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do Nascimento Dias J, Hurtado Erazo FA, Bessa LJ, Eaton P, Leite JRDSDA, Paes HC, Nicola AM, Silva-Pereira I, Albuquerque P. Synergic Effect of the Antimicrobial Peptide ToAP2 and Fluconazole on Candida albicans Biofilms. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:7769. [PMID: 39063009 PMCID: PMC11276877 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25147769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2024] [Revised: 06/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/09/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans is one of the agents of invasive candidiasis, a life-threatening disease strongly associated with hospitalization, particularly among patients in intensive care units with central venous catheters. This study aimed to evaluate the synergistic activity of the antifungal peptide ToAP2 combined with fluconazole against C. albicans biofilms grown on various materials. We tested combinations of different concentrations of the peptide ToAP2 with fluconazole on C. albicans biofilms. These biofilms were generated on 96-well plates, intravenous catheters, and infusion tubes in RPMI medium at two maturation stages. Scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were employed to assess the biofilm structure. We also evaluated the expression of genes previously proven to be involved in C. albicans biofilm formation in planktonic and biofilm cells after treatment with the peptide ToAP2 using qPCR. ToAP2 demonstrated a synergistic effect with fluconazole at concentrations up to 25 µM during both the early and mature stages of biofilm formation in 96-well plates and on medical devices. Combinations of 50, 25, and 12.5 µM of ToAP2 with 52 µM of fluconazole significantly reduced the biofilm viability compared to individual treatments and untreated controls. These results were supported by substantial structural changes in the biofilms observed through both scanning and atomic force microscopy. The gene expression analysis of C. albicans cells treated with 25 µM of ToAP2 revealed a decrease in the expression of genes associated with membrane synthesis, along with an increase in the expression of genes involved in efflux pumps, adhesins, and filamentation. Our results highlight the efficacy of the combined ToAP2 and fluconazole treatment against C. albicans biofilms. This combination not only shows therapeutic potential but also suggests its utility in developing preventive biofilm tools for intravenous catheters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhones do Nascimento Dias
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Fungi, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (J.d.N.D.); (F.A.H.E.)
| | - Fabián Andrés Hurtado Erazo
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Fungi, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (J.d.N.D.); (F.A.H.E.)
| | - Lucinda J. Bessa
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (L.J.B.); (P.E.)
| | - Peter Eaton
- LAQV/REQUIMTE, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, 4169-007 Porto, Portugal; (L.J.B.); (P.E.)
- The Bridge, School of Chemistry, University of Lincoln, Lincoln LN6 7TS, UK
| | | | - Hugo Costa Paes
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (H.C.P.); (A.M.N.)
| | - André Moraes Nicola
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (H.C.P.); (A.M.N.)
| | - Ildinete Silva-Pereira
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Fungi, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (J.d.N.D.); (F.A.H.E.)
| | - Patrícia Albuquerque
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Fungi, University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70910-900, Brazil; (J.d.N.D.); (F.A.H.E.)
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Qiu Z, Huang R, Wu Y, Li X, Sun C, Ma Y. Decoding the Structural Diversity: A New Horizon in Antimicrobial Prospecting and Mechanistic Investigation. Microb Drug Resist 2024; 30:254-272. [PMID: 38648550 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2023.0232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The escalating crisis of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) underscores the urgent need for novel antimicrobials. One promising strategy is the exploration of structural diversity, as diverse structures can lead to diverse biological activities and mechanisms of action. This review delves into the role of structural diversity in antimicrobial discovery, highlighting its influence on factors such as target selectivity, binding affinity, pharmacokinetic properties, and the ability to overcome resistance mechanisms. We discuss various approaches for exploring structural diversity, including combinatorial chemistry, diversity-oriented synthesis, and natural product screening, and provide an overview of the common mechanisms of action of antimicrobials. We also describe techniques for investigating these mechanisms, such as genomics, proteomics, and structural biology. Despite significant progress, several challenges remain, including the synthesis of diverse compound libraries, the identification of active compounds, the elucidation of complex mechanisms of action, the emergence of AMR, and the translation of laboratory discoveries to clinical applications. However, emerging trends and technologies, such as artificial intelligence, high-throughput screening, next-generation sequencing, and open-source drug discovery, offer new avenues to overcome these challenges. Looking ahead, we envisage an exciting future for structural diversity-oriented antimicrobial discovery, with opportunities for expanding the chemical space, harnessing the power of nature, deepening our understanding of mechanisms of action, and moving toward personalized medicine and collaborative drug discovery. As we face the continued challenge of AMR, the exploration of structural diversity will be crucial in our search for new and effective antimicrobials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziying Qiu
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Rongkun Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Yuxuan Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Xinghao Li
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Chunyu Sun
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
| | - Yunqi Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, China
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Darwish RM, Salama AH. Developing antibacterial peptides as a promising therapy for combating antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. Vet World 2024; 17:1259-1264. [PMID: 39077460 PMCID: PMC11283607 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2024.1259-1264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Antibiotic-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa poses a serious health threat. This study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of peptide KW-23 against drug-resistant P. aeruginosa and its potential for enhancing the efficacy of conventional antibiotics. Materials and Methods KW-23 was synthesized from nine amino acids, specifically three tryptophans and three lysines. The purity of the substance was analyzed using reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The peptide was identified through mass spectrometry using electrospray ionization. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of KW-23 in combination with conventional antibiotics against control and multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa were determined utilizing broth microdilution. The erythrocyte hemolytic assay was used to measure toxicity. The KW-23 effect was analyzed using the time-kill curve. Results The peptide exhibited strong antibacterial activity against control and multidrug-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa, with MICs of 4.5 μg/mL and 20 μg/mL, respectively. At higher concentration of 100 μg/mL, KW-23 exhibited a low hemolytic impact, causing no more than 3% damage to red blood. The cytotoxicity assay demonstrates KW-23's safety, while the time-kill curve highlights its rapid and sustained antibacterial activity. The combination of KW-23 and gentamicin exhibited synergistic activity against both susceptible and resistant P. aeruginosa, with fractional inhibitory concentration index values of 0.07 and 0.27, respectively. Conclusion The KW-23 synthesized in the laboratory significantly combats antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa. Due to its strong antibacterial properties and low toxicity to cells, KW-23 is a promising alternative to traditional antibiotics in combating multidrug-resistant bacteria.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rula M. Darwish
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan, Amman, 11942, Jordan
| | - Ali H. Salama
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Amman, 11831, Jordan
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Zhang Z, Chen T, Yin X, Wang W, Li W, Chen X, Ma J, Long Y. Honokiol inhibits Botryosphaeria dothidea, the causal pathogen of kiwifruit soft rot, by targeting membrane lipid biosynthesis. PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE 2024; 80:1779-1794. [PMID: 38031205 DOI: 10.1002/ps.7910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 10/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Kiwifruit soft rot is mainly caused by Botryosphaeria dothidea, representing a considerable threat to kiwifruit industry. This investigation assessed the inhibitory consequences and mechanisms of honokiol against B. dothidea, evaluating the inhibitory effects and underlying mechanism. RESULTS A strain of B.dothidea (XFCT-2) was isolated from infected soft rot kiwifruit. The findings indicate that honokiol hindered the mycelial growth, conidial germination, and pathogenicity of B. dothidea in a dose-dependent manner, both in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, ultrastructural examinations showed that honokiol impaired the integrity of B. dothidea, leading to an elevation in cell membrane permeability, engendering a multitude of intracellular substance extravasations and hampering energy metabolism. Transcriptome analysis exhibited that honokiol-regulated genes were related to membrane lipid biosynthesis, comprising ACC1, FAS2, Arp2, gk, Cesle, and Etnk1. These findings indicate that honokiol impedes B. dothidea by obstructing lipid biosynthesis within the cell membrane and compromising its integrity, halting the growth of the mycelia, which could potentially cause cellular demise. CONCLUSION This investigation illustrates how honokiol functions as an eco-friendly approach to prevent the occurrence of soft rot in kiwifruits. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuzhu Zhang
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Teaching Experiment Farm, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Tingting Chen
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Teaching Experiment Farm, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xianhui Yin
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Weizhen Wang
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Wenzhi Li
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Xuetang Chen
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jiling Ma
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
| | - Youhua Long
- Research Center for Engineering Technology of Kiwifruit, Institute of Crop Protection, College of Agriculture, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
- Teaching Experiment Farm, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China
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Zhou L, Meng G, Zhu L, Ma L, Chen K. Insect Antimicrobial Peptides as Guardians of Immunity and Beyond: A Review. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3835. [PMID: 38612644 PMCID: PMC11011964 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), as immune effectors synthesized by a variety of organisms, not only constitute a robust defense mechanism against a broad spectrum of pathogens in the host but also show promising applications as effective antimicrobial agents. Notably, insects are significant reservoirs of natural AMPs. However, the complex array of variations in types, quantities, antimicrobial activities, and production pathways of AMPs, as well as evolution of AMPs across insect species, presents a significant challenge for immunity system understanding and AMP applications. This review covers insect AMP discoveries, classification, common properties, and mechanisms of action. Additionally, the types, quantities, and activities of immune-related AMPs in each model insect are also summarized. We conducted the first comprehensive investigation into the diversity, distribution, and evolution of 20 types of AMPs in model insects, employing phylogenetic analysis to describe their evolutionary relationships and shed light on conserved and distinctive AMP families. Furthermore, we summarize the regulatory pathways of AMP production through classical signaling pathways and additional pathways associated with Nitric Oxide, insulin-like signaling, and hormones. This review advances our understanding of AMPs as guardians in insect immunity systems and unlocks a gateway to insect AMP resources, facilitating the use of AMPs to address food safety concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lizhen Zhou
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China;
- Department of Entomology, College of Plant Protection, Northwest A&F University, Yangling 712100, China
| | - Guanliang Meng
- Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig, Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change, 53113 Bonn, Germany;
| | - Ling Zhu
- School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China;
| | - Li Ma
- College of Plant Protection, Shanxi Agricultural University, Taigu 030810, China
| | - Kangkang Chen
- Department of Plant Protection, College of Plant Protection, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225009, China;
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Sreelakshmi KP, Madhuri M, Swetha R, Rangarajan V, Roy U. Microbial lipopeptides: their pharmaceutical and biotechnological potential, applications, and way forward. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 40:135. [PMID: 38489053 DOI: 10.1007/s11274-024-03908-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
As lead molecules, cyclic lipopeptides with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties have garnered a lot of attention in recent years. Because of their potential, cyclic lipopeptides have earned recognition as a significant class of antimicrobial compounds with applications in pharmacology and biotechnology. These lipopeptides, often with biosurfactant properties, are amphiphilic, consisting of a hydrophilic moiety, like a carboxyl group, peptide backbone, or carbohydrates, and a hydrophobic moiety, mostly a fatty acid. Besides, several lipopeptides also have cationic groups that play an important role in biological activities. Antimicrobial lipopeptides can be considered as possible substitutes for antibiotics that are conventional to address the current drug-resistant issues as pharmaceutical industries modify the parent antibiotic molecules to render them more effective against antibiotic-resistant bacteria and fungi, leading to the development of more resistant microbial strains. Bacillus species produce lipopeptides, which are secondary metabolites that are amphiphilic and are typically synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs). They have been identified as potential biocontrol agents as they exhibit a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity. A further benefit of lipopeptides is that they can be produced and purified biotechnologically or biochemically in a sustainable manner using readily available, affordable, renewable sources without harming the environment. In this review, we discuss the biochemical and functional characterization of antifungal lipopeptides, as well as their various modes of action, method of production and purification (in brief), and potential applications as novel antibiotic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- K P Sreelakshmi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-KK Birla Goa Campus Goa, NH 17 B Bypass Rd., Goa, 403726, India
| | - M Madhuri
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-KK Birla Goa Campus Goa, NH 17 B Bypass Rd., Goa, 403726, India
| | - R Swetha
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-KK Birla Goa Campus Goa, NH 17 B Bypass Rd., Goa, 403726, India
| | - Vivek Rangarajan
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-KK Birla Goa Campus Goa, NH 17 B Bypass Rd., Goa, 403726, India
| | - Utpal Roy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-KK Birla Goa Campus Goa, NH 17 B Bypass Rd., Goa, 403726, India.
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Wang Z, Xu J, Zeng X, Du Q, Lan H, Zhang J, Pan D, Tu M. Recent Advances on Antimicrobial Peptides from Milk: Molecular Properties, Mechanisms, and Applications. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2024; 72:80-93. [PMID: 38152984 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.3c07217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Traditional antibiotics are facing a tremendous challenge due to increased antimicrobial resistance; hence, there is an urgent need to find novel antibiotic alternatives. Milk protein-derived antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are currently attracting substantial attention considering that they showcase an extensive spectrum of antimicrobial activities, with slower development of antimicrobial resistance and safety of raw materials. This review summarizes the molecular properties, and activity mechanisms and highlights the applications and limitations of AMPs derived from milk proteins comprehensively. Also the analytical technologies, especially bioinformatics methodologies, applied in the process of screening, identification, and mechanism illustration of AMPs were underlined. This review will give some ideas for further research and broadening of the applications of milk protein-derived AMPs in the food field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Jue Xu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Xiaoqun Zeng
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Qiwei Du
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Hangzhen Lan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Jianming Zhang
- Institute of Food Science, Zhejiang Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, China
| | - Daodong Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
| | - Maolin Tu
- State Key Laboratory for Managing Biotic and Chemical Threats to the Quality and Safety of Agro-products, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Protein Food Deep Processing Technology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang-Malaysia Joint Research Laboratory for Agricultural Product Processing and Nutrition, College of Food and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315800, China
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Ramesh S, Roy U, Roy S. The elucidation of the multimodal action of the investigational anti- Candida lipopeptide (AF 4) lead from Bacillus subtilis. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1248444. [PMID: 38131013 PMCID: PMC10736182 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1248444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Candida species are the main etiological agents for candidiasis, and Candida albicans are the most common infectious species. Candida species' growing resistance to conventional therapies necessitates more research into novel antifungal agents. Antifungal peptides isolated from microorganisms have potential applications as novel therapeutics. AF4 a Bacillus-derived lipopeptide demonstrating broad-spectrum antifungal activity has been investigated for its ability to cause cell death in Candida species via membrane damage and oxidative stress. Methods: Using biophysical techniques, the secondary structure of the AF4 lipopeptide was identified. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal microscopy with fluorescent dyes were performed to visualise the effect of the lipopeptide. The membrane disruption and permeabilization were assessed using the 1,6-diphenyl hexatriene (DPH) fluorescence assay and flow cytometric (FC) assessment of propidium iodide (PI) uptake, respectively. The reactive oxygen species levels were estimated using the FC assessment. The induction of apoptosis and DNA damage were studied using Annexin V-FITC/PI and DAPI. Results: Bacillus-derived antifungal variant AF4 was found to have structural features typical of lipopeptides. Microscopy imaging revealed that AF4 damages the surface of treated cells and results in membrane permeabilization, facilitating the uptake of the fluorescent dyes. A loss of membrane integrity was observed in cells treated with AF4 due to a decrease in DPH fluorescence and a dose-dependent increase in PI uptake. Cell damage was also determined from the log reduction of viable cells treated with AF4. AF4 treatment also caused elevated ROS levels, induced phosphatidylserine externalisation, late-stage apoptosis, and alterations to nuclear morphology revealed by DAPI fluorescence. Conclusion: Collectively, the mode of action studies revealed that AF4 acts primarily on the cell membrane of C. albicans and has the potential to act as an antifungal drug candidate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Swetha Ramesh
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
| | - Utpal Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
| | - Subhashis Roy
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, K.K. Birla Goa Campus, Goa, India
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Ayed A, Essid R, Mankai H, Echmar A, Fares N, Hammami M, Sewald N, Limam F, Tabbene O. Synergistic antifungal activity and potential mechanism of action of a glycolipid-like compound produced by Streptomyces blastmyceticus S108 against Candida clinical isolates. J Appl Microbiol 2023; 134:lxad246. [PMID: 37884451 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
AIM The present study aimed to investigate a novel antifungal compound produced by Streptomyces blastmyceticus S108 strain. Its effectiveness against clinical isolates of Candida species and its synergistic effect with conventional antifungal drugs were assessed, and its molecular mechanism of action was further studied against Candida albicans. METHODS AND RESULTS A newly isolated strain from Tunisian soil, S. blastmyceticus S108, showed significant antifungal activity against Candida species by well diffusion method. The butanolic extract of S108 strain supernatant exhibited the best anti-Candida activity with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 250 μg ml-1, determined by the microdilution method. The bio-guided purification steps of the butanolic extract were performed by chromatographic techniques. Among the fractions obtained, F13 demonstrated the highest level of activity, displaying a MIC of 31.25 μg ml-1. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and electrospray ionization mass spectrometry analyses of this fraction (F13) revealed the glycolipidic nature of the active molecule with a molecular weight of 685.6 m/z. This antifungal metabolite remained stable to physicochemical changes and did not show hemolytic activity even at 4MIC corresponding to 125 µg ml-1 toward human erythrocytes. Besides, the glycolipid compound was combined with 5-flucytosine and showed a high synergistic effect with a fractional inhibitory concentration index value 0.14 against C. albicans ATCC 10231. This combination resulted in a decrease of MIC values of 5-flucytosine and the glycolipid-like compound by 8- and 64-fold, respectively. The examination of gene expression in treated C. albicans cells by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) revealed that the active compound tested alone or in combination with 5-flucytosine blocks the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway by downregulating the expression of ERG1, ERG3, ERG5, ERG11, and ERG25 genes. CONCLUSION AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The new glycolipid-like compound, produced by Streptomyces S108 isolate, could be a promising drug for medical use against pathogenic Candida isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Ayed
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - R Essid
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - H Mankai
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - A Echmar
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - N Fares
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - M Hammami
- Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - N Sewald
- Organic and Bioorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Bielefeld University, 33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - F Limam
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - O Tabbene
- Laboratory of Bioactive Substances, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia
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Darwish RM, Salama AH. A pilot study on ultrashort peptide with fluconazole: A promising novel anticandidal combination. Vet World 2023; 16:1284-1288. [PMID: 37577210 PMCID: PMC10421555 DOI: 10.14202/vetworld.2023.1284-1288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background and Aim Human infections caused by Candida albicans are common and range in severity from relatively treatable skin and mucosal conditions to systemic, fatal invasive candidiasis. The treatment of fungal infections is challenged by major obstacles, including the scarcity of effective therapeutic options, the toxicity of available medications, and the escalating antifungal resistance. Hence, there exists an urgent need to develop new classes of antimicrobial agents. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of KW-23 peptide against standard and resistant strains of C. albicans alone and in combination with fluconazole. Materials and Methods A conjugated ultrashort antimicrobial peptide (KW-23) was designed and synthesized. KW-23 was challenged against standard and multidrug-resistant C. albicans alone and in combination with fluconazole using standard antimicrobial and checkerboard assays. The toxicity of the peptide was examined using hemolytic assays. Results KW-23 positively affected the standard and resistant Candidal strains (at 5 and 15 μg/mL respectively), exhibiting potent synergistic antimicrobial activity against the standard strain when combined with fluconazole. The effect of the combination was additive against the resistant strain (0.6 μg/mL). Furthermore, the peptide exhibited negligible toxicity on human erythrocytes. Conclusion KW-23 and its combination with fluconazole could be a promising candidate for developing anticandidal agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rula M. Darwish
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, School of Pharmacy, the University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Ali H. Salama
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Middle East University, Amman 11831, Jordan
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Santos AL, Beckham JL, Liu D, Li G, van Venrooy A, Oliver A, Tegos GP, Tour JM. Visible-Light-Activated Molecular Machines Kill Fungi by Necrosis Following Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Calcium Overload. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2205781. [PMID: 36715588 PMCID: PMC10074111 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Revised: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections are a growing public health threat. As fungi become increasingly resistant to existing drugs, new antifungals are urgently needed. Here, it is reported that 405-nm-visible-light-activated synthetic molecular machines (MMs) eliminate planktonic and biofilm fungal populations more effectively than conventional antifungals without resistance development. Mechanism-of-action studies show that MMs bind to fungal mitochondrial phospholipids. Upon visible light activation, rapid unidirectional drilling of MMs at ≈3 million cycles per second (MHz) results in mitochondrial dysfunction, calcium overload, and ultimately necrosis. Besides their direct antifungal effect, MMs synergize with conventional antifungals by impairing the activity of energy-dependent efflux pumps. Finally, MMs potentiate standard antifungals both in vivo and in an ex vivo porcine model of onychomycosis, reducing the fungal burden associated with infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana L. Santos
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
| | | | - Dongdong Liu
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | - Gang Li
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
| | | | - Antonio Oliver
- IdISBA – Fundación de Investigación Sanitaria de las Islas BalearesPalma07120Spain
- Servicio de MicrobiologiaHospital Universitari Son EspasesPalma07120Spain
| | - George P. Tegos
- Office of ResearchReading HospitalTower Health, 420 S. Fifth AvenueWest ReadingPA19611USA
| | - James M. Tour
- Department of ChemistryRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Smalley‐Curl InstituteRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineeringRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
- NanoCarbon Center and the Welch Institute for Advanced MaterialsRice UniversityHoustonTX77005USA
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12
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Nanajkar N, Mruthyunjaya LS, Nagarajan D. A Simple Radioassay to Detect Nanoscale Membrane Disruption. Methods Protoc 2023; 6:mps6020023. [PMID: 36961043 PMCID: PMC10037656 DOI: 10.3390/mps6020023] [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: 11/25/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms and kinetics of membrane damage is of interest to researchers in several overlapping fields of biology. In this study, we describe the development and validation of a simple 32PO43- release radioassay used to track nanometer-scale damage to the bacterial cell membrane. Nanoscale membrane damage will result in the release of small cytoplasmic molecules, such as amino acids, sugars, and osmolytes. Our radioassay tracks the release of these molecules using the release of cytoplasmic 32PO43- as a proxy. Our assay can both detect 32PO43- release and track release kinetics in the order of minutes. We demonstrate the use of our radioassay using A. baumannii treated with colistin and Ω76: two agents known to cause membrane damage. Our assay tracks greater membrane damage in A. baumannii treated with both these agents, compared to an untreated control. Our assay fills a niche that is not covered by traditional 51Cr release radioassays and fluorescent staining techniques. Furthermore, our assay can potentially be used to track membrane damage in other membrane systems such as lipid vesicles, animal cells, and organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Nanajkar
- Department of Biology, University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742, USA
| | - Lekhana S Mruthyunjaya
- Department of Food Technology, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore 560054, India
| | - Deepesh Nagarajan
- Department of Biotechnology, M.S. Ramaiah University of Applied Sciences, Bangalore 560054, India
- Department of Microbiology, St. Xavier's College, Mumbai 400001, India
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13
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Guevara-Lora I, Bras G, Juszczak M, Karkowska-Kuleta J, Gorecki A, Manrique-Moreno M, Dymek J, Pyza E, Kozik A, Rapala-Kozik M. Cecropin D-derived synthetic peptides in the fight against Candida albicans cell filamentation and biofilm formation. Front Microbiol 2023; 13:1045984. [PMID: 36713201 PMCID: PMC9880178 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2022.1045984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 12/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent progressive increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections, especially in immunocompromised patients, makes the search for new therapies crucial in the face of the growing drug resistance of prevalent nosocomial yeast strains. The latest research focuses on the active compounds of natural origin, inhibiting fungal growth, and preventing the formation of fungal biofilms. Antimicrobial peptides are currently the subject of numerous studies concerning effective antifungal therapy. In the present study, the antifungal properties of two synthetic peptides (ΔM3, ΔM4) derived from an insect antimicrobial peptide - cecropin D - were investigated. The fungicidal activity of both compounds was demonstrated against the yeast forms of Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida parapsilosis, reaching a MFC99.9 in the micromolar range, while Candida glabrata showed greater resistance to these peptides. The scanning electron microscopy revealed a destabilization of the yeast cell walls upon treatment with both peptides; however, their effectiveness was strongly modified by the presence of salt or plasma in the yeast environment. The transition of C. albicans cells from yeast to filamentous form, as well as the formation of biofilms, was effectively reduced by ΔM4. Mature biofilm viability was inhibited by a higher concentration of this peptide and was accompanied by increased ROS production, activation of the GPX3 and SOD5 genes, and finally, increased membrane permeability. Furthermore, both peptides showed a synergistic effect with caspofungin in inhibiting the metabolic activity of C. albicans cells, and an additive effect was also observed for the mixtures of peptides with amphotericin B. The results indicate the possible potential of the tested peptides in the prevention and treatment of candidiasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ibeth Guevara-Lora
- Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Grazyna Bras
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Magdalena Juszczak
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Justyna Karkowska-Kuleta
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Gorecki
- Department of Physical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcela Manrique-Moreno
- Chemistry Institute, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, University of Antioquia, Medellin, Colombia
| | - Jakub Dymek
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Elzbieta Pyza
- Department of Cell Biology and Imaging, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Andrzej Kozik
- Department of Analytical Biochemistry, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland
| | - Maria Rapala-Kozik
- Department of Comparative Biochemistry and Bioanalytics, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Krakow, Poland,*Correspondence: Maria Rapala-Kozik,
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Ma H, Yang L, Tian Z, Zhu L, Peng J, Fu P, Xiu J, Guo G. Antimicrobial peptide AMP-17 exerts anti-Candida albicans effects through ROS-mediated apoptosis and necrosis. INTERNATIONAL MICROBIOLOGY : THE OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE SPANISH SOCIETY FOR MICROBIOLOGY 2023; 26:81-90. [PMID: 36056293 DOI: 10.1007/s10123-022-00274-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
There is a need for new anti-Candida albicans (C. albicans) drugs owing to the emergence of drug resistance in recent years. AMP-17, an antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica (M. domestica), is known to be an effective inhibitor of many fungal pathogens, including C. albicans. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism underlying the anti-C. albicans effects of AMP-17 using flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescent probes, fluorescence microplate reader, and confocal laser microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy showed that, following AMP-17 treatment, the shape of C. albicans cells became irregular, and vacuoles could be seen in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, AMP-17 treatment resulted in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and changes in the cell cycle, leading to the apoptosis and necrosis, which ultimately contributed to the death of C. albicans cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huiling Ma
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.,Department of Pathogen Biology and Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Sanquan College of Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, 453003, China
| | - Longbing Yang
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Zhuqing Tian
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Lijuan Zhu
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Jian Peng
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.,Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - Ping Fu
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China
| | - JiangFan Xiu
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China. .,Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
| | - Guo Guo
- The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China. .,Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
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15
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Lu Q, Wang Y, Liao X, Zhou F, Zhang B, Wu X. Physiological and transcriptome analysis of Candida albicans in response to X33 antimicrobial oligopeptide treatment. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1123393. [PMID: 36743308 PMCID: PMC9892945 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1123393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic fungus, which frequently causes systemic or local fungal infections in humans. The evolution of its drug-resistant mutants necessitate an urgent development of novel antimicrobial agents. Results Here, we explored the antimicrobial activity and inhibitory mechanisms of X33 antimicrobial oligopeptide (X33 AMOP) against C. albicans. The oxford cup test results showed that X33 AMOP had strong inhibitory activity against C. albicans, and its MIC and MFC were 0.625 g/L and 2.5 g/L, respectively. Moreover, SEM and TEM showed that X33 AMOP disrupted the integrity of cell membrane. The AKP, ROS, H2O2 and MDA contents increased, while the reducing sugar, soluble protein, and pyruvate contents decreased after the X33 AMOP treatment. This indicated that X33 AMOP could damage the mitochondrial integrity of the cells, thereby disrupting the energy metabolism by inducing oxidative stress in C. albicans. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis showed that X33 AMOP treatment resulted in the differential expression of 1140 genes, among which 532 were up-regulated, and 608 were down-regulated. These DEGs were related to protein, nucleic acid, and carbohydrate metabolism, and their expression changes were consistent with the changes in physiological characteristics. Moreover, we found that X33 AMOP could effectively inhibit the virulence attributes of C. albicans by reducing phospholipase activity and disrupting hypha formation. Discussion These findings provide the first-ever detailed reference for the inhibitory mechanisms of X33 AMOP against C. albicans and suggest that X33 AMOP is a potential drug candidate for treating C. albicans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qunlin Lu
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Agricultural Microbial Resources, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Postharvest Key Technology and Quality Safety of Fruits and Vegetables in Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
| | - Yuanxiu Wang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Agricultural Microbial Resources, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Postharvest Key Technology and Quality Safety of Fruits and Vegetables in Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
| | - Xing Liao
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Agricultural Microbial Resources, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Postharvest Key Technology and Quality Safety of Fruits and Vegetables in Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
| | - Fu Zhou
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Agricultural Microbial Resources, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Postharvest Key Technology and Quality Safety of Fruits and Vegetables in Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
| | - Bin Zhang
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Agricultural Microbial Resources, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Postharvest Key Technology and Quality Safety of Fruits and Vegetables in Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhang, ; Xiaoyu Wu,
| | - Xiaoyu Wu
- College of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Jiangxi Engineering Laboratory for the Development and Utilization of Agricultural Microbial Resources, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Postharvest Key Technology and Quality Safety of Fruits and Vegetables in Jiangxi Province, Jiangxi Agriculture University, Nanchang, China
- *Correspondence: Bin Zhang, ; Xiaoyu Wu,
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16
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Bacillus Metabolites: Compounds, Identification and Anti-Candida albicans Mechanisms. MICROBIOLOGY RESEARCH 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/microbiolres13040070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Candida albicans seriously threatens human health, especially for immunosuppressed groups. The antifungal agents mainly include azoles, polyenes and echinocandins. However, the few types of existing antifungal drugs and their resistance make it necessary to develop new antifungal drugs. Bacillus and its metabolites has antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi. This review introduces the application of Bacillus metabolites in the control of C. albicans in recent years. Firstly, several compounds produced by Bacillus spp. are listed. Then the isolation and identification techniques of Bacillus metabolites in recent years are described, including high-precision separation technology and omics technology for the separation of similar components of Bacillus metabolites. The mechanisms of Bacillus metabolites against C. albicans are distinguished from the inhibition of pathogenic fungi and inhibition of the fungal virulence factors. The purpose of this review is to systematically summarize the recent studies on the inhibition of pathogenic fungi by Bacillus metabolites. The review is expected to become the reference for the control of pathogenic fungi such as C. albicans and the application of Bacillus metabolites in the future.
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17
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Antitumor Activity and Mechanism of Action of the Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 on Human Leukemia K562 Cells. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27228109. [PMID: 36432210 PMCID: PMC9697079 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27228109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the most common malignant diseases in the world. Hence, there is an urgent need to search for novel drugs with antitumor activity against cancer cells. AMP-17, a natural antimicrobial peptide derived from Musca domestica, has antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria, and fungi. However, its antitumor activity and potential mechanism of action in cancer cells remain unclear. In this study, we focused on evaluating the in vitro antitumor activity and mechanism of AMP-17 on leukemic K562 cells. The results showed that AMP-17 exhibited anti-proliferative activity on K562 cells with an IC50 value of 58.91 ± 3.57 μg/mL. The membrane integrity of K562 was disrupted and membrane permeability was increased after AMP-17 action. Further observation using SEM and TEM images showed that the cell structure of AMP-17-treated cells was disrupted, with depressions and pore-like breaks on the cell surface, and vacuolated vesicles in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, further mechanistic studies indicated that AMP-17 induced excessive production of reactive oxygen species and calcium ions release in K562 cells, which led to disturbance of mitochondrial membrane potential and blocked ATP synthesis, followed by activation of Caspase-3 to induce apoptosis. In conclusion, these results suggest that the antitumor activity of AMP-17 may be achieved by disrupting cell structure and inducing apoptosis. Therefore, AMP-17 is expected to be a novel potential agent candidate for leukemia treatment.
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18
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The Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 Derived from Musca domestica Inhibits Biofilm Formation and Eradicates Mature Biofilm in Candida albicans. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11111474. [PMID: 36358129 PMCID: PMC9686669 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11111474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The biofilm formation of C. albicans represents a major virulence factor during candidiasis. Biofilm-mediated drug resistance has necessitated the search for a new antifungal treatment strategy. In our previous study, a novel antimicrobial peptide named AMP-17 derived from Musca domestica was confirmed to have significant antifungal activity and suppress hyphal growth greatly in C. albicans. In the current work, we aimed to investigate the antibiofilm property of AMP-17 in C. albicans and explore the underlying mechanism. An antifungal susceptibility assay showed that AMP-17 exerted a strong inhibitory efficacy on both biofilm formation and preformed biofilms in C. albicans. Furthermore, AMP-17 was found to block the yeast-to-hypha transition and inhibit the adhesion of biofilm cells with a reduction in cellular surface hydrophobicity. A morphological analysis revealed that AMP-17 indeed suppressed typical biofilm formation and damaged the structures of the preformed biofilm. The RNA-seq showed that the MAPK pathway, biosynthesis of antibiotics, and essential components of the cell were mainly enriched in the biofilm-forming stage, while the citrate cycle (TCA cycle), phenylamine metabolism, and propanoate metabolism were enriched after the biofilm matured. Moreover, the co-expressed DEGs in the two pairwise comparisons highlighted the terms of transmembrane transporter activity, regulation of filamentation, and biofilm formation as important roles in the antibiofilm effect of AMP-17. Additionally, qRT-PCR confirmed that the level of the genes involved in cell adhesion, filamentous growth, MAPK, biofilm matrix, and cell dispersal was correspondingly altered after AMP-17 treatment. Overall, our findings reveal the underlying antibiofilm mechanisms of AMPs in C. albicans, providing an interesting perspective for the development of effective antifungal agents with antibiofilm efficacy in Candida spp.
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19
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Hao Z, Chen R, Chai C, Wang Y, Chen T, Li H, Hu Y, Feng Q, Li J. Antimicrobial peptides for bone tissue engineering: Diversity, effects and applications. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2022; 10:1030162. [PMID: 36277377 PMCID: PMC9582762 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2022.1030162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Bone tissue engineering has been becoming a promising strategy for surgical bone repair, but the risk of infection during trauma repair remains a problematic health concern worldwide, especially for fracture and infection-caused bone defects. Conventional antibiotics fail to effectively prevent or treat bone infections during bone defect repair because of drug-resistance and recurrence, so novel antibacterial agents with limited resistance are highly needed for bone tissue engineering. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) characterized by cationic, hydrophobic and amphipathic properties show great promise to be used as next-generation antibiotics which rarely induce resistance and show potent antibacterial efficacy. In this review, four common structures of AMPs (helix-based, sheet-based, coil-based and composite) and related modifications are presented to identify AMPs and design novel analogs. Then, potential effects of AMPs for bone infection during bone repair are explored, including bactericidal activity, anti-biofilm, immunomodulation and regenerative properties. Moreover, we present distinctive applications of AMPs for topical bone repair, which can be either used by delivery system (surface immobilization, nanoparticles and hydrogels) or used in gene therapy. Finally, future prospects and ongoing challenges are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuowen Hao
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Renxin Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Chai
- Emergency Center, Hubei Clinical Research Center for Emergency and Resuscitation, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Tianhong Chen
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hanke Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yingkun Hu
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Qinyu Feng
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jingfeng Li
- Department of Orthopedics, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Jingfeng Li,
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20
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Lycosin-II Exhibits Antifungal Activity and Inhibits Dual-Species Biofilm by Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus. J Fungi (Basel) 2022; 8:jof8090901. [PMID: 36135626 PMCID: PMC9504746 DOI: 10.3390/jof8090901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The increase and dissemination of antimicrobial resistance is a global public health issue. To address this, new antimicrobial agents have been developed. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) exhibit a wide range of antimicrobial activities against pathogens, including bacteria and fungi. Lycosin-II, isolated from the venom of the spider Lycosa singoriensis, has shown antibacterial activity by disrupting membranes. However, the mode of action of Lycosin-II and its antifungal activity have not been clearly described. Therefore, we confirmed that Lycosin-II showed antifungal activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans). To investigate the mode of action, membrane-related assays were performed, including an evaluation of C. albicans membrane depolarization and membrane integrity after exposure to Lycosin-II. Our results indicated that Lycosin-II damaged the C. albicans membrane. Additionally, Lycosin-II induced oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in C. albicans. Moreover, Lycosin-II exhibited an inhibitory effect on dual-species biofilm formation by C. albicans and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), which are the most co-isolated fungi and bacteria. These results revealed that Lycosin-II can be utilized against C. albicans and dual-species strain infections.
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21
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Wang Q, Pan L, Han Y, Zhou Z. Antimicrobial Mechanisms of Enterocin CHQS Against Candida albicans. Curr Microbiol 2022; 79:191. [PMID: 35552837 DOI: 10.1007/s00284-022-02878-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen in hospital-acquired infections, which is extremely harmful to health. The increasing fungal infections is requiring the rapid development of novel antifungal agents. In this study, the antimicrobial activity of CHQS, an enterocin isolated from Enterococcus faecalis TG2 against C. albicans was confirmed by the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, and time-kill curve. Aniline blue and calcofluor white staining methods showed that CHQS remarkably affected β-1,3-glucan and chitin cell wall components and made cell wall more vulnerable. The C. albicans cell wall rupture and intracellular vacuolation were observed by TEM and SEM. Moreover, CHQS induced the accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. These results suggested that CHQS might have a complex multi-target antimicrobial mechanism against C. albicans. In addition, the use of CHQS combined with amphotericin B showed synergistic antimicrobial effects against C. albicans. In conclusion, enterocin CHQS, a natural product with antimicrobial effect, might has a bright future for the development of new antifungal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qi Wang
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Lei Pan
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Ye Han
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
| | - Zhijiang Zhou
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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22
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Li X, Zuo S, Wang B, Zhang K, Wang Y. Antimicrobial Mechanisms and Clinical Application Prospects of Antimicrobial Peptides. Molecules 2022; 27:2675. [PMID: 35566025 PMCID: PMC9104849 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27092675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Antimicrobial peptides are a type of small-molecule peptide that widely exist in nature and are components of the innate immunity of almost all living things. They play an important role in resisting foreign invading microorganisms. Antimicrobial peptides have a wide range of antibacterial activities against bacteria, fungi, viruses and other microorganisms. They are active against traditional antibiotic-resistant strains and do not easily induce the development of drug resistance. Therefore, they have become a hot spot of medical research and are expected to become a new substitute for fighting microbial infection and represent a new method for treating drug-resistant bacteria. This review briefly introduces the source and structural characteristics of antimicrobial peptides and describes those that have been used against common clinical microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and especially coronaviruses), focusing on their antimicrobial mechanism of action and clinical application prospects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Li
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; (X.L.); (B.W.)
| | - Siyao Zuo
- Department of Dermatology and Venereology, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China;
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; (X.L.); (B.W.)
| | - Kaiyu Zhang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; (X.L.); (B.W.)
| | - Yang Wang
- Department of Infectious Diseases, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China; (X.L.); (B.W.)
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Ding K, Shen P, Xie Z, Wang L, Dang X. In vitro and in vivo antifungal activity of two peptides with the same composition and different distribution. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 252:109243. [PMID: 34768011 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpc.2021.109243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans can cause local or systemic diseases when host immune status is disrupted. Drug resistance to C. albicans highlights the necessity of novel antifungal drugs. Antimicrobial peptides exhibit potential as antifungal drugs. PAF26 was found to exhibit favorable activity against plant pathogenic fungi. However, it showed low antifungal activity against C. albicans. Here, P255 and P256 with the same composition and different distribution were derived from PAF26. P256 exhibited higher antifungal activity against C. albicans than did P255 and PAF26. P256 and P255 exhibited synergism when combined with amphotericin B (AMB). Both peptides reduced cell wall integrity, rapidly increased membrane permeability, disrupted cell morphology and intracellular alterations. The peptides affected the expression of fungal DNA replication and repair, cell wall synthesis and ergosterol synthesis genes. They increased cellular reactive oxygen species production and bound with fungal genomic DNA. Antibiofilm activities were observed when peptide alone or combined with AMB. Finally, these peptides protected 70% of Galleria mellonella from infection-caused death. Insects treated with peptides exhibited fewer infection foci compared with the untreatment. These results demonstrate the therapeutic potential of the peptides, particularly P256 with clear amphipathicity, in the development of therapies for C. albicans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Ding
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Panpan Shen
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Zhongwen Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Tea Plant Biology and Utilization, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
| | - Lifang Wang
- School of Horticulture, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Xiangli Dang
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Integrated Pest Management on Crops, School of Plant Protection, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China.
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Yang LB, Guo G, Tian ZQ, Zhou LX, Zhu LJ, Peng J, Sun CQ, Huang MJ. TMT-based quantitative proteomic analysis of the effects of novel antimicrobial peptide AMP-17 against Candida albicans. J Proteomics 2022; 250:104385. [PMID: 34606990 DOI: 10.1016/j.jprot.2021.104385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most common human fungal pathogen in immunocompromised individuals. With the emergence of clinical fungal resistance, there is an urgent need to develop novel antifungal agents. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica, has an antifungal effect against C. albicans, but its mechanism of antifungal action remains unclear. In the current study, we performed a proteomics analysis in C. albicans using TMT technique under the treatment of AMP-17. A total of 3931 proteins were identified, of which 3600 included quantitative information. With a 1.5-fold change threshold and a t-test p-value < 0.05 as standard, 423 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were up-regulated and 180 DEPs were down-regulated in the AMP-17/control. Notably, GO enrichment revealed that DEPs associated with the cell wall, RNA and oxidative stress were significantly up-regulated, while DEPs involved in ergosterol metabolism and membrane were significantly down-regulated in the AMP-17/control. KEGG pathway enrichment revealed that DEPs involved seven significant metabolic pathways, mainly involved oxidative phosphorylation, RNA degradation, propanoate metabolism and fatty acid metabolism. These results show that AMP-17 induces a complex organism response in C. albicans, indicating that AMP-17 may inhibit growth by affecting multiple targets in C. albicans cells. SIGNIFICANCE: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are an important part of the innate immune system of organisms and having broad range of activity against fungi, bacteria and viruses. These AMPs are considered as probable candidate for forthcoming drugs, due to their broad range of activity, lesser toxicity and decreased resistance development by target cells. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from M. domestica, has significant antifungal activity against C. albicans. It has been confirmed that AMP-17 can play an antifungal effect by destroying the cell wall and cell membrane of C. albicans in previous studies, but its mechanism of action at the protein level is currently unclear. In the current study, using the TMT-based quantitative proteomics method, 603 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the cells of C. albicans treated with AMP-17 for 12 h, and these DEPs were closely related to cell wall, cell membrane, RNA degradation and oxidative stress. The results provide new insights into the potential mechanism of action of AMP- 17 against C. albicans. Meanwhile, it provides certain technical support and theoretical basis for the research and development of novel peptide drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Long-Bing Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Guo Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China; Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China.
| | - Zhu-Qing Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Luo-Xiong Zhou
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Li-Juan Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Jian Peng
- Key Laboratory of Biology and Medical Engineering, Department of Biotechnology, School of Biology & Engineering, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Chao-Qin Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
| | - Ming-Jiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, China
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Yang L, Tian Z, Zhou L, Zhu L, Sun C, Huang M, Peng J, Guo G. In vitro Antifungal Activity of a Novel Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 Against Planktonic Cells and Biofilms of Cryptococcus neoformans. Infect Drug Resist 2022; 15:233-248. [PMID: 35115792 PMCID: PMC8800587 DOI: 10.2147/idr.s344246] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptococcus neoformans is a common human fungal pathogen in immunocompromised people, as well as a prevalent cause of meningitis in HIV-infected individuals. With the emergence of clinical fungal resistance and the shortage of antifungal drugs, it is urgent to discover novel antifungal agents. AMP-17, a novel antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica, has antifungal activity against C. neoformans. However, its antifungal and anti-biofilm activities remain unclear. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activity of AMP-17 against planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans. Methods The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), the biofilm inhibitory and eradicating concentration (BIC and BEC) were determined by the broth microdilution assay or the 2, 3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay, respectively. The inhibitory and killing activities of AMP-17 against C. neoformans were investigated through the time-inhibition/killing kinetic curves. The potential antifungal mechanism of AMP-17 was detected by flow cytometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The efficiency of AMP-17 against biofilm formation or preformed biofilm was evaluated by crystal violet staining and XTT reduction assays. The morphology of pre-biofilms was tested by optical microscopy (OM) and CLSM. Results AMP-17 exhibited in vitro antifungal activity against C. neoformans planktonic cells and biofilms, with MICs of 4~16 μg/ml, BIC80 and BEC80 of 16~32 μg/ml, 64~128 μg/ml, respectively. In addition, the 2× and 4× MIC of AMP-17 exhibited similar inhibition levels compared to the 2× and 4× MIC of the clinical drugs FLC and AMB in C. neoformans growth. Moreover, the time-kill results showed that AMP-17 (8× MIC) did not significantly eliminate colony forming units (CFU) after 6 h of treatment; however, there was 2.9-log reduction in CFU of C. neoformans. Furthermore, increasing of the permeability of the fungal cell membrane was observed with the treatment of AMP-17, since the vast change as fungal leakage and cell membrane disruption. However, the DNA binding assay of AMP-17 indicated that the peptide did not target DNA. Besides, AMP-17 was superior in inhibiting and eradicating biofilms of C. neoformans compared with FLC. Conclusion AMP-17 exhibited potential in vitro antifungal activity against the planktonic cells and biofilms of C. neoformans, and it may disrupt fungal cell membranes through multi-target interactions, which provides a promising therapeutic strategy and experimental basis for Cryptococcus-associated infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longbing Yang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhuqing Tian
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Luoxiong Zhou
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- School of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lijuan Zhu
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chaoqin Sun
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingjiao Huang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jian Peng
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guo Guo
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Monitoring and Disease Control, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China
- Correspondence: Guo Guo, Building Wuben, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, College Town, Gui’an New District, Guiyang, 550025, People’s Republic of China, Tel/fax +86 851 882 59268, Email
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26
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Zhang J, Yang L, Tian Z, Zhao W, Sun C, Zhu L, Huang M, Guo G, Liang G. Large-Scale Screening of Antifungal Peptides Based on Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationship. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 13:99-104. [PMID: 35059128 PMCID: PMC8762751 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Antifungal peptides are effective, biocompatible, and biodegradable, and thus, they are promising to be the next generation of drugs for treating infections caused by fungi. The identification processes of highly active peptides, however, are still time-consuming and labor-intensive. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) have dramatically facilitated the discovery of many bioactive drug molecules without a priori knowledge. In this study, we have established an effective QSAR protocol for screening antifungal peptides. The screening protocol integrates an accurate antifungal peptide classification model and four activity prediction models against specified target fungi. A demonstrative application was performed on more than three million candidate peptides, and three outstanding peptides were identified. The whole screening took only a few days, which was much faster than our previous experimental screening works. In conclusion, the protocol is useful and effective for reducing repetitive laboratory efforts in antifungal peptide discovery. The prediction server (antifungal Web server) is freely available at www.chemoinfolab.com/antifungal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Zhang
- School
of Public Health, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Longbing Yang
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Zhuqing Tian
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Wenjing Zhao
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Chaoqin Sun
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Lijuan Zhu
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Mingjiao Huang
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Guo Guo
- School
of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China,The
Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang 550025, China,Translational
Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China,Guo
Guo: School of Basic Medical
Sciences, The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen
Biology, Translational Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical University,
Guiyang 550025, China.
| | - Guiyou Liang
- Translational
Medicine Research Center, Guizhou Medical
University, Guiyang 550025, China,Guiyou Liang
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Babii C, Savu M, Motrescu I, Birsa LM, Sarbu LG, Stefan M. The Antibacterial Synthetic Flavonoid BrCl-Flav Exhibits Important Anti- Candida Activity by Damaging Cell Membrane Integrity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2021; 14:ph14111130. [PMID: 34832912 PMCID: PMC8622092 DOI: 10.3390/ph14111130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections caused by Candida are very difficult to treat due to increasing antifungal resistance. Recent studies showed that patients with Candida infections resistant to fluconazole have very few treatment options. Therefore, finding new efficient antifungal agents is a matter of medical high priority. The aim of this study was to explore the antifungal potential of BrCl-flav-a representative of a new class of synthetic flavonoids with bromine as halogen substituent at the benzopyran core against four Candida clinical strains. Determination of minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration along with the time kill assay indicated a strong antifungal effect of BrCl-flav against C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. krusei and C. glabrata. The investigation of anti-Candida mechanism of action using fluorescence microscopy and scanning electron microscopy revealed that Br-Cl flav could inhibit fungal growth by impairing the membrane integrity, the resulting structural damages leading to cell lysis. BrCl-flav also showed important anti-virulence properties against Candida spp., inhibiting biofilm formation and yeast to hyphal transition. A strong synergistic antifungal effect against C. albicans strain was observed when BrCl-flav was used in combination with fluconazole. BrCl-flav has a good potential to develop new effective antifungal agents in the context of Candida spp. multidrug resistance phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelia Babii
- Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bld. Carol I, Nr. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (C.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Mihaela Savu
- Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bld. Carol I, Nr. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (C.B.); (M.S.)
| | - Iuliana Motrescu
- Sciences Department, Research Institute for Agriculture and Environment, Iasi University of Life Sciences, 3 Sadoveanu Alley, 700490 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Lucian Mihail Birsa
- Faculty of Chemistry, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bld. Carol I, Nr. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania;
| | - Laura Gabriela Sarbu
- Faculty of Chemistry, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bld. Carol I, Nr. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania;
- Correspondence: (L.G.S.); (M.S.)
| | - Marius Stefan
- Biology Department, Faculty of Biology, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bld. Carol I, Nr. 11, 700506 Iasi, Romania; (C.B.); (M.S.)
- Correspondence: (L.G.S.); (M.S.)
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Thrombin-Derived C-Terminal Peptide Reduces Candida-Induced Inflammation and Infection In Vitro and In Vivo. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2021; 65:e0103221. [PMID: 34424043 PMCID: PMC8522777 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01032-21] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Infections due to the opportunistic fungus Candida have been on the rise in the last decades, especially in immunocompromised individuals and hospital settings. Unfortunately, the treatments available today are limited. Thrombin-derived C-terminal peptide (TCP-25) is an antimicrobial peptide (AMP) with antibacterial and immunomodulatory effects. In this work, we, for the first time, demonstrate the ability of TCP-25 ability to counteract Candidain vitro and in vivo. Using a combination of viable count assay (VCA), radial diffusion assay (RDA), and fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy analyses, TCP-25 was found to exert a direct fungicidal activity. An inhibitory activity of TCP-25 on NF-κB activation induced by both zymosan alone and heat-killed C. albicans was demonstrated in vitro using THP-1 cells, and in vivo using NF-κB reporter mice. Moreover, the immunomodulatory property of TCP-25 was further substantiated in vitro by analyzing cytokine responses in human blood stimulated with zymosan, and in vivo employing a zymosan-induced peritonitis model in C57BL/6 mice. The therapeutic potential of TCP-25 was demonstrated in mice infected with luminescent C. albicans. Finally, the binding between TCP-25 and zymosan was investigated using circular dichroism spectroscopy and intrinsic fluorescence analysis. Taken together, our results show that TCP-25 has a dual function by inhibiting Candida as well as the associated zymosan-induced inflammation. The latter function is accompanied by a change in secondary structure upon binding to zymosan. TCP-25, therefore, shows promise as a novel drug candidate against Candida infections.
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Chen YC, Yang Y, Zhang C, Chen HY, Chen F, Wang KJ. A Novel Antimicrobial Peptide Sparamosin 26-54 From the Mud Crab Scylla paramamosain Showing Potent Antifungal Activity Against Cryptococcus neoformans. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:746006. [PMID: 34690992 PMCID: PMC8531530 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.746006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 09/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to the increasing prevalence of drug-resistant fungi and the limitations of current treatment strategies to fungal infections, exploration and development of new antifungal drugs or substituents are necessary. In the study, a novel antimicrobial peptide, named Sparamosin, was identified in the mud crab Scylla paramamosain, which contains a signal peptide of 22 amino acids and a mature peptide of 54 amino acids. The antimicrobial activity of its synthetic mature peptide and two truncated peptides (Sparamosin1-25 and Sparamosin26-54) were determined. The results showed that Sparamosin26-54 had the strongest activity against a variety of Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria and fungi, in particular had rapid fungicidal kinetics (killed 99% Cryptococcus neoformans within 10 min) and had potent anti-biofilm activity against C. neoformans, but had no cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells. The RNA-seq results showed that after Sparamosin26-54 treatment, the expression of genes involved in cell wall component biosynthesis, cell wall integrity signaling pathway, anti-oxidative stress, apoptosis and DNA repair were significantly up-regulated, indicating that Sparamosin26-54 might disrupt the cell wall of C. neoformans, causing oxidative stress, DNA damage and cell apoptosis. The underlying mechanism was further confirmed. Sparamosin26-54 could bind to several phospholipids in the cell membrane and effectively killed C. neoformans through disrupting the integrity of the cell wall and cell membrane observed by electron microscope and staining assay. In addition, it was found that the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased, the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) was disrupted, and DNA fragmentation was induced after Sparamosin26-54 treatment, which are all hallmarks of apoptosis. Taken together, Sparamosin26-54 has a good application prospect as an effective antimicrobial agent, especially for C. neoformans infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Chao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Chang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Hui-Yun Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Fangyi Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Ke-Jian Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- State-Province Joint Engineering Laboratory of Marine Bioproducts and Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
- Fujian Innovation Research Institute for Marine Biological Antimicrobial Peptide Industrial Technology, College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
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