scholarly journals The interaction between Carbohydrates and the Antimicrobial Peptide P-113Tri is Involved in the Killing of Candida albicans

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guan-Yu Lin ◽  
Chuan-Fa Chang ◽  
Chung-Yu Lan
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
Peptide Binding ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Planktonic Cells ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Competition Assays

The emergence of drug resistance to Candida albicans is problematic in the clinical setting. Therefore, developing new antifungal drugs is in high demand. Our previous work indicated that the antimicrobial peptide P-113Tri exhibited higher antifungal activity against planktonic cells, biofilm cells, and clinical isolates of Candida species compared to its parental peptide P-113. In this study, we further investigated the difference between these two peptides in their mechanisms against C. albicans. Microscopic examination showed that P-113 rapidly gained access to C. albicans cells. However, most of the P-113Tri remained on the cell surface. Moreover, using a range of cell wall-defective mutants and competition assays, the results indicated that phosphomannan and N-linked mannan in the cell wall are important for peptide binding to C. albicans cells. Furthermore, the addition of exogenous phosphosugars reduced the efficacy of the peptide, suggesting that negatively charged phosphosugars also contributed to the peptide binding to the cell wall polysaccharides. Finally, using a glycan array, P-113Tri, but not P-113, can bind to other glycans commonly present on other microbial and mammalian cells. Together, these results suggest that P-113 and P-113Tri have fundamental differences in their interaction with C. albicans and candidacidal activities.

scholarly journals Loss of mannosylphosphate from Candida albicans cell wall proteins results in enhanced resistance to the inhibitory effect of a cationic antimicrobial peptide via reduced peptide binding to the cell surface

Microbiology ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 155 (4) ◽  
pp. 1058-1070 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark Harris ◽  
Héctor M. Mora-Montes ◽  
Neil A. R. Gow ◽  
Peter J. Coote
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Yeast Cell ◽  
Peptide Binding ◽  
Transient Event ◽  
Glucosamine Hydrochloride ◽  
Outermost Layer ◽  
Enhanced Resistance

The outermost layer of the Candida albicans cell wall is enriched with mannosylated glycoproteins. We have used a range of isogenic glycosylation mutants of C. albicans, which are defective to varying degrees in cell wall protein mannosylation, to investigate the role of the outermost layer of the yeast cell wall in mediating the fungicidal action of the cationic, α-helical antimicrobial peptide dermaseptin S3(1-16) [DsS3(1-16)]. The degree of phosphomannan loss, and concomitant reduction in surface negative charge, from the series of glycosylation mutants correlated with reduced levels of peptide binding to the cells. In turn, the reduced peptide binding correlated with enhanced resistance to DsS3(1-16). To ascertain whether DsS3(1-16) binds to negatively charged phosphate, we studied the effect of exogenous glucosamine 6-phosphate, and glucosamine hydrochloride as a negative control, on the antifungal efficacy of DsS3(1-16). Glucosamine 6-phosphate retarded the efficacy of DsS3(1-16), and this was attributed to the presence of phosphate, because addition of identical concentrations of glucosamine hydrochloride had little detrimental effect on peptide efficacy. Fluorescence microscopy with DsS3(1-16) tagged with fluorescein revealed that the peptide binds to the outer surface of the yeast cell, supporting our previous conclusion that the presence of exterior phosphomannan is a major determinant of the antifungal potency of DsS3(1-16). The binding of the peptide to the cell surface was a transient event that was followed by apparent localization of DsS3(1-16) in the vacuole or dissemination throughout the entire cytosol. The presence of glucosamine 6-phosphate clearly reduced the proportion of cells in the population that showed complete cytosolic staining, implying that the binding and entry of the peptide into the cytosol is significantly reduced due to the exogenous phosphate sequestering the peptide and reducing the amount of peptide able to bind to the surface phosphomannan. In conclusion, we present evidence that an antimicrobial peptide, similar to those employed by cells of the human immune system, has evolved to recognize molecular patterns on the surface of pathogens in order to maximize efficacy.

Antifungal Activity Directed Toward the Cell Wall by 2-Cyclohexylidenhydrazo- 4-Phenyl-Thiazole Against Candida albicans

2019 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 428-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nívea P. de Sá ◽  
Ana P. Pôssa ◽  
Pilar Perez ◽  
Jaqueline M.S. Ferreira ◽  
Nayara C. Fonseca ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Antifungal Activity ◽  
Mammalian Cells ◽  
C Elegans ◽  
Buccal Epithelial Cells ◽  
Mutant Strains ◽  
Low Toxicity ◽  
High Concentrations ◽  
Mic Value

<p>Background: The increasing incidence of invasive forms of candidiasis and resistance to antifungal therapy leads us to seek new and more effective antifungal compounds. </P><P> Objective: To investigate the antifungal activity and toxicity as well as to evaluate the potential targets of 2- cyclohexylidenhydrazo-4-phenyl-thiazole (CPT) in Candida albicans. </P><P> Methods: The antifungal activity of CPT against the survival of C. albicans was investigated in Caenorhabditis elegans. Additionally, we determined the effect of CPT on the inhibition of C. albicans adhesion capacity to buccal epithelial cells (BECs), the toxicity of CPT in mammalian cells, and the potential targets of CPT in C. albicans. </P><P> Results: CPT exhibited a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 0.4-1.9 µg/mL. Furthermore, CPT at high concentrations (>60 x MIC) showed no or low toxicity in HepG2 cells and <1% haemolysis in human erythrocytes. In addition, CPT decreased the adhesion capacity of yeasts to the BECs and prolonged the survival of C. elegans infected with C. albicans. Analysis of CPT-treated cells showed that their cell wall was thinner than that of untreated cells, especially the glucan layer. We found that there was a significantly lower quantity of 1,3-β-D-glucan present in CPT-treated cells than that in untreated cells. Assays performed on several mutant strains showed that the MIC value of CPT was high for its antifungal activity on yeasts with defective 1,3-β-glucan synthase. </P><P> Conclusion: In conclusion, CPT appears to target the cell wall of C. albicans, exhibits low toxicity in mammalian cells, and prolongs the survival of C. elegans infected with C. albicans.</p>

scholarly journals Candida albicans phosphate transport, facilitating nucleotide sugar biosynthesis, contributes to cell wall stability.

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maikel Acosta-Zaldivar ◽  
Wanjun Qi ◽  
Ning-Ning Liu ◽  
Joann Diray-Arce ◽  
Louise A. Walker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Enzymatic Reaction ◽  
Phosphate Starvation ◽  
Reaction Rates ◽  
Outer Cell ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Nucleotide Sugar ◽  
Structural Cell ◽  
Chitin Synthases

The Candida albicans high-affinity phosphate transporter Pho84 is required for normal Target of Rapamycin signaling, oxidative stress resistance and virulence of this fungal pathogen. It also contributes to C. albicans’ tolerance of two antifungal drug classes, polyenes and echinocandins. Echinocandins inhibit biosynthesis of a major cell wall component, beta-1,3-glucan. Cells lacking Pho84 were hypersensitive to other forms of cell wall stress beyond echinocandin exposure, while their cell wall integrity signaling response was weak. Metabolomics experiments showed that levels of phosphoric intermediates, including nucleotides like ATP and nucleotide sugars, were low in pho84 mutant compared to wild type cells recovering from phosphate starvation. Non-phosphoric precursors like nucleobases and nucleosides were elevated. Outer cell wall phosphomannan biosynthesis requires a nucleotide sugar,GDP-mannose. The nucleotide sugar UDP-glucose is the substrate of enzymes that synthesize two major structural cell wall polysaccharides, beta-1,3- and beta-1,6-glucan. Another nucleotide sugar, UDP-N-acetylglucosamine, is the substrate of chitin synthases which produce a stabilizing component of the intercellular septum and of lateral cell walls. Lack of Pho84 activity, and phosphate starvation, potentiated pharmacological or genetic perturbation of these enzymes. Our model is that low substrate concentrations of beta-D-glucan- and chitin synthases diminish enzymatic reaction rates and potentiate pharmacologic inhibitors to decrease the yield of their cell wall-stabilizing products. Phosphate import is not conserved between fungal and human cells, and humans do not synthesize beta-D-glucans or chitin. Hence inhibiting these processes simultaneously could yield potent antifungal effects with low toxicity to humans.

scholarly journals Fluconazole and Lipopeptide Surfactin Interplay During Candida albicans Plasma Membrane and Cell Wall Remodeling Increases Fungal Immune System Exposure

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jakub Suchodolski ◽  
Daria Derkacz ◽  
Jakub Muraszko ◽  
Jarosław J. Panek ◽  
Aneta Jezierska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Immune System ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Stable Complex ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Chitin Synthesis ◽  
Fungal Cell ◽  
In Silico Studies

Recognizing the β-glucan component of the Candida albicans cell wall is a necessary step involved in host immune system recognition. Compounds that result in exposed β-glucan recognizable to the immune system could be valuable antifungal drugs. Antifungal development is especially important because fungi are becoming increasingly drug resistant. This study demonstrates that lipopeptide, surfactin, unmasks β-glucan when the C. albicans cells lack ergosterol. This observation also holds when ergosterol is depleted by fluconazole. Surfactin does not enhance the effects of local chitin accumulation in the presence of fluconazole. Expression of the CHS3 gene, encoding a gene product resulting in 80% of cellular chitin, is downregulated. C. albicans exposure to fluconazole changes the composition and structure of the fungal plasma membrane. At the same time, the fungal cell wall is altered and remodeled in a way that makes the fungi susceptible to surfactin. In silico studies show that surfactin can form a complex with β-glucan. Surfactin forms a less stable complex with chitin, which in combination with lowering chitin synthesis, could be a second anti-fungal mechanism of action of this lipopeptide.

scholarly journals BAR Domain Proteins Rvs161 and Rvs167 Contribute to Candida albicans Endocytosis, Morphogenesis, and Virulence

2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (9) ◽  
pp. 4150-4160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lois M. Douglas ◽  
Stephen W. Martin ◽  
James B. Konopka
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Host Immune System ◽  
Membrane Function ◽  
Histatin 5 ◽  
Essentially Normal ◽  
Altered Cell

ABSTRACT The Candida albicans plasma membrane plays critical roles in growth and virulence and as a target for antifungal drugs. Three C. albicans genes that encode Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs homology domain proteins were mutated to define their roles in plasma membrane function. The deletion of RVS161 and RVS167, but not RVS162, caused strong defects. The rvs161Δ mutant was more defective in endocytosis and morphogenesis than rvs167Δ, but both were strongly defective in polarizing actin patches. Other plasma membrane constituents were still properly localized, including a filipin-stained domain at the hyphal tips. An analysis of growth under different in vitro conditions showed that the rvs161Δ and rvs167Δ mutants grew less invasively in agar and also suggested that they have defects in cell wall synthesis and Rim101 pathway signaling. These mutants were also more resistant to the antimicrobial peptide histatin 5 but showed essentially normal responses to the drugs caspofungin and amphotericin. Surprisingly, the rvs161Δ mutant was more sensitive to fluconazole, whereas the rvs167Δ mutant was more resistant, indicating that these mutations cause overlapping but distinct effects on cells. The rvs161Δ and rvs167Δ mutants both showed greatly reduced virulence in mice. However, the mutants were capable of growing to high levels in kidneys. Histological analyses of infected kidneys revealed that these rvsΔ mutants grew in a large fungal mass that was walled off by leukocytes, rather than forming disseminated microabscesses as seen for the wild type. The diminished virulence is likely due to a combination of the morphogenesis defects that reduce invasive growth and altered cell wall construction that exposes proinflammatory components to the host immune system.

scholarly journals Species-Specific Immunological Reactivities Depend on the Cell-Wall Organization of the Two Aspergillus, Aspergillus fumigatus and A. flavus

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah Sze Wah Wong ◽  
Lakshmi Prabha Venugopalan ◽  
Audrey Beaussart ◽  
Anupama Karnam ◽  
Mohammed Razeeth Shait Mohammed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Aspergillus Fumigatus ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Treatment Strategies ◽  
Specific Treatment ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Superficial Infection ◽  
Species Specific

Although belong to the same genus, Aspergillus fumigatus is primarily involved in invasive pulmonary infection, whereas Aspergillus flavus is a common cause of superficial infection. In this study, we compared conidia (the infective propagules) of these two Aspergillus species. In immunocompetent mice, intranasal inoculation with conidia of A. flavus resulted in significantly higher inflammatory responses in the lungs compared to mice inoculated with A. fumigatus conidia. In vitro assays revealed that the dormant conidia of A. flavus, unlike A. fumigatus dormant conidia, are immunostimulatory. The conidial surface of A. fumigatus was covered by a rodlet-layer, while that of A. flavus were presented with exposed polysaccharides. A. flavus harbored significantly higher number of proteins in its conidial cell wall compared to A. fumigatus conidia. Notably, β-1,3-glucan in the A. flavus conidial cell-wall showed significantly higher percentage of branching compared to that of A. fumigatus. The polysaccharides ensemble of A. flavus conidial cell wall stimulated the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines, and conidial cell wall associated proteins specifically stimulated IL-8 secretion from the host immune cells. Furthermore, the two species exhibited different sensitivities to antifungal drugs targeting cell wall polysaccharides, proposing the efficacy of species-specific treatment strategies. Overall, the species-specific organization of the conidial cell wall could be important in establishing infection by the two Aspergillus species.

scholarly journals Antimicrobial Peptide AMP-17 Affects Candida albicans by Disrupting Its Cell Wall and Cell Membrane Integrity

2020 ◽  
Vol Volume 13 ◽  
pp. 2509-2520
Author(s):  
Huiling Ma ◽  
Xinyu Zhao ◽  
Longbing Yang ◽  
Peipei Su ◽  
Ping Fu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Cell Membrane ◽  
Antimicrobial Peptide ◽  
Membrane Integrity ◽  
Cell Membrane Integrity

scholarly journals Nanoscale Effects of Caspofungin against Two Yeast Species, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans

2013 ◽  
Vol 57 (8) ◽  
pp. 3498-3506 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Formosa ◽  
M. Schiavone ◽  
H. Martin-Yken ◽  
J. M. François ◽  
R. E. Duval ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Saccharomyces Cerevisiae ◽  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Yeast Species ◽  
Young Modulus ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Molecular Organization ◽  
Response To Treatment ◽  
Content Type ◽  
High Doses

ABSTRACTSaccharomyces cerevisiaeandCandida albicansare model yeasts for biotechnology and human health, respectively. We used atomic force microscopy (AFM) to explore the effects of caspofungin, an antifungal drug used in hospitals, on these two species. Our nanoscale investigation revealed similar, but also different, behaviors of the two yeasts in response to treatment with the drug. While administration of caspofungin induced deep cell wall remodeling in both yeast species, as evidenced by a dramatic increase in chitin and decrease in β-glucan content, changes in cell wall composition were more pronounced withC. albicanscells. Notably, the increase of chitin was proportional to the increase in the caspofungin dose. In addition, the Young modulus of the cell was three times lower forC. albicanscells than forS. cerevisiaecells and increased proportionally with the increase of chitin, suggesting differences in the molecular organization of the cell wall between the two yeast species. Also, at a low dose of caspofungin (i.e., 0.5× MIC), the cell surface ofC. albicansexhibited a morphology that was reminiscent of cells expressing adhesion proteins. Interestingly, this morphology was lost at high doses of the drug (i.e., 4× MIC). However, the treatment ofS. cerevisiaecells with high doses of caspofungin resulted in impairment of cytokinesis. Altogether, the use of AFM for investigating the effects of antifungal drugs is relevant in nanomedicine, as it should help in understanding their mechanisms of action on fungal cells, as well as unraveling unexpected effects on cell division and fungal adhesion.

THE CELL WALL POLYSACCHARIDES OF CANDIDA ALBICANS: GLUCAN, MANNAN, AND CHITIN

1960 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 869-881 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. T. Bishop ◽  
F. Blank ◽  
P. E. Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Copper Complexes ◽  
Moving Boundary ◽  
Periodate Oxidation ◽  
Borate Buffer ◽  
Cell Wall Polysaccharides ◽  
Pathogenic Yeast ◽  
Hydrolysis Of

Cells of Candida albicans, a pathogenic yeast, have been shown to contain, in addition to chitin, a glucan ([α]D − 30°) and a mannan ([α]D + 78°) in the approximate ratio of 1.00:0.64. The two polysaccharides were easily distinguishable by moving boundary electrophoresis in borate buffer and were separated from each other by fractionation of their copper complexes. Methylation and hydrolysis of the glucan yielded the following O-methyl ethers of D-glucose: 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl (7 moles); 2,3,4-tri-O-methyl (13 moles); 2,4,6-tri-O-methyl (trace); 2,4-di-O-methyl (6 moles); and 2-O-methyl (1 mole). It was concluded that the glucan was a highly branched polysaccharide containing β 1 → 6 and β 1 → 3 linked residues. Periodate oxidation of the glucan supported this conclusion.Methylation and hydrolysis of the mannan yielded the following O-methyl ethers of D-mannose: 2,3,4,6-tetra-O-methyl (1.65 moles); 3,4,6-tri-O-methyl (1.00 mole); 2,3,6-tri-O-methyl (0.18 mole); 3,4-di-O-methyl (1.90 moles). The mannan was therefore a highly branched polysaccharide with short chains of α 1 → 2 linked mannose residues joined together by α 1 → 6 linkages. Results of periodate oxidation agreed with this structure.The differences between these two polysaccharides and glucans and mannans found in other yeasts are discussed.

scholarly journals Crosstalk between calcineurin and the cell wall integrity pathways prevents chitin overexpression in Candida albicans

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alessandra da Silva Dantas ◽  
Filomena Nogueira ◽  
Keunsook K. Lee ◽  
Louise A. Walker ◽  
Matt Edmondson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Wall ◽  
Candida Albicans ◽  
Antifungal Drugs ◽  
Cell Wall Integrity ◽  
Yeast Cells ◽  
Outer Cell ◽  
Chitin Synthesis ◽  
Simultaneous Activation ◽  
Glucan Synthesis ◽  
Calcineurin Pathway

Echinocandins such as caspofungin are front line antifungal drugs that compromise β-1,3 glucan synthesis in the cell wall. Recent reports have shown that fungal cells can resist killing by caspofungin by up-regulation of chitin synthesis, thereby sustaining cell wall integrity. When echinocandins are removed, the chitin content of cells quickly returns to basal levels, suggesting that there is a fitness cost associated with having elevated levels of chitin in the cell wall. We show here that simultaneous activation of the calcineurin and CWI pathways generates a sub-population of Candida albicans yeast cells that have supra-normal chitin levels interspersed throughout the inner and outer cell wall, and that these cells are non-viable, perhaps due to loss of wall elasticity required for cell expansion and growth. Mutations in the Ca2+-calcineurin pathway prevented the formation of these non-viable super high chitin cells by negatively regulating chitin synthesis driven by the CWI pathway. The Ca2+-calcineurin pathway may therefore act as an attenuator that prevents the overproduction of chitin by coordinating both chitin upregulation and negative regulation of the CWI signaling pathway.

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