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Valderrama V, Sánchez P, Delso M, Díaz-Dosque M, Escobar A, Budini M, Catalán M, Vivar R, López-Muñoz R, Jara JA, Molina-Berríos A. Gallic acid triphenylphosphonium derivatives TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 inhibit mitochondrial function in Candida albicans exerting antifungal and antibiofilm effects. J Appl Microbiol 2024; 135:lxad316. [PMID: 38148145 DOI: 10.1093/jambio/lxad316] [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: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
AIMS To evaluate the antifungal and antibiofilm activity of gallic acid derivatives TPP+-C10 and TPP+-C12 and their effects on mitochondrial function on two Candida albicans reference strains (ATCC 90029 and ATCC 10231). METHODS AND RESULTS First, we determined minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) using a microdilution assay. Both compounds exerted antifungal effects, and their MICs ranged from 3.9 to 13 µM, with no statistically significant differences between them (P > 0.05, t-test). These concentrations served as references for following assays. Subsequently, we measured oxygen consumption with a Clark electrode. Our observations revealed that both drugs inhibited oxygen consumption in both strains with TPP+-C12 exerting a more pronounced inhibitory effect. We then employed flow cytometry with TMRE as a probe to assess mitochondrial membrane potential. For each strain assayed, the compounds induced a decay in transmembrane potential by 75%-90% compared to the control condition (P < 0.05, ANOVA). Then, we measured ATP levels using a commercial kit. TPP+-C12 showed a 50% decrease of ATP content (P < 0.05 ANOVA), while TPP+-C10 exhibited a less pronounced effect. Finally, we assessed the antibiofilm effect using the MTT reduction assay. Both compounds were effective, but TPP+-C12 displayed a greater potency, requiring a lower concentration to inhibit 50% of biofilms viability (P < 0.05, t-test). CONCLUSIONS Derivatives of gallic acid linked to a TPP+ group exert antifungal and antibiofilm activity through impairment of mitochondrial function in C. albicans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Valderrama
- Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology for the Development of Anticancer and Antifungal Drugs, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
| | - Paula Sánchez
- Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology for the Development of Anticancer and Antifungal Drugs, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
| | - Macarena Delso
- Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology for the Development of Anticancer and Antifungal Drugs, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
| | - Mario Díaz-Dosque
- Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology for the Development of Anticancer and Antifungal Drugs, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
- Laboratory of Nanobiomaterials, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
| | - Alejandro Escobar
- Laboratory of Cellular Biology, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
| | - Mauricio Budini
- Cellular and Molecular Pathology Laboratory, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
| | - Mabel Catalán
- Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380453, Chile
| | - Raúl Vivar
- Clinical and Molecular Pharmacology Program, Institute of Biomedical Sciences (ICBM), Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380453, Chile
| | - Rodrigo López-Muñoz
- Instituto de Farmacología y Morfofisiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, 5110566, Chile
| | - José A Jara
- Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology for the Development of Anticancer and Antifungal Drugs, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
| | - Alfredo Molina-Berríos
- Laboratory of Applied Pharmacology for the Development of Anticancer and Antifungal Drugs, Institute for Research in Dental Sciences (ICOD), Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, 8380544, Chile
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Conrad KA, Kim H, Qasim M, Djehal A, Hernday AD, Désaubry L, Rauceo JM. Triazine-Based Small Molecules: A Potential New Class of Compounds in the Antifungal Toolbox. Pathogens 2023; 12:126. [PMID: 36678474 PMCID: PMC9861074 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12010126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Invasive fungal infections caused by Candida species remain a significant public health problem worldwide. The increasing prevalence of drug-resistant infections and a limited arsenal of antifungal drugs underscore the need for novel interventions. Here, we screened several classes of pharmacologically active compounds against mammalian diseases for antifungal activity. We found that the synthetic triazine-based compound melanogenin (Mel) 56 is fungicidal in Candida albicans laboratory and clinical strains with minimal inhibitory concentrations of 8−16 µg/mL. Furthermore, Mel56 has general antifungal activity in several non-albicans Candida species and the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Surprisingly, Mel56 inhibited the yeast-to-hyphae transition at sublethal concentrations, revealing a new role for triazine-based compounds in fungi. In human cancer cell lines, Mel56 targets the inner mitochondrial integral membrane prohibitin proteins, PHB1 and PHB2. However, Mel56 treatment did not impact C. albicans mitochondrial activity, and antifungal activity was similar in prohibitin single, double, and triple homozygous mutant strains compared to the wild-type parental strain. These results suggests that Mel56 has a novel mechanism-of-action in C. albicans. Therefore, Mel56 is a promising antifungal candidate warranting further analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen A. Conrad
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of the City, University of New York, New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Hyunjeong Kim
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of the City, University of New York, New York, NY 10019, USA
| | - Mohammad Qasim
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Amel Djehal
- Higher National School of Biotechnology of Constantine, Constantine 25100, Algeria
- Laboratory of Regenerative Nanomedicine, Center of Research and Biomedicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Aaron D. Hernday
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, School of Natural Sciences, University of California, Merced, CA 95343, USA
| | - Laurent Désaubry
- Laboratory of Regenerative Nanomedicine, Center of Research and Biomedicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Jason M. Rauceo
- Department of Sciences, John Jay College of the City, University of New York, New York, NY 10019, USA
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