Chlamydospore-like cells of Candida albicans in the gastrointestinal tract of infected, immunocompromised mice

1991 ◽  
Vol 37 (8) ◽  
pp. 637-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. T. Cole ◽  
K. R. Seshan ◽  
M. Phaneuf ◽  
K. T. Lynn
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Immunological Response ◽  
Cortisone Acetate ◽  
Systemic Candidiasis ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Immunocompromised Mice

We have demonstrated in a previously described murine model of gastrointestinal (GI) and systemic candidiasis that the antifungal angent cilofungin was efficacious in clearing infection of body organs when administered subcutaneously by infusion, but permitted large numbers of Candida albicans in the GI tract to persist. Yeast and hyphae in these animals were associated primarily with the stratified squamous epithelium of the stomach. Administration of immunocompromising drugs (cyclophosphamide plus cortisone acetate) to animals with persistent GI infection resulted in relapse of systemic candidiasis. Histological examination of the gastric mucosa revealed invasive hyphal elements and yeast as well as multiple chlamydospore-like cells. Comparative histochemical and electron-microscopic examinations of these latter cells produced in host tissue and chlamydospores formed in vitro were conducted. The results suggested that similarities in wall and cytoplasmic composition and ultrastructure exist between these in vivo and in vitro produced C. albicans cells. Exposure of C. albicans to cyclophosphamide during in vitro growth resulted in stimulation of chlamydospore production. No significant effect of cortisone acetate on C. albicans morphogenesis was detected. The murine model used in this study permits investigation of the formation of chlamydospore-like cells of C. albicans during early stages of fungal invasion of cyclophosphamide-treated mice, and of the possible influence of these cells on immunological response of the host to persistent candidiasis of the GI tract. Key words: Candida albicans, chlamydospores, gastrointestinal candidiasis, cyclophosphamide.

scholarly journals Efficacies of Fluconazole, Caspofungin, and Amphotericin B in Candida glabrata-Infected p47phox−/− Knockout Mice

2002 ◽  
Vol 46 (5) ◽  
pp. 1240-1245 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justina Y. Ju ◽  
Cynthia Polhamus ◽  
Kieren A. Marr ◽  
Steven M. Holland ◽  
John E. Bennett
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Amphotericin B ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Knockout Mice ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Drug Efficacy ◽  
Fungal Burden ◽  
Lethal Infection

ABSTRACT Candida glabrata is the second leading cause of adult candidemia, resulting in high mortality. Amphotericin B is considered the treatment of choice, while the efficacy of fluconazole is controversial and caspofungin efficacy is unknown. To ascertain drug efficacy in vivo, the utility of a murine model of C. glabrata infection was investigated. C. glabrata was found to cause progressive, lethal infection when injected intravenously into C57BL/6 mice with reduced oxidative microbicidal capacity due to knockout of the p47phox gene. Spleen and kidney organ CFU counts were determined in groups of mice 2 days after the mice completed 6 days of daily intraperitoneal drug treatment, which began on the day of infection. Daily injections of fluconazole at 80 mg/kg did not reduce spleen or kidney CFU counts after infection with C. glabrata strains having in vitro fluconazole MICs of 2, 32, or 256 μg/ml compared to saline-treated controls. However, this fluconazole regimen reduced spleen CFU counts in mice infected with Candida albicans, an infection that is known to be responsive to fluconazole. Caspofungin at 5 mg/kg and amphotericin B at 5 mg/kg were both effective in reducing fungal burden in spleens and kidneys of C. glabrata-infected mice. Ten mice treated for 6 days with caspofungin at 1 mg/kg survived for 15 days, though all 10 saline-injected mice died or were so ill that they had to be sacrificed by 96 h postinfection. This murine model provided evidence of the efficacy of amphotericin B and caspofungin but not of fluconazole against C. glabrata infection.

scholarly journals Candida albicans RIM101 pH Response Pathway Is Required for Host-Pathogen Interactions

2000 ◽  
Vol 68 (10) ◽  
pp. 5953-5959 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Davis ◽  
John E. Edwards ◽  
Aaron P. Mitchell ◽  
Ashraf S. Ibrahim
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Marked Reduction ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Systemic Candidiasis ◽  
Ph Response

ABSTRACT The ability of Candida albicans to respond to diverse environments is critical for its success as a pathogen. TheRIM101 pathway controls gene expression and the yeast-to-hyphal transition in C. albicans in response to changes in environmental pH in vitro. In this study, we found that theRIM101 pathway is necessary in vivo for pathogenesis. First, we show thatrim101−/rim101− andrim8−/rim8− mutants have a significant reduction in virulence using the mouse model of hematogenously disseminated systemic candidiasis. Second, these mutants show a marked reduction in kidney pathology. Third, therim101−/rim101− andrim8−/rim8− mutants show defects in the ability to damage endothelial cells in situ. Finally, we show that an activated allele of RIM101, RIM101-405, is a suppressor of the rim8− mutation in vivo as it rescues the virulence, histological, and endothelial damage defects of the rim8−/rim8− mutant. These results demonstrate that the RIM101 pathway is required for C. albicans virulence in vivo and that the function of Rim8p in pathogenesis is to activate Rim101p.

scholarly journals Comparative resistance of Candida albicans clinical isolates to fluconazole and itraconazole in vitro and in vivo in a murine model.

1996 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 1342-1345 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Valentin ◽  
R Le Guennec ◽  
E Rodriguez ◽  
J Reynes ◽  
M Mallie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Survival Rates ◽  
Drug Regimen ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
In Vitro Susceptibility ◽  
Microdilution Method ◽  
Broth Microdilution Method

Relationships between azole susceptibility and in vivo response to antifungal therapy in a murine model of candidiasis were investigated for Candida albicans isolates sampled from human immunodeficiency virus type 1-positive patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis. The susceptibilities of seven clinical isolates and two reference strains to fluconazole (FCZ) and itraconazole (ITZ) were determined in vitro by the broth microdilution method. Four isolates were resistant to FCZ and ITZ, two were susceptible to both azoles, and three were resistant to FCZ and susceptible to ITZ (dissociated resistance). CD1 mice were inoculated with each isolate and treated with either FCZ or ITZ (drug regimen, 5 mg/kg of body weight twice daily for 5 days). Quantitative cultures of kidneys were performed at the end of the treatment. On the other hand, the survival rates of the mice were followed daily. These two parameters were clearly correlated with in vitro susceptibility. Thus, the phenomenon of a dissociation of resistance to FCZ and ITZ may be found in vivo as well as in vitro.

scholarly journals Effect of Farnesol on a Mouse Model of Systemic Candidiasis, Determined by Use of a DPP3 Knockout Mutant of Candida albicans

2007 ◽  
Vol 75 (4) ◽  
pp. 1609-1618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dhammika H. M. L. P. Navarathna ◽  
Jacob M. Hornby ◽  
Navasona Krishnan ◽  
Anne Parkhurst ◽  
Gerald E. Duhamel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Tween 80 ◽  
Sublethal Dose ◽  
Systemic Candidiasis ◽  
Knockout Mutant ◽  
Gene Encoding

ABSTRACTThis work extends our previous observation that the fungusCandida albicanssecretes micromolar levels of farnesol and that accumulation of farnesol in vitro prevents the yeast-to-mycelium conversion in a quorum-sensing manner. What does farnesol do in vivo? The purpose of this study was to determine the role of farnesol during infection with a well-established mouse model of systemic candidiasis withC. albicansA72 administered by tail vein injection. This question was addressed by altering both endogenous and exogenous farnesol. For endogenous farnesol, we created a knockout mutation inDPP3, the gene encoding a phosphatase which converts farnesyl pyrophosphate to farnesol. This mutant (KWN2) produced six times less farnesol and was ca. 4.2 times less pathogenic than its SN152 parent. The strain withDPP3reconstituted (KWN4) regained both its farnesol production levels and pathogenicity. These mutants (KWN1 to KWN4) retained their full dimorphic capability. With regard to exogenous farnesol, farnesol was administered either intraperitoneally (i.p.) or orally in the drinking water. Mice receivingC. albicansintravenously and farnesol (20 mM) orally had enhanced mortality (P< 0.03). Similarly, mice (n= 40) injected with 1.0 ml of 20 mM farnesol i.p. had enhanced mortality (P< 0.03), and the onset of mortality was 30 h sooner than for mice which received a control injection without farnesol. The effect of i.p. farnesol was more pronounced (P< 0.04) when mice were inoculated with a sublethal dose ofC. albicans. These mice started to die 4 days earlier, and the percent survival on day 6 postinoculation (p.i.) was five times lower than for mice receivingC. albicanswith control i.p. injections. In all experiments, mice administered farnesol alone or Tween 80 alone remained normal throughout a 14-day observation period. Finally, beginning at 12 h p.i., higher numbers ofC. albicanscells were detected in kidneys from mice receiving i.p. farnesol than in those from mice receiving control i.p. injections. Thus, reduced endogenous farnesol decreased virulence, while providing exogenous farnesol increased virulence. Taken together, these data suggest that farnesol may play a role in disease pathogenesis, either directly or indirectly, and thus may represent a newly identified virulence factor.

scholarly journals In Vivo and In Vitro Anaerobic Mating in Candida albicans

2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 465-472 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raluca Dumitru ◽  
Dhammika H. M. L. P. Navarathna ◽  
Camile P. Semighini ◽  
Christian G. Elowsky ◽  
Razvan V. Dumitru ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Mating Types ◽  
Direct Test ◽  
Body Temperatures ◽  
Gi Tract ◽  
Anaerobic Conditions

ABSTRACT Candida albicans cells of opposite mating types are thought to conjugate during infection in mammalian hosts, but paradoxically, the mating-competent opaque state is not stable at mammalian body temperatures. We found that anaerobic conditions stabilize the opaque state at 37°C, block production of farnesol, and permit in vitro mating at 37°C at efficiencies of up to 84%. Aerobically, farnesol prevents mating because it kills the opaque cells necessary for mating, and as a corollary, farnesol production is turned off in opaque cells. These in vitro observations suggest that naturally anaerobic sites, such as the efficiently colonized gastrointestinal (GI) tract, could serve as niches for C. albicans mating. In a direct test of mating in the mouse GI tract, prototrophic cells were obtained from auxotrophic parent cells, confirming that mating will occur in this organ. These cells were true mating products because they were tetraploid, mononuclear, and prototrophic, and they contained the heterologous hisG marker from one of the parental strains.

scholarly journals Caspofungin Resistance in Candida albicans: Correlating Clinical Outcome with Laboratory Susceptibility Testing of Three Isogenic Isolates Serially Obtained from a Patient with Progressive Candida Esophagitis

2004 ◽  
Vol 48 (4) ◽  
pp. 1382-1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steve Hernandez ◽  
José L. López-Ribot ◽  
Laura K. Najvar ◽  
Dora I. McCarthy ◽  
Rosie Bocanegra ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Clinical Outcome ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Susceptibility Testing ◽  
Candida Esophagitis

ABSTRACT A patient with azole-refractory thrush-esophagitis responded initially to caspofungin, but the treatment eventually failed. In a murine model, caspofungin was effective against two early isolates for which the MICs of caspofungin were low, but it was less effective against a late isolate for which the MIC of caspofungin was greater. We concluded that there is a correlation between in vivo failure and rising in vitro caspofungin MICs.

scholarly journals CANDIDA ALBICANS AND STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS CO-INFECTION IN MICE AFTER ANTIBIOTIC-INDUCED DYSBIOSIS

2018 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Staphylococcus Aureus ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
White Male ◽  
Adhesive Bond ◽  
The Body ◽  
Microbial Interactions ◽  
Electron Microscopic ◽  
Normal Microflora

Microbial interactions in Staphylococcus aureus–Candida albicans dual-species biofilms is a relevant research topic given the significant contribution of these microorganisms to hospital-acquired infections. Therefore, the purpose of our investigation was to study the interaction of opportunistic C. albicans and S. aureus in vivo and in vitro, both with the participation of normal microflora and in mice with antibacterial dysbiosis. The study of mentioned interactions was carried out on 100 white male mice weighing approximately 18 grams in vivo and using smears prepared from the grown mixed cultures of C. albicans and S. aureus and the Japan JEM 1400 transmission electron microscope for the purpose of electron microscopic study of microorganisms in vitro. Healthy mice forming control groups and mice with antibiotic-induced dysbiosis (after introduction of vancomycin, gentamicin, ampicillin) were divided into groups to create a mono- and associative infection: Ι group was given 1×107 CFU of C. albicans, II group – 1×108 CFU of S. aureus, and III group – a mixture of specified concentrations of C. albicans and S. aureus in the same proportion. Microorganisms causing monoinfection were being isolated from the body of animals treated with antibiotics till the end of the experiments in large quantities unlike in case of the healthy mice. Co-inoculation of these microbes in the same dose to animals (co-infection), which were injected with antibiotics, turned out to be fatal for them, whereas an adhesive bond was seen between the cells of C. albicans vs. S. aureus in vitro. As can be seen, such bacterial-fungal co-infection reduce substantially the effectiveness of antibiotic therapy and the likelihood of successful treatment and can not be ignored when choosing the appropriate treatment.

scholarly journals In VitroActivity of Miltefosine against Candida albicans under Planktonic and Biofilm Growth Conditions andIn VivoEfficacy in a Murine Model of Oral Candidiasis

2015 ◽  
Vol 59 (12) ◽  
pp. 7611-7620 ◽  
Author(s):  
Taissa Vieira Machado Vila ◽  
Ashok K. Chaturvedi ◽  
Sonia Rozental ◽  
Jose L. Lopez-Ribot
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Murine Model ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Pathogenic Fungus ◽  
Oral Candidiasis ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Drug Candidate ◽  
Content Type

ABSTRACTThe generation of a new antifungal againstCandida albicansbiofilms has become a major priority, since biofilm formation by this opportunistic pathogenic fungus is usually associated with an increased resistance to azole antifungal drugs and treatment failures. Miltefosine is an alkyl phospholipid with promising antifungal activity. Here, we report that, when tested under planktonic conditions, miltefosine displays potentin vitroactivity against multiple fluconazole-susceptible and -resistantC. albicansclinical isolates, including isolates overexpressing efflux pumps and/or with well-characterized Erg11 mutations. Moreover, miltefosine inhibitsC. albicans biofilm formation and displays activity against preformed biofilms. Serial passage experiments confirmed that miltefosine has a reduced potential to elicit resistance, and screening of a library ofC. albicanstranscription factor mutants provided additional insight into the activity of miltefosine againstC. albicansgrowing under planktonic and biofilm conditions. Finally, we demonstrate thein vivoefficacy of topical treatment with miltefosine in the murine model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. Overall, our results confirm the potential of miltefosine as a promising antifungal drug candidate, in particular for the treatment of azole-resistant and biofilm-associated superficial candidiasis.

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