Structure of Fungal Cell Wall Polysaccharides

Candida albicans and Oral Carcinogenesis. A Brief Review

Current medical knowledge and research on patients’ management are still evolving, and several protocols on minimizing risk of infection by Candida spp. among the population have developed. The aim of this work is to review the epidemiological and biomolecular characteristics and the various histopathological carcinogenesis hypothesis mechanisms that can occur during Candida albicans infections. Current evidence from the literature on the role of C. albicans during potentially malignant oral disorders and oral cancer has been sought. Thus, these biomolecular processes can give or contribute to benign lesions, also in precancerous or cancerous situations. Alongside this, the physiological microorganism oral flora (microbiota) can play a crucial role in maintaining oral health during those infections and therefore avoid carcinogenesis.

A Proposal of Remedies for Oral Diseases Caused by Candida: A Mini Review

An opportunistic pathogen, Candida is not only related to oral problems such as oral candidiasis and denture stomatitis, but also to systemic diseases such as aspiration pneumonia and fungemia. The carriage rate of Candida species in the oral cavity of individuals wearing dentures and with removable orthodontic appliances, has increased. Moreover, it is one of the causal pathogens in refractory infected root canals because of its resistance to antifungal drugs in root canal therapy and poses a great challenge during the treatment of patients. This problem has led to the search for alternative strategies for the treatment and management of C. albicans infections. In this mini review, recent preventive strategies against Candida infection in the oral mucosa with natural product-derived antifungal molecules were discussed. Inhibitory strategies by introducing competitive naturally-derived antifungal peptide molecules with Candida adhesion molecules were specifically introduced. In addition, novel sterilization methods for Candida-infected root canals and tooth structures in the oral cavity were considered, with focused attention on the activities of reactive oxygen species. The possibility of application of these novel strategies in clinical treatments and daily life was also proposed.

The anti-membranous glomerulonephritic activity of purified polysaccharides from Irpex lacteus Fr

The present study aims to identify the major active component from mutant Irpex lacteus, which protects against cationic bovine serum albumin (C-BSA)-induced membranous glomerulonephropathy (MGN). The candidate component ILN3A (MW: 2264 kDa) was purified from mutant Irpex lacteus water extract. The backbone of ILN3A comprises (1→2) and (1→4) linkages, and (1)H NMR spectrum suggests the existence of α- and β-glycosidic anomeric carbon. In tissue culture study, ILN3A inhibits mesangial cell proliferation. In MGN rats, ILN3A reverses structural changes in kidney, suppresses abnormal high level of urine protein and restores concentration of serum albumin. ILN3A also reduces total cholesterol, triglycerides, and creatinine in serum, and 6-keto-PGF in kidney cortex. Further study shows ILN3A restores serum Interleukin 2, Interleukin 2 receptor, Interleukin 6, tumor necrosis factor α, and renal cortical nuclear factor kappa B. Our data shows ILN3A, the major active component of mutant Irpex lacteus, is a novel candidate anti-inflammatory medicine to treat MGN in clinics.

Antifungal activity of a liposomal itraconazole formulation in experimental Aspergillus flavus keratitis with endophthalmitis

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of topical application of a liposomal formulation of itraconazole for the treatment of experimental keratitis with endophthalmitis caused by Aspergillus flavus. The liposomes were obtained by the lipid film hydration method followed by sonication. Adult female Wistar rats (weighing 200-220 g) were immunosuppressed by intraperitoneal injection of 150 mg/kg of cyclophosphamide 3 days before infection by exposure to the fungus A. flavus (10(7) spores/ml). Forty-eight hours later, the animals were treated with the liposomal formulation. For comparison, one group of animals (n = 6) was treated with the same drug not encapsulated. At the end of the experiment, the animals were evaluated for clinical signs and number of colony forming units (CFU/g), along with direct microscopic examination. The results indicated that the liposomal formulation of itraconazole has better antifungal activity than the unencapsulated drug in the treatment of fungal keratitis with endophthalmitis caused experimentally by A. flavus in Wistar rats.

Biological control of wood decay against fungal infection

Wood (timber) is an important raw material for various purposes, and having biological composition it is susceptible to deterioration by various agents. The history of wood protection by impregnation with synthetic chemicals is almost two hundred years old. However, the ever-increasing public concern and the new environmental regulations on the use of chemicals have created the need for the development and the use of alternative methods for wood protection. Biological wood protection by antagonistic microbes alone or in combination with (bio)chemicals, is one of the most promising ways for the environmentally sound wood protection. The most effective biocontrol antagonists belong to genera Trichoderma, Gliocladium, Bacillus, Pseudomonas and Streptomyces. They compete for an ecological niche by consuming available nutrients as well as by secreting a spectrum of biochemicals effective against various fungal pathogens. The biochemicals include cell wall-degrading enzymes, siderophores, chelating iron and a wide variety of volatile and non-volatile antibiotics. In this review, the nature and the function of the antagonistic microbes in wood protection are discussed.