scholarly journals Candida glabrata: A Lot More Than Meets the Eye

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kundan Kumar ◽  
Fizza Askari ◽  
Mahima Sahu ◽  
Rupinder Kaur
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Bloodstream Infections ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Inflammatory Immune Response

Candida glabrata is an opportunistic human fungal pathogen that causes superficial mucosal and life-threatening bloodstream infections in individuals with a compromised immune system. Evolutionarily, it is closer to the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae than to the most prevalent Candida bloodstream pathogen, C. albicans. C. glabrata is a haploid budding yeast that predominantly reproduces clonally. In this review, we summarize interactions of C. glabrata with the host immune, epithelial and endothelial cells, and the ingenious strategies it deploys to acquire iron and phosphate from the external environment. We outline various attributes including cell surface-associated adhesins and aspartyl proteases, biofilm formation and stress response mechanisms, that contribute to the virulence of C. glabrata. We further discuss how, C. glabrata, despite lacking morphological switching and secreted proteolytic activity, is able to disarm macrophage, dampen the host inflammatory immune response and replicate intracellularly.

scholarly journals Simple Carbohydrate Derivatives Diminish the Formation of Biofilm of the Pathogenic Yeast Candida albicans

Antibiotics ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olena P. Ishchuk ◽  
Olov Sterner ◽  
Ulf Ellervik ◽  
Sophie Manner
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Morphological Transition ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Yeast Form ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Morphological Transitions ◽  
Simple Carbohydrate

The opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans relies on cell morphological transitions to develop biofilm and invade the host. In the current study, we developed new regulatory molecules, which inhibit the morphological transition of C. albicans from yeast-form cells to cells forming hyphae. These compounds, benzyl α-l-fucopyranoside and benzyl β-d-xylopyranoside, inhibit the hyphae formation and adhesion of C. albicans to a polystyrene surface, resulting in a reduced biofilm formation. The addition of cAMP to cells treated with α-l-fucopyranoside restored the yeast-hyphae switch and the biofilm level to that of the untreated control. In the β-d-xylopyranoside treated cells, the biofilm level was only partially restored by the addition of cAMP, and these cells remained mainly as yeast-form cells.

scholarly journals Analysis of Volatile Molecules Present in the Secretome of the Fungal Pathogen Candida Glabrata

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (13) ◽  
pp. 3881
Author(s):  
Juan Ernesto López-Ramos ◽  
Elihú Bautista ◽  
Guadalupe Gutiérrez-Escobedo ◽  
Gabriela Mancilla-Montelongo ◽  
Irene Castaño ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Fungal Pathogens ◽  
Nonanoic Acid ◽  
Growth Media ◽  
Trimethylsilyl Ester ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Synthetic Complete ◽  
Invasive Infections

Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis are the four most common human fungal pathogens isolated that can cause superficial and invasive infections. It has been shown that specific metabolites present in the secretomes of these fungal pathogens are important for their virulence. C. glabrata is the second most common isolate world-wide and has an innate resistance to azoles, xenobiotics and oxidative stress that allows this fungal pathogen to evade the immune response and persist within the host. Here, we analyzed and compared the C. glabrata secretome with those of C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and the non-pathogenic yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. In C. glabrata, we identified a different number of metabolites depending on the growth media: 12 in synthetic complete media (SC), 27 in SC-glutamic acid and 23 in rich media (YPD). C. glabrata specific metabolites are 1-dodecene (0.09 ± 0.11%), 2,5-dimethylundecane (1.01 ± 0.19%), 3,7-dimethyldecane (0.14 ± 0.15%), and octadecane (0.4 ± 0.53%). The metabolites that are shared with C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis and S. cerevisiae are phenylethanol, which is synthesized from phenylalanine, and eicosane and nonanoic acid (identified as trimethylsilyl ester), which are synthesized from fatty acid metabolism. Phenylethanol is the most abundant metabolite in all fungi tested: 26.36 ± 17.42% (C. glabrata), 46.77 ± 15.58% (C. albicans), 49.76 ± 18.43% (C. tropicalis), 5.72 ± 0.66% (C. parapsilosis.) and 44.58 ± 27.91% (S. cerevisiae). The analysis of C. glabrata’s secretome will allow us to further our understanding of the possible role these metabolites could play in its virulence.

scholarly journals Nitric oxide and nitrosative stress tolerance in yeast

2011 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 219-223 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Tillmann ◽  
Neil A.R. Gow ◽  
Alistair J.P. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Nitrosative Stress ◽  
Binding Domain ◽  
Phagocytic Cells ◽  
Yeast Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Reactive Nitrogen Intermediates ◽  
Detoxification Mechanisms ◽  
Fad Binding

The opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans encounters diverse environmental stresses when it is in contact with its host. When colonizing and invading human tissues, C. albicans is exposed to ROS (reactive oxygen species) and RNIs (reactive nitrogen intermediates). ROS and RNIs are generated in the first line of host defence by phagocytic cells such as macrophages and neutrophils. In order to escape these host-induced oxidative and nitrosative stresses, C. albicans has developed various detoxification mechanisms. One such mechanism is the detoxification of NO (nitric oxide) to nitrate by the flavohaemoglobin enzyme CaYhb1. Members of the haemoglobin superfamily are highly conserved and are found in archaea, eukaryotes and bacteria. Flavohaemoglobins have a dioxygenase activity [NOD (NO dioxygenase domain)] and contain three domains: a globin domain, an FAD-binding domain and an NAD(P)-binding domain. In the present paper, we examine the nitrosative stress response in three fungal models: the pathogenic yeast C. albicans, the benign budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the benign fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. We compare their enzymatic and non-enzymatic NO and RNI detoxification mechanisms and summarize fungal responses to nitrosative stress.

Impact of calmodulin inhibition by fluphenazine on susceptibility, biofilm formation and pathogenicity of caspofungin-resistant Candida glabrata

2020 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 1187-1193 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrés Ceballos Garzon ◽  
Daniela Amado ◽  
Estelle Robert ◽  
Claudia M Parra Giraldo ◽  
Patrice Le Pape
Keyword(s):  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Galleria Mellonella ◽  
Larval Survival ◽  
Clinical Isolates ◽  
Dilution Method ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Polyurethane Catheter ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background In recent decades, Candida glabrata has emerged as a frequent cause of life-threatening fungal infection. In C. glabrata, echinocandin resistance is associated with mutations in FKS1/FKS2 (β-1,3-glucan synthase). The calmodulin/calcineurin pathway is implicated in response to antifungal stress and calcineurin gene disruption specifically reverses Fks2-mediated resistance of clinical isolates. Objectives We evaluated the impact of calmodulin inhibition by fluphenazine in two caspofungin-resistant C. glabrata isolates. Methods C. glabrata isolates were identified by ITS1/ITS4 (where ITS stands for internal transcribed spacer) sequencing and the echinocandin target FKS1/FKS2 genes were sequenced. Susceptibility testing of caspofungin in the presence of fluphenazine was performed by a modified CLSI microbroth dilution method. The effect of the fluphenazine/caspofungin combination on heat stress (37°C or 40°C), oxidative stress (0.2 and 0.4 mM menadione) and biofilm formation (polyurethane catheter) was analysed. A Galleria mellonella model using blastospores (1 × 109 cfu/mL) was developed to evaluate the impact of this combination on larval survival. Results F659del was found in the FKS2 gene of both resistant strains. In these clinical isolates, fluphenazine increased susceptibility to caspofungin and reduced their thermotolerance. Furthermore, the fluphenazine/caspofungin combination significantly impaired biofilm formation in an in vitro polyurethane catheter model. All these features participated in the increasing survival of infected G. mellonella after combination treatment in comparison with caspofungin alone. Conclusions In a repurposing strategy, our findings confirm that calmodulin could provide a relevant target in life-threatening fungal infectious diseases.

scholarly journals Antifungal effects of alantolactone on Candida albicans: an in vitro study

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xin Liu ◽  
Lili Zhong ◽  
Zhiming Ma ◽  
Yujie Sui ◽  
Jia’nan Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Medical Devices ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
In Vitro Study ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Promising Candidate ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Antifungal Effects

AbstractThe human fungal pathogen Candida albicans can cause many kinds of infections, including biofilm infections on medical devices, while the available antifungal drugs are limited to only a few. In this study, alantolactone (Ala) demonstrated antifungal activities against C. albicans, as well as other Candida species, with a MIC of 72 μg/mL. Ala could also inhibit the adhesion, yeast-to-hyphal transition, biofilm formation and development of C. albicans. The exopolysaccharide of biofilm matrix and extracellular phospholipase production could also be reduced by Ala treatment. Ala could increase permeability of C. albicans cell membrane and ROS contribute to the antifungal activity of Ala. Overall, the present study suggests that Ala may provide a promising candidate for developing antifungal drugs against C. albicans infections.

scholarly journals Carnitine-Dependent Transport of Acetyl Coenzyme A in Candida albicans Is Essential for Growth on Nonfermentable Carbon Sources and Contributes to Biofilm Formation

2008 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 610-618 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Strijbis ◽  
Carlo W. T. van Roermund ◽  
Wouter F. Visser ◽  
Els C. Mol ◽  
Janny van den Burg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Fatty Acid ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Carbon Sources ◽  
Acetyl Coa ◽  
Oxidation Activity ◽  
Acetyl Coenzyme A ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Peroxisomal Fatty Acid

ABSTRACT In eukaryotes, acetyl coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA) produced during peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation needs to be transported to mitochondria for further metabolism. Two parallel pathways for acetyl-CoA transport have been identified in Saccharomyces cerevisiae; one is dependent on peroxisomal citrate synthase (Cit), while the other requires peroxisomal and mitochondrial carnitine acetyltransferase (Cat) activities. Here we show that the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans lacks peroxisomal Cit, relying exclusively on Cat activity for transport of acetyl units. Deletion of the CAT2 gene encoding the major Cat enzyme in C. albicans resulted in a strain that had lost both peroxisomal and mitochondrion-associated Cat activities, could not grow on fatty acids or C2 carbon sources (acetate or ethanol), accumulated intracellular acetyl-CoA, and showed greatly reduced fatty acid β-oxidation activity. The cat2 null mutant was, however, not attenuated in virulence in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. These observations support our previous results showing that peroxisomal fatty acid β-oxidation activity is not essential for C. albicans virulence. Biofilm formation by the cat2 mutant on glucose was slightly reduced compared to that by the wild type, although both strains grew at the same rate on this carbon source. Our data show that C. albicans has diverged considerably from S. cerevisiae with respect to the mechanism of intracellular acetyl-CoA transport and imply that carnitine dependence may be an important trait of this human fungal pathogen.

scholarly journals Pathogenesis and Antifungal Drug Resistance of the Human Fungal Pathogen Candida glabrata

2011 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-186 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Tscherner ◽  
Tobias Schwarzmüller ◽  
Karl Kuchler
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Candida Glabrata ◽  
Antifungal Drug ◽  
Antifungal Drug Resistance ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen

scholarly journals The SUMO protease Ulp2 regulates genome stability and drug resistance in the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marzia Rizzo ◽  
Natthapon Soisangwan ◽  
Jan Soetaert ◽  
Samuel Vega-Estevez ◽  
Anna Selmecki ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Genome Instability ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Antifungal Drug ◽  
Genome Plasticity ◽  
Sumo Protease ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Life Threatening

AbstractStress-induced genome instability in microbial organisms is emerging as a critical regulatory mechanism for driving rapid and reversible adaption to drastic environmental changes. In Candida albicans, a human fungal pathogen that causes life-threatening infections, genome plasticity confers increased virulence and antifungal drug resistance. Discovering the mechanisms regulating C. albicans genome plasticity is a priority to understand how this and other microbial pathogens establish life-threatening infections and develop resistance to antifungal drugs. We identified the SUMO protease Ulp2 as a critical regulator of C. albicans genome integrity through genetic screening. Deletion of ULP2 leads to hypersensitivity to genotoxic agents and increased genome instability. This increased genome diversity causes reduced fitness under standard laboratory growth conditions but enhances adaptation to stress, making ulp2Δ/Δ cells more likely to thrive in the presence of antifungal drugs. Whole-genome sequencing indicates that ulp2Δ/Δ cells counteract antifungal drug-induced stress by developing segmental aneuploidies of chromosome R and chromosome I. We demonstrate that intrachromosomal repetitive elements drive the formation of complex novel genotypes with adaptive power.

scholarly journals Simple Carbohydrate Derivatives Diminish the Formation of Biofilm of Candida albicans

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olena P. Ishchuk ◽  
Olov Sterner ◽  
Ulf Ellervik ◽  
Sophie Manner
Keyword(s):  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Untreated Control ◽  
Morphological Transition ◽  
Yeast Form ◽  
Polystyrene Surface ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Morphological Transitions ◽  
Simple Carbohydrate

Abstract The opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans rely on cell morphological transitions to develop biofilm and invade the host. In the current study, we developed new regulatory molecules, which inhibit the morphological transition of C. albicans from yeast-form cells to cells forming hyphae. These compounds, benzyl α-L-fucopyranoside and benzyl β-D-xylopyranoside, inhibit the morphological switching and adhesion of C. albicans to a polystyrene surface, resulting in a reduced biofilm formation. The addition of cAMP to cells treated with α-L-fucopyranoside restored the yeast-hyphae switch and the biofilm level to that of the untreated control. In the β-D-xylopyranoside treated cells, the biofilm level was only partially restored by the addition of cAMP, and these cells remained mainly as yeast-form cells.

scholarly journals On and Off: Epigenetic Regulation of C. albicans Morphological Switches

Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1463
Author(s):  
Elise Iracane ◽  
Samuel Vega-Estévez ◽  
Alessia Buscaino
Keyword(s):  
Epigenetic Regulation ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory Network ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Human Fungal Pathogen ◽  
Transcriptional Regulatory ◽  
Life Threatening ◽  
Morphological Transitions ◽  
Non Coding Rnas ◽  
Epigenetic Modulation

The human fungal pathogen Candida albicans is a dimorphic opportunistic pathogen that colonises most of the human population without creating any harm. However, this fungus can also cause life-threatening infections in immunocompromised individuals. The ability to successfully colonise different host niches is critical for establishing infections and pathogenesis. C. albicans can live and divide in various morphological forms critical for its survival in the host. Indeed, C. albicans can grow as both yeast and hyphae and can form biofilms containing hyphae. The transcriptional regulatory network governing the switching between these different forms is complex but well understood. In contrast, non-DNA based epigenetic modulation is emerging as a crucial but still poorly studied regulatory mechanism of morphological transition. This review explores our current understanding of chromatin-mediated epigenetic regulation of the yeast to hyphae switch and biofilm formation. We highlight how modification of chromatin structure and non-coding RNAs contribute to these morphological transitions.

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