesion. These results highlight the importance of proteases as promising therapeutic targets and reinforce the antifungal potential of protease inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rosana Serpa
- a Medical Mycology Specialized Center , Federal University of Ceará , Fortaleza , Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Zoilo Pires de Camargo
- b Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology , Federal University of São Paulo , São Paulo , Brazil
| | | | | | | | - Marcos Fabio Gadelha Rocha
- a Medical Mycology Specialized Center , Federal University of Ceará , Fortaleza , Brazil
- d Post Graduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine , State University of Ceará , Fortaleza , Brazil
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15
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Palmeira VF, Alviano DS, Braga-Silva LA, Goulart FRV, Granato MQ, Rozental S, Alviano CS, Santos ALS, Kneipp LF. HIV Aspartic Peptidase Inhibitors Modulate Surface Molecules and Enzyme Activities Involved with Physiopathological Events in Fonsecaea pedrosoi. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:918. [PMID: 28579986 PMCID: PMC5437157 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Accepted: 05/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Fonsecaea pedrosoi is the main etiological agent of chromoblastomycosis, a recalcitrant disease that is extremely difficult to treat. Therefore, new chemotherapeutics to combat this fungal infection are urgently needed. Although aspartic peptidase inhibitors (PIs) currently used in the treatment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) have shown anti-F. pedrosoi activity their exact mechanisms of action have not been elucidated. In the present study, we have investigated the effects of four HIV-PIs on crucial virulence attributes expressed by F. pedrosoi conidial cells, including surface molecules and secreted enzymes, both of which are directly involved in the disease development. In all the experiments, conidia were treated with indinavir, nelfinavir, ritonavir and saquinavir (100 μM) for 24 h, and then fungal cells were used to evaluate the effects of HIV-PIs on different virulence attributes expressed by F. pedrosoi. In comparison to untreated controls, exposure of F. pedrosoi cells to HIV-PIs caused (i) reduction on the conidial granularity; (ii) irreversible surface ultrastructural alterations, such as shedding of electron dense and amorphous material from the cell wall, undulations/invaginations of the plasma membrane with and withdrawal of this membrane from the cell wall; (iii) a decrease in both mannose-rich glycoconjugates and melanin molecules and an increase in glucosylceramides on the conidial surface; (iv) inhibition of ergosterol and lanosterol production; (v) reduction in the secretion of aspartic peptidase, esterase and phospholipase; (vi) significant reduction in the viability of non-pigmented conidia compared to pigmented ones. In summary, HIV-PIs are efficient drugs with an ability to block crucial biological processes of F. pedrosoi and can be seriously considered as potential compounds for the development of new chromoblastomycosis chemotherapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanila F Palmeira
- Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Daniela S Alviano
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lys A Braga-Silva
- Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fátima R V Goulart
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marcela Q Granato
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo CruzRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sonia Rozental
- Laboratório de Biologia Celular de Fungos, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Celuta S Alviano
- Laboratório de Estrutura de Microrganismos, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André L S Santos
- Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucimar F Kneipp
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo CruzRio de Janeiro, Brazil
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16
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Granato MQ, Gonçalves DDS, Seabra SH, McCann M, Devereux M, Dos Santos ALS, Kneipp LF. 1,10-Phenanthroline-5,6-Dione-Based Compounds Are Effective in Disturbing Crucial Physiological Events of Phialophora verrucosa. Front Microbiol 2017; 8:76. [PMID: 28194139 PMCID: PMC5276843 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2017.00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Phialophora verrucosa is a dematiaceous fungus able to cause chromoblastomycosis, phaeohyphomycosis and mycetoma. All these fungal diseases are extremely difficult to treat and often refractory to the current therapeutic approaches. Therefore, there is an urgent necessity to develop new antifungal agents to combat these mycoses. In this context, the aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of 1,10-phenanthroline-5,6-dione (phendione) and its metal-based derivatives [Ag(phendione)2]ClO4 = ([Ag(phendione)2]+) and [Cu(phendione)3](ClO4)2.4H2O = ([Cu(phendione)3]2+) on crucial physiological events of P. verrucosa conidial cells. Using the CLSI protocol, we have shown that phendione, [Ag(phendione)2]+ and [Cu(phendione)3]2+ were able to inhibit fungal proliferation, presenting MIC/IC50 values of 12.0/7.0, 4.0/2.4, and 5.0/1.8 μM, respectively. [Cu(phendione)3]2+ had fungicidal action and when combined with amphotericin B, both at sub-MIC (½ × MIC) concentrations, significantly reduced (~40%) the fungal growth. Cell morphology changes inflicted by phendione and its metal-based derivatives was corroborated by scanning electron microscopy, which revealed irreversible ultrastructural changes like surface invaginations, cell disruption and shrinkages. Furthermore, [Cu(phendione)3]2+ and [Ag(phendione)2]+ were able to inhibit metallopeptidase activity secreted by P. verrucosa conidia by approximately 85 and 40%, respectively. Ergosterol content was reduced (~50%) after the treatment of P. verrucosa conidial cells with both phendione and [Ag(phendione)2]+. To different degrees, all of the test compounds were able to disturb the P. verrucosa conidia-into-mycelia transformation. Phendione and its Ag+ and Cu2+ complexes may represent a promising new group of antimicrobial agents effective at inhibiting P. verrucosa growth and morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Queiroz Granato
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Diego de Souza Gonçalves
- Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Sergio Henrique Seabra
- Laboratório de Tecnologia em Cultura de Células, Centro Universitário Estadual da Zona Oeste (UEZO) Duque de Caxias, Brazil
| | - Malachy McCann
- Chemistry Department, Maynooth University, National University of Ireland Maynooth, Ireland
| | - Michael Devereux
- Centre for Biomimetic and Therapeutic Research, Focas Research Institute, Dublin Institute of Technology Dublin, Ireland
| | - André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- Laboratório de Investigação de Peptidases, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil; Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica, Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Lucimar Ferreira Kneipp
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Azevedo MMB, Almeida CA, Chaves FCM, Rodrigues IA, Bizzo HR, Alviano CS, Alviano DS. 7-hydroxycalamenene Effects on Secreted Aspartic Proteases Activity and Biofilm Formation of Candida spp. Pharmacogn Mag 2016; 12:36-40. [PMID: 27019560 PMCID: PMC4787334 DOI: 10.4103/0973-1296.176022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The 7-hydroxycalamenenene-rich essential oil (EO) obtained from the leaves of Croton cajucara (red morphotype) have been described as active against bacteria, protozoa, and fungi species. In this work, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of 7-hydroxycalamenenene against Candida albicans and nonalbicans species. Materials and Methods: C. cajucara EO was obtained by hydrodistillation and its major compound, 7-hydroxycalamenene, was purified using preparative column chromatography. The anti-candidal activity was investigated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and secreted aspartic proteases (SAP) and biofilm inhibition assays. Results: 7-hydroxycalamenene (98% purity) displayed anti-candidal activity against all Candida species tested. Higher activity was observed against Candida dubliniensis, Candida parapsilosis and Candida albicans, showing MIC values ranging from 39.06 μg/ml to 78.12 μg/ml. The purified 7-hydroxycalamenene was able to inhibit 58% of C. albicans ATCC 36801 SAP activity at MIC concentration (pH 7.0). However, 7-hydroxycalamenene demonstrated poor inhibitory activity on C. albicans ATCC 10231 biofilm formation even at the highest concentration tested (2500 μg/ml). Conclusion: The bioactive potential of 7-hydroxycalamenene against planktonic Candida spp. further supports its use for the development of antimicrobials with anti-candidal activity. SUMMARY Croton cajucara Benth. essential oil provides high amounts of 7-hydroxycalamenene 7-Hydroxycalameneneisolated from C. cajucarais active against Candida spp 7-Hydroxycalameneneinhibits C. albicans aspartic protease activity 7-Hydroxycalamenene was not active against C. albicans biofilm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariana M B Azevedo
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Fundão Island, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Catia A Almeida
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Fundão Island, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | | | - Igor A Rodrigues
- Department of Natural Products and Food, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Fundão Island, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Humberto R Bizzo
- EMBRAPA Food Technology, Avenue of Americas, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Celuta S Alviano
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Fundão Island, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Daniela S Alviano
- Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, CCS, Fundão Island, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
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Brilhante RSN, Caetano ÉP, Riello GB, Guedes GMDM, Castelo-Branco DDSCM, Fechine MAB, Oliveira JSD, Camargo ZPD, Mesquita JRLD, Monteiro AJ, Cordeiro RDA, Rocha MFG, Sidrim JJC. Antiretroviral drugs saquinavir and ritonavir reduce inhibitory concentration values of itraconazole against Histoplasma capsulatum strains in vitro. Braz J Infect Dis 2015; 20:155-9. [PMID: 26748233 PMCID: PMC9427650 DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2015.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2015] [Revised: 10/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 10/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent studies have shown that some drugs that are not routinely used to treat fungal infections have antifungal activity, such as protease inhibitor antiretroviral drugs. This study investigated the in vitro susceptibility of Histoplasma capsulatum var. capsulatum to saquinavir and ritonavir, and its combination with the antifungal itraconazole. The susceptibility assay was performed according to Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. All strains were inhibited by the protease inhibitor antiretroviral drugs. Saquinavir showed minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.125 to 1μgmL(-1) for both phases, and ritonavir presented minimum inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.0312 to 4μgmL(-1)and from 0.0625 to 1μgmL(-1) for filamentous and yeast phase, respectively. Concerning the antifungal itraconazole, the minimum inhibitory concentration values ranged from 0.0019 to 0.125μgmL(-1) and from 0.0039 to 0.0312μgmL(-1) for the filamentous and yeast phase, respectively. The combination of saquinavir or ritonavir with itraconazole was synergistic against H. capsulatum, with a significant reduction in the minimum inhibitory concentrations of both drugs against the strains (p<0.05). These data show an important in vitro synergy between protease inhibitors and itraconazole against the fungus H. capsulatum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira Brilhante
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
| | - Érica Pacheco Caetano
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Barbosa Riello
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Glaucia Morgana de Melo Guedes
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Débora de Souza Collares Maia Castelo-Branco
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | | | - Jonathas Sales de Oliveira
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Zoilo Pires de Camargo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - André Jalles Monteiro
- Department of Statistics and Applied Mathematics, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Rossana de Aguiar Cordeiro
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Marcos Fábio Gadelha Rocha
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, Universidade Estadual do Ceará (UECE), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - José Júlio Costa Sidrim
- Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Universidade Federal do Ceará (UFC), Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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Granato MQ, Massapust PDA, Rozental S, Alviano CS, dos Santos ALS, Kneipp LF. 1,10-phenanthroline inhibits the metallopeptidase secreted by Phialophora verrucosa and modulates its growth, morphology and differentiation. Mycopathologia 2014; 179:231-42. [PMID: 25502596 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-014-9832-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2014] [Accepted: 11/13/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Phialophora verrucosa is one of the etiologic agents of chromoblastomycosis, a fungal infection that affects cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues. This disease is chronic, recurrent and difficult to treat. Several studies have shown that secreted peptidases by fungi are associated with important pathophysiological processes. Herein, we have identified and partially characterized the peptidase activity secreted by P. verrucosa conidial cells. Using human serum albumin as substrate, the best hydrolysis profile was detected at extreme acidic pH (3.0) and at 37 °C. The enzymatic activity was completely blocked by classical metallopeptidase inhibitors/chelating agents as 1,10-phenanthroline and EGTA. Zinc ions stimulated the metallo-type peptidase activity in a dose-dependent manner. Several proteinaceous substrates were cleaved, in different extension, by the P. verrucosa metallopeptidase activity, including immunoglobulin G, fibrinogen, collagen types I and IV, fibronectin, laminin and keratin; however, mucin and hemoglobin were not susceptible to proteolysis. As metallopeptidases participate in different cellular metabolic pathways in fungal cells, we also tested the influence of 1,10-phenanthroline and EGTA on P. verrucosa development. Contrarily to EGTA, 1,10-phenanthroline inhibited the fungal viability (MIC 0.8 µg/ml), showing fungistatic effect, and induced profound morphological alterations as visualized by transmission electron microscopy. In addition, 1,10-phenanthroline arrested the filamentation process in P. verrucosa. Our results corroborate the supposition that metallopeptidase inhibitors/chelating agents have potential to control crucial biological events in fungal agents of chromoblastomycosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Queiroz Granato
- Laboratório de Taxonomia, Bioquímica e Bioprospecção de Fungos, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Antiretroviral Protease Inhibitors Accelerate Glutathione Export from Viable Cultured Rat Neurons. Neurochem Res 2014; 39:883-92. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-014-1284-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/13/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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Basílio FMA, Hammerschmidt M, Mukai MM, Werner B, Pinheiro RL, Moritz S. Mucormycosis and chromoblastomycosis occurring in a patient with leprosy type 2 reaction under prolonged corticosteroid and thalidomide therapy. An Bras Dermatol 2013; 87:767-71. [PMID: 23044573 DOI: 10.1590/s0365-05962012000500017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Accepted: 11/09/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Mucormycosis is an uncommon fungal infection caused by Mucorales. It frequently occurs in patients with neutropenia, diabetes, malignancy and on corticoid therapy. However, it is rare in patients with AIDS. Clinical disease can be manifested in several forms. The case reported illustrates the rare occurrence of chromoblastomycosis and mucormycosis in an immunosuppressed patient with multibacillary leprosy, under prolonged corticosteroid and thalidomide therapy to control leprosy type 2 reaction. Neutrophil dysfunction, thalidomide therapy and work activities are some of the risk factors in this case. Chromoblastomycosis was treated by surgical excision and mucormycosis with amphotericin B. Although the prognosis of mucormycosis is generally poor, in the reported case the patient recovered successfully. This case should alert dermatologists to possible opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients.
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22
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The Antiretroviral Protease Inhibitor Ritonavir Accelerates Glutathione Export from Cultured Primary Astrocytes. Neurochem Res 2013; 38:732-41. [DOI: 10.1007/s11064-013-0971-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2012] [Revised: 01/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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Santos LO, Vitório BS, Branquinha MH, Pedroso e Silva CM, Santos ALS, d'Avila-Levy CM. Nelfinavir is effective in inhibiting the multiplication and aspartic peptidase activity of Leishmania species, including strains obtained from HIV-positive patients. J Antimicrob Chemother 2012; 68:348-53. [PMID: 23109184 PMCID: PMC3543121 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dks410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Objectives There is a general lack of effective and non-toxic chemotherapeutic agents for leishmaniasis and there is as yet no study about the effect of HIV peptidase inhibitors (HIV PIs) on Leishmania/HIV-coinfected patients. In the present work, we performed a comparative analysis of the spectrum of action of HIV PIs on different Leishmania spp., including strains obtained from HIV-positive patients receiving or not receiving antiretroviral treatment. Methods The effects of nelfinavir and saquinavir on Leishmania proliferation were assessed by means of a colorimetric assay (MTT). Subsequently, the effect of nelfinavir on aspartic peptidase activity from Leishmania spp. was assessed by following the degradation of the fluorogenic substrate MCA-G-K-P-I-L-F-F-R-L-K-DNP-Arg-NH2. Results Nelfinavir was capable of significantly reducing the multiplication of many Leishmania reference strains and isolates obtained from HIV-positive patients receiving or not receiving antiretroviral treatment. Leishmania major growth was inhibited by ∼50%, while all other flagellates were strongly inhibited (at least 94%), except for a Leishmania chagasi strain obtained from an HIV-positive patient under treatment with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). Culture of this isolate in the presence of nelfinavir induced a considerable reduction in the aspartic peptidase activity. In addition, nelfinavir was also capable of inhibiting the aspartic peptidase activity of all Leishmania strains tested. Conclusions The present data contribute to the study of the effect of HIV PIs on Leishmania infection and add new insights into the possibility of exploiting aspartic peptidases as promising targets in order to generate novel medications to treat leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia O Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Candida and candidiasis in HIV-infected patients: where commensalism, opportunistic behavior and frank pathogenicity lose their borders. AIDS 2012; 26:1457-72. [PMID: 22472853 DOI: 10.1097/qad.0b013e3283536ba8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
In this era of efficacious antiretroviral therapy and consequent immune reconstitution, oropharyngeal and esophageal candidiasis (OPC and OEC) still remain two clinically relevant presentations in the global HIV setting. Both diseases are predominantly caused by Candida albicans, a polymorphic fungus which is a commensal microbe in the healthy individual but can become an aggressive pathogen in a debilitated host. Actually, C. albicans commensalism is not the result of a benign behavior of one of the many components of human microbiota, but rather the result of host's potent innate and adaptive immune responses that restrict the growth of a potentially dangerous microrganism on the epithelia. An important asset guarding against the fungus is the Th17 functional subset of T helper cells. The selective loss of these cells with the progression of HIV infection causes the decay of fungal containment on the oral epithelium and allows C. albicans to express its pathogenic potential. An important part of this potential is represented by mechanisms to evade host immunity and enhance inflammation and immunoactivation. In C. albicans, these mechanisms are mostly incorporated into and expressed by characteristic morphogenic transitions such as the yeast-to-hyphal growth and the white-to-opaque switch. In addition, HIV infection generates an 'environment' selecting for overexpression of the virulence potential by the fungus, particularly concerning the secreted aspartyl proteinases (Saps). These enzymes can degrade critical host defense components such as complement and epithelial defensive proteins such as histatin-5 and E-cadherin. It appears that part of this enhanced Candida virulence could be induced by the binding of the fungus to HIV and/or induced by HIV proteins such as GP160 and tat. Both OPC and OEC can be controlled by old and new antimycotics, but in the absence of host collaboration, anticandidal therapy may become ineffective in the long run. For these reasons, new therapeutics targeting virulence factors and specific immune interventions are being addressed. Among these new approaches, vaccination is a promising one. Two subunit vaccines based on antigens dominantly expressed by C. albicans in vivo, that is the Als3 adhesin and Sap2, have recently undergone phase 1 clinical trials. Overall, studies of Candida and candidiasis in the HIV-positive patient while certainly contributing to a more effective control of the microorganism may also provide useful information on HIV-host relationship itself that can assist the fight against the virus.
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Sidrim JJC, Perdigão-Neto LV, Cordeiro RA, Brilhante RSN, Leite JJG, Teixeira CEC, Monteiro AJ, Freitas RMF, Ribeiro JF, Mesquita JRL, Gonçalves MVF, Rocha MFG. Viral protease inhibitors affect the production of virulence factors in Cryptococcus neoformans. Can J Microbiol 2012; 58:932-6. [PMID: 22716223 DOI: 10.1139/w2012-075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The effects of the protease inhibitors saquinavir, darunavir, ritonavir, and indinavir on growth inhibition, protease and phospholipase activities, as well as capsule thickness of Cryptococcus neoformans were investigated. Viral protease inhibitors did not reduce fungal growth when tested in concentrations ranging from 0.001 to 1.000 mg/L. A tendency toward increasing phospholipase activity was observed with the highest tested drug concentration in a strain-specific pattern. However, these drugs reduced protease activity as well as capsule production. Our results confirm a previous finding that antiretroviral drugs affect the production of important virulence factors of C. neoformans.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J C Sidrim
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Campus do Porangabussu, Fortaleza-CE, Brazil
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26
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Brandmann M, Tulpule K, Schmidt MM, Dringen R. The antiretroviral protease inhibitors indinavir and nelfinavir stimulate Mrp1-mediated GSH export from cultured brain astrocytes. J Neurochem 2011; 120:78-92. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-4159.2011.07544.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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27
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Dos Santos ALS. Protease expression by microorganisms and its relevance to crucial physiological/pathological events. World J Biol Chem 2011; 2:48-58. [PMID: 21537490 PMCID: PMC3083995 DOI: 10.4331/wjbc.v2.i3.48] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2011] [Revised: 02/21/2011] [Accepted: 02/28/2011] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The treatment of infections caused by fungi and trypanosomatids is difficult due to the eukaryotic nature of these microbial cells, which are similar in several biochemical and genetic aspects to host cells. Aggravating this scenario, very few antifungal and anti-trypanosomatidal agents are in clinical use and, therefore, therapy is limited by drug safety considerations and their narrow spectrum of activity, efficacy and resistance. The search for new bioactive agents against fungi and trypanosomatids has been expanded because progress in biochemistry and molecular biology has led to a better understanding of important and essential pathways in these microorganisms including nutrition, growth, proliferation, signaling, differentiation and death. In this context, proteolytic enzymes produced by these eukaryotic microorganisms are appointed and, in some cases, proven to be excellent targets for searching novel natural and/or synthetic pharmacological compounds, in order to cure or prevent invasive fungal/trypanosomatid diseases. With this task in mind, our research group and others have focused on aspartic-type proteases, since the activity of this class of hydrolytic enzymes is directly implicated in several facets of basic biological processes of both fungal and trypanosomatid cells as well as due to the participation in numerous events of interaction between these microorganisms and host structures. In the present paper, a concise revision of the beneficial effects of aspartic protease inhibitors, with emphasis on the aspartic protease inhibitors used in the anti-human immunodeficiency virus therapy, will be presented and discussed using our experience with the following microbial models: the yeast Candida albicans, the filamentous fungus Fonsecaea pedrosoi and the protozoan trypanosomatid Leishmania amazonensis.
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Affiliation(s)
- André Luis Souza Dos Santos
- André Luis Souza dos Santos, Laboratory of Multidisciplinary Studies on Microbial Biochemistry, Department of General Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology Prof. Paulo de Góes, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
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Kottom TJ, Han J, Zhang Z, Limper AH. Pneumocystis carinii expresses an active Rtt109 histone acetyltransferase. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2010; 44:768-76. [PMID: 20656950 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2009-0443oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Species in the genus Pneumocystis can cause severe pneumonia in immune-compromised hosts. The identification of specific targets present in Pneumocystis species, but lacking in mammalian hosts, is paramount to developing new means to treat this infection. One such potential protein is Rtt109, which is a type of histone acetyltransferase (HAT) required for DNA replication in fungi, but not found in mammals. Sequence orthologues of Rtt109 are present in other fungi, but are absent in mammals, making it a potential pan-specific target against medically relevant fungi. Accordingly, we sought to identify the presence of an Rtt109 in P. carinii. A Pneumocystis carinii (Pc) Rtt109 165-bp partial sequence was initially identified from the incomplete P. carinii genome database. Subsequently, a full-length, 1,128-bp cDNA with homology to Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rtt109 (39% Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLASTP)) was cloned and characterized. Sequence analysis of PcRtt109 indicated that the P. carinii molecule contains the putative catalytic aspartate present in yeast. We further demonstrated that the PcRtt109 expressed in rtt109Δ S. cerevisiae cells restored H3-K56 acetylation and the sensitivity toward DNA-damaging agents of rtt109Δ mutant cells. Purified PcRtt109 had the ability to acetylate lysine-56 of histone H3, similar to the ability of Schizosaccharomyces pombe Rtt109 protein. The site-directed mutagenesis of PcRtt109 D84A, a potential regulatory site in the Rtt109 HAT family, abolished H3 acetylation, whereas a DD218/219AA mutation that compromised the activity of ScRtt109 had little effect, demonstrating similarities and differences in Pneumocystis PcRtt109 compared with yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae Rtt109. These results indicate that P. carinii contains an Rtt109 HAT molecule, and represent the complete identification and characterization of a HAT molecule from this important opportunistic fungal pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theodore J Kottom
- Thoracic Diseases Research Unit, Department of Medicine and Department of Biochemistry, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
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Phospholipase and esterase production by clinical strains of Fonsecaea pedrosoi and their interactions with epithelial cells. Mycopathologia 2010; 170:31-7. [PMID: 20195904 DOI: 10.1007/s11046-010-9293-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2009] [Accepted: 02/14/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Fonsecaea pedrosoi is the major etiologic agent of chromoblastomycosis. The virulence of F. pedrosoi is a meagerly explored phenomenon. The ability to interact with host cells and the production of hydrolytic enzymes are thought to be important virulence mechanisms of fungal pathogens. Here, we measured the production of two distinct lipolytic enzymes, phospholipase and esterase, by three clinical strains of F. pedrosoi isolated from chromoblastomycosis lesions, as well as their capabilities to interact with epithelial cells. All the strains were excellent esterase producers, generating elevated hydrolytic halos after 5 days of growth. Conversely, phospholipase activity was detected only after 10 days, except for the most recent strain of F. pedrosoi (Magé) in which measurable phospholipase activity was detected on day 5. The ability to interact with epithelial cells was also investigated. Regarding the adhesion capability, an indirect connection was observed in relation to the adaptation time of each strain in axenic culture, in which Magé strain showed the best adhesion ability followed by LDI 11428 and 5VPL strains. Both 5VPL and Magé strains were also detected inside the epithelial cells, while the LDI 11428 strain was rarely detected in cytoplasmatic vacuolar compartments. Moreover, these F. pedrosoi strains were able to cause injury in epithelial cells.
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Santos LO, Marinho FA, Altoé EF, Vitório BS, Alves CR, Britto C, Motta MCM, Branquinha MH, Santos ALS, d'Avila-Levy CM. HIV aspartyl peptidase inhibitors interfere with cellular proliferation, ultrastructure and macrophage infection of Leishmania amazonensis. PLoS One 2009; 4:e4918. [PMID: 19325703 PMCID: PMC2656615 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0004918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2008] [Accepted: 01/31/2009] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Leishmania is the etiologic agent of leishmanisais, a protozoan disease whose pathogenic events are not well understood. Current therapy is suboptimal due to toxicity of the available therapeutic agents and the emergence of drug resistance. Compounding these problems is the increase in the number of cases of Leishmania-HIV coinfection, due to the overlap between the AIDS epidemic and leishmaniasis. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS In the present report, we have investigated the effect of HIV aspartyl peptidase inhibitors (PIs) on the Leishmania amazonensis proliferation, ultrastructure, interaction with macrophage cells and expression of classical peptidases which are directly involved in the Leishmania pathogenesis. All the HIV PIs impaired parasite growth in a dose-dependent fashion, especially nelfinavir and lopinavir. HIV PIs treatment caused profound changes in the leishmania ultrastructure as shown by transmission electron microscopy, including cytoplasm shrinking, increase in the number of lipid inclusions and some cells presenting the nucleus closely wrapped by endoplasmic reticulum resembling an autophagic process, as well as chromatin condensation which is suggestive of apoptotic death. The hydrolysis of HIV peptidase substrate by L. amazonensis extract was inhibited by pepstatin and HIV PIs, suggesting that an aspartyl peptidase may be the intracellular target of the inhibitors. The treatment with HIV PIs of either the promastigote forms preceding the interaction with macrophage cells or the amastigote forms inside macrophages drastically reduced the association indexes. Despite all these beneficial effects, the HIV PIs induced an increase in the expression of cysteine peptidase b (cpb) and the metallopeptidase gp63, two well-known virulence factors expressed by Leishmania spp. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE In the face of leishmaniasis/HIV overlap, it is critical to further comprehend the sophisticated interplays among Leishmania, HIV and macrophages. In addition, there are many unresolved questions related to the management of Leishmania-HIV-coinfected patients. For instance, the efficacy of therapy aimed at controlling each pathogen in coinfected individuals remains largely undefined. The results presented herein add new in vitro insight into the wide spectrum efficacy of HIV PIs and suggest that additional studies about the synergistic effects of classical antileishmanial compounds and HIV PIs in macrophages coinfected with Leishmania and HIV-1 should be performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lívia O. Santos
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Fernanda A. Marinho
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Bloco I, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ellen F. Altoé
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Bianca S. Vitório
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carlos R. Alves
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Constança Britto
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Maria Cristina M. Motta
- Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, CCS, (UFRJ), Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Bloco K, Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Marta H. Branquinha
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Bloco I, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - André L. S. Santos
- Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Prof. Paulo de Góes, Centro de Ciências da Saúde (CCS), Bloco I, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Ilha do Fundão, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Claudia M. d'Avila-Levy
- Laboratório de Biologia Molecular e Doenças Endêmicas, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz (IOC), Fundação Oswaldo Cruz (FIOCRUZ), Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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