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Brilhante RSN, Costa ADC, de Mesquita JRL, dos Santos Araújo G, Freire RS, Nunes JVS, Nobre AFD, Fernandes MR, Rocha MFG, Pereira Neto WDA, Crouzier T, Schimpf U, Viera RS. Antifungal Activity of Chitosan against Histoplasma capsulatum in Planktonic and Biofilm Forms: A Therapeutic Strategy in the Future? J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1201. [PMID: 38132801 PMCID: PMC10744476 DOI: 10.3390/jof9121201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2023] [Revised: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Histoplasmosis is a respiratory disease caused by Histoplasma capsulatum, a dimorphic fungus, with high mortality and morbidity rates, especially in immunocompromised patients. Considering the small existing therapeutic arsenal, new treatment approaches are still required. Chitosan, a linear polysaccharide obtained from partial chitin deacetylation, has anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, biocompatibility, biodegradability, and non-toxicity properties. Chitosan with different deacetylation degrees and molecular weights has been explored as a potential agent against fungal pathogens. In this study, the chitosan antifungal activity against H. capsulatum was evaluated using the broth microdilution assay, obtaining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 32 to 128 µg/mL in the filamentous phase and 8 to 64 µg/mL in the yeast phase. Chitosan combined with classical antifungal drugs showed a synergic effect, reducing chitosan's MICs by 32 times, demonstrating that there were no antagonistic interactions relating to any of the strains tested. A synergism between chitosan and amphotericin B or itraconazole was detected in the yeast-like form for all strains tested. For H. capsulatum biofilms, chitosan reduced biomass and metabolic activity by about 40% at 512 µg/mL. In conclusion, studying chitosan as a therapeutic strategy against Histoplasma capsulatum is promising, mainly considering its numerous possible applications, including its combination with other compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira Brilhante
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Barão de Canindé, 210, Montese, Fortaleza 60425-540, CE, Brazil; (A.d.C.C.); (A.F.D.N.); (M.R.F.); (W.d.A.P.N.)
| | - Anderson da Cunha Costa
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Barão de Canindé, 210, Montese, Fortaleza 60425-540, CE, Brazil; (A.d.C.C.); (A.F.D.N.); (M.R.F.); (W.d.A.P.N.)
| | | | - Gessica dos Santos Araújo
- Postgraduate in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, State University of Ceará, Dr. Silas Munguba Avenue, 1700, Itaperi Campus, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (G.d.S.A.); (M.F.G.R.)
| | - Rosemeyre Souza Freire
- Analytical Center, Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil; (R.S.F.); (J.V.S.N.)
| | - João Victor Serra Nunes
- Analytical Center, Department of Physics, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60020-181, CE, Brazil; (R.S.F.); (J.V.S.N.)
| | - Augusto Feynman Dias Nobre
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Barão de Canindé, 210, Montese, Fortaleza 60425-540, CE, Brazil; (A.d.C.C.); (A.F.D.N.); (M.R.F.); (W.d.A.P.N.)
| | - Mirele Rodrigues Fernandes
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Barão de Canindé, 210, Montese, Fortaleza 60425-540, CE, Brazil; (A.d.C.C.); (A.F.D.N.); (M.R.F.); (W.d.A.P.N.)
| | - Marcos Fábio Gadelha Rocha
- Postgraduate in Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary, State University of Ceará, Dr. Silas Munguba Avenue, 1700, Itaperi Campus, Fortaleza 60714-903, CE, Brazil; (G.d.S.A.); (M.F.G.R.)
| | - Waldemiro de Aquino Pereira Neto
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Barão de Canindé, 210, Montese, Fortaleza 60425-540, CE, Brazil; (A.d.C.C.); (A.F.D.N.); (M.R.F.); (W.d.A.P.N.)
| | - Thomas Crouzier
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Chemistry, Division of Glycoscience, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Ulrike Schimpf
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, Department of Chemistry, Division of Glycoscience, AlbaNova University Center, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; (T.C.); (U.S.)
| | - Rodrigo Silveira Viera
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60440-900, CE, Brazil;
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Schimpf U, Caldas-Silveira E, Katchan L, Vigier-Carriere C, Lantier I, Nachmann G, Gidlöf S, Jonasson AF, Björndahl L, Trombotto S, Druart X, Crouzier T. Topical reinforcement of the cervical mucus barrier to sperm. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabm2417. [PMID: 36449601 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abm2417] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Close to half of the world's pregnancies are still unplanned, reflecting a clear unmet need in contraception. Ideally, a contraceptive would provide the high efficacy of hormonal treatments, without systemic side effects. Here, we studied topical reinforcement of the cervical mucus by chitosan mucoadhesive polymers as a form of female contraceptive. Chitosans larger than 7 kDa effectively cross-linked human ovulatory cervical mucus to prevent sperm penetration in vitro. We then demonstrated in vivo using the ewe as a model that vaginal gels containing chitosan could stop ram sperm at the entrance of the cervical canal and prevent them from reaching the uterus, whereas the same gels without chitosan did not substantially limit sperm migration. Chitosan did not affect sperm motility in vitro or in vivo, suggesting reinforcement of the mucus physical barrier as the primary mechanism of action. The chitosan formulations did not damage or irritate the ewe vaginal epithelium, in contrast to nonoxynol-9 spermicide. The demonstration that cervical mucus can be reinforced topically to create an effective barrier to sperm may therefore form the technological basis for muco-cervical barrier contraceptives with the potential to become an alternative to hormonal contraceptives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Schimpf
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), AlbaNova University Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Material and Environmental Chemistry (MMK), Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erika Caldas-Silveira
- PIXANIM, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Ljudmila Katchan
- Cirqle Biomedical Contraception ApS, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Isabelle Lantier
- French National Institute for Agriculture, Food, and Environment (INRAE), UMR ISP, Université de Tours, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Gilai Nachmann
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), AlbaNova University Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sebastian Gidlöf
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels alle 8, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Aino Fianu Jonasson
- Department of Gynecology and Reproductive Medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, 141 86 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Clinical Science, Intervention and Technology (CLINTEC), Karolinska Institutet, Alfred Nobels alle 8, 141 52 Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Lars Björndahl
- ANOVA-Andrology, Sexual Medicine, Transmedicine, Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet, Norra Stationsgatan 69, 113 64 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Stéphane Trombotto
- Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, IMP, UMR 5223, F-69622 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Xavier Druart
- PIXANIM, Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, UMR INRAE, CNRS, Université de Tours, IFCE, 37380 Nouzilly, France
| | - Thomas Crouzier
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health (CBH), AlbaNova University Center, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.,Cirqle Biomedical Contraception ApS, Ole Maaløes Vej 3, 2200 Copenhagen, Denmark.,AIMES-Center for the Advancement of Integrated Medical and Engineering Sciences, Karolinska Institutet and KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.,Department of Neuroscience, Karolinska Institutet, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Schimpf U, Nachmann G, Trombotto S, Houska P, Yan H, Björndahl L, Crouzier T. Assessment of Oligo-Chitosan Biocompatibility toward Human Spermatozoa. ACS Appl Mater Interfaces 2019; 11:46572-46584. [PMID: 31725264 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.9b17605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The many interesting properties of chitosan polysaccharides have prompted their extensive use as biomaterial building blocks, for instance as antimicrobial coatings, tissue engineering scaffolds, and drug delivery vehicles. The translation of these chitosan-based systems to the clinic still requires a deeper understanding of their safety profiles. For instance, the widespread claim that chitosans are spermicidal is supported by little to no data. Herein, we thoroughly investigate whether chitosan oligomer (CO) molecules can impact the functional and structural features of human spermatozoa. By using a large number of primary sperm cell samples and by isolating the effect of chitosan from the effect of sperm dissolution buffer, we provide the first realistic and complete picture of the effect of chitosans on sperms. We found that CO binds to cell surfaces or/and is internalized by cells and affected the average path velocity of the spermatozoa, in a dose-dependent manner. However, CO did not affect the progressive motility, motility, or sperm morphology, nor did it cause loss of plasma membrane integrity, reactive oxygen species production, or DNA damage. A decrease in spermatozoa adenosine triphosphate levels, which was especially significant at higher CO concentrations, points to possible interference of CO with mitochondrial functions or the glycolysis processes. With this first complete and in-depth look at the spermicidal activities of chitosans, we complement the complex picture of the safety profile of chitosans and inform on further use of chitosans in biomedical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ulrike Schimpf
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health , Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) , 106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Gilai Nachmann
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health , Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) , 106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Stephane Trombotto
- Ingénierie des Matériaux Polymères (IMP), CNRS UMR 5223 , Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Univ Lyon , 69622 Villeurbanne , France
| | - Petr Houska
- ANOVA-Andrology, Sexual Medicine, Transmedicine , Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet , Norra Stationsgatan 69 , 113 64 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Hongji Yan
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health , Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) , 106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Lars Björndahl
- ANOVA-Andrology, Sexual Medicine, Transmedicine , Karolinska University Hospital and Karolinska Institutet , Norra Stationsgatan 69 , 113 64 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Thomas Crouzier
- Division of Glycoscience, Department of Chemistry, School of Engineering Science in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health , Royal Institute of Technology (KTH) , 106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
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Schimpf U, Schulz R. Industrial by-products from white-rot fungi production. Part II: Application in anaerobic digestion for enzymatic treatment of hay and straw. Process Biochem 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2018.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
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Schimpf U, Schulz R. Industrial by-products from white-rot fungi production. Part I: Generation of enzyme preparations and chemical, protein biochemical and molecular biological characterization. Process Biochem 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2016.08.032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Hanreich A, Schimpf U, Zakrzewski M, Schlüter A, Benndorf D, Heyer R, Rapp E, Pühler A, Reichl U, Klocke M. Metagenome and metaproteome analyses of microbial communities in mesophilic biogas-producing anaerobic batch fermentations indicate concerted plant carbohydrate degradation. Syst Appl Microbiol 2013; 36:330-8. [PMID: 23694815 DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2013.03.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2012] [Revised: 03/01/2013] [Accepted: 03/07/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Microbial communities in biogas batch fermentations, using straw and hay as co-substrates, were analyzed at the gene and protein level by metagenomic and metaproteomic approaches. The analysis of metagenomic data revealed that the Clostridiales and Bacteroidales orders were prevalent in the community. However, the number of sequences assigned to the Clostridiales order decreased during fermentation, whereas the number of sequences assigned to the Bacteroidales order increased. In addition, changes at the functional level were monitored and the metaproteomic analyses detected transporter proteins and flagellins, which were expressed mainly by members of the Bacteroidetes and Firmicutes phyla. A high number of sugar transporters, expressed by members of the Bacteroidetes, proved their potential to take up various glycans efficiently. Metagenome data also showed that methanogenic organisms represented less than 4% of the community, while 20-30% of the identified proteins were of archeal origin. These data suggested that methanogens were disproportionally active. In conclusion, the community studied was capable of digesting the recalcitrant co-substrate. Members of the Firmicutes phylum seemed to be the main degraders of cellulose, even though expression of only a few glycoside hydrolases was detected. The Bacteroidetes phylum expressed a high number of sugar transporters and seemed to specialize in the digestion of other polysaccharides. Finally, it was found that key enzymes of methanogenesis were expressed in high quantities, indicating the high metabolic activity of methanogens, although they only represented a minor group within the microbial community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelika Hanreich
- Leibniz-Institut für Agrartechnik Potsdam-Bornim e.V., Abteilung Bioverfahrenstechnik, Max-Eyth-Allee 100, 14469 Potsdam, Germany
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