Virulence Factors in Candida species

: Fungal diseases are severe and have very high morbidity as well as up to 60% mortality for patients diagnosed with invasive fungal infection. In this review, in vitro and in vivo studies provided us with the insight into the role of Candida virulence factors that mediate their success as pathogens, such as: membrane and cell wall (CW) barriers, dimorphism, biofilm formation, signal transduction pathway, proteins related to stress tolerance, hydrolytic enzymes (e.g. proteases, lipases, haemolysins), and toxin production. The review characterized the virulence of clinically important C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei. Due to the white-opaque transition in the mating-type locus MTL-homozygous cells, C. albicans demonstrates an advantage over other less related species of Candida as a human commensal and pathogen. It was reviewed that Candida ergosterol biosynthesis genes play a role in cellular stress and are essential for Candida pathogenesis both in invasive and superficial infections. Hydrolases associated with CW are involved in the host-pathogen interactions. Adhesins are crucial in colonization and biofilm formation, an important virulence factor for candidiasis. Calcineurin is involved in membrane and CW stress as well as virulence. The hyphae-specific toxin, named candidalysin, invades mucosal cells facilitating fungal invasion into deeper tissues. Expression of this protein promotes resistance to neutrophil killing in candidiasis. The virulence factors provide immunostimulatory factors, activating dendric cells and promoting T cell infiltration and activation. Targeting virulence factors, can reduce the risk of resistance development in Candida infections.

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Attenuation of Aeromonas hydrophila Infection in Carassius auratus by YtnP, a N-acyl Homoserine Lactonase from Bacillus licheniformis T-1

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics10060631 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 631

Author(s):

Mengfan Peng ◽

Wentao Tong ◽

Zhen Zhao ◽

Ling Xiao ◽

Zhaoyue Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Virulence Factors ◽

Bacillus Licheniformis ◽

Aeromonas Hydrophila ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Carassius Auratus ◽

Quorum Quenching ◽

Inhibition Rate ◽

Sequence Identity

In this experiment, the quorum quenching gene ytnP of Bacillus licheniformis T-1 was cloned and expressed, and the effect against infection of Aeromonas hydrophila ATCC 7966 was evaluated in vitro and vivo. The BLAST results revealed a 99% sequence identity between the ytnP gene of T-1 and its homolog in B.subtilis sub sp. BSP1, and the dendroGram showed that the similarity in the YtnP protein in T-1 was 100% in comparison with B.subtilis 3610, which was categorized as the Aidc cluster of the MBL family. The AHL lactonase activity of the purified YtnP was detected as 1.097 ± 0.7 U/mL with C6-HSL as the substrate. Otherwise, purified YtnP protein could significantly inhibit the biofilm formation of A.hydrophila ATCC 7966 with an inhibition rate of 68%. The MIC of thiamphenicol and doxycycline hydrochloride against A. hydrophila reduced from 4 μg/mL and 0.5 μg/mL to 1 μg/mL and 0.125 μg/mL, respectively, in the presence of YtnP. In addition, YtnP significantly inhibited the expression of five virulence factors hem, ahyB, ast, ep, aerA of A. hydrophila ATCC 7966 as well (p < 0.05). The results of inhibition on virulence showed a time-dependence tendency, while the strongest anti-virulence effects were within 4–24 h. In vivo, when the YtnP protein was co-injected intraperitoneally with A. hydrophila ATCC 7966, it attenuated the pathogenicity of A. hydrophila and the accumulated mortality was 27 ± 4.14% at 96 h, which was significantly lower than the average mortality of 78 ± 2.57% of the Carassius auratus injected with 108 CFU/mL of A. hydrophila ATCC 7966 only (p < 0.001). In conclusion, the AHL lactonase in B. licheniformis T-1 was proven to be YtnP protein and could be developed into an agent against infection of A. hydrophila in aquaculture.

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Regulation of cardiomyocyte fate plasticity: a key strategy for cardiac regeneration

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy ◽

10.1038/s41392-020-00413-2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rui Gong ◽

Zuke Jiang ◽

Naufal Zagidullin ◽

Tianyi Liu ◽

Benzhi Cai

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Cardiac Regeneration ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Research Progress ◽

High Morbidity ◽

Heart Repair ◽

Surgical Methods ◽

Heart Functions

AbstractWith the high morbidity and mortality rates, cardiovascular diseases have become one of the most concerning diseases worldwide. The heart of adult mammals can hardly regenerate naturally after injury because adult cardiomyocytes have already exited the cell cycle, which subseqently triggers cardiac remodeling and heart failure. Although a series of pharmacological treatments and surgical methods have been utilized to improve heart functions, they cannot replenish the massive loss of beating cardiomyocytes after injury. Here, we summarize the latest research progress in cardiac regeneration and heart repair through altering cardiomyocyte fate plasticity, which is emerging as an effective strategy to compensate for the loss of functional cardiomyocytes and improve the impaired heart functions. First, residual cardiomyocytes in damaged hearts re-enter the cell cycle to acquire the proliferative capacity by the modifications of cell cycle-related genes or regulation of growth-related signals. Additionally, non-cardiomyocytes such as cardiac fibroblasts, were shown to be reprogrammed into cardiomyocytes and thus favor the repair of damaged hearts. Moreover, pluripotent stem cells have been shown to transform into cardiomyocytes to promote heart healing after myocardial infarction (MI). Furthermore, in vitro and in vivo studies demonstrated that environmental oxygen, energy metabolism, extracellular factors, nerves, non-coding RNAs, etc. play the key regulatory functions in cardiac regeneration. These findings provide the theoretical basis of targeting cellular fate plasticity to induce cardiomyocyte proliferation or formation, and also provide the clues for stimulating heart repair after injury.

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Two VQ Proteins are Substrates of the OsMPKK6-OsMPK4 Cascade in Rice Defense Against Bacterial Blight

Rice ◽

10.1186/s12284-021-00483-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Na Li ◽

Zeyu Yang ◽

Juan Li ◽

Wenya Xie ◽

Xiaofeng Qin ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transgenic Plants ◽

Bacterial Blight ◽

Plant Immunity ◽

Signal Transduction Pathway ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein Kinase ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Mitogen Activated Protein ◽

Signaling Components

Abstract Background The plant-specific valine-glutamine (VQ) protein family with the conserved motif FxxxVQxLTG reportedly functions with the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) in plant immunity. However, the roles of VQ proteins in MAPK-mediated resistance to disease in rice remain largely unknown. Results In this study, two rice VQ proteins OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 were newly identified to function as the signaling components of a MAPK cascade, OsMPKK6-OsMPK4, to regulate rice resistance to Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzae (Xoo). Both OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 positively regulated rice resistance to Xoo. In vitro and in vivo studies revealed that OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 physically interacted with and were phosphorylated by OsMPK4. OsMPK4 was highly phosphorylated in transgenic plants overexpressing OsMPKK6, which showed enhanced resistance to Xoo. Meanwhile, phosphorylated OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 were also markedly accumulated in OsMPKK6-overexpressing transgenic plants. Conclusions We discovered that OsVQ14 and OsVQ32 functioned as substrates of the OsMPKK6-OsMPK4 cascade to enhance rice resistance to Xoo, thereby defining a more complete signal transduction pathway for induced defenses.

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Assessment of Ceragenins in Prevention of Damage to Voice Prostheses Caused by Candida Biofilm Formation

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10111371 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (11) ◽

pp. 1371

Author(s):

Jakub Spałek ◽

Tamara Daniluk ◽

Adrian Godlewski ◽

Piotr Deptuła ◽

Urszula Wnorowska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Candida Species ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Significant Proportion ◽

Life Quality ◽

Ethanol Solution ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Biofilm Growth ◽

Voice Prostheses

This study aimed to investigate the potential application of ceragenins (CSAs) as new candidacidal agents to prevent biofilm formation on voice prostheses (VPs). The deterioration of the silicone material of VPs is caused by biofilm growth on the device which leads to frequent replacement procedures and sometimes serious complications. A significant proportion of these failures is caused by Candida species. We found that CSAs have significant candidacidal activities in vitro (MIC; MFC; MBIC), and they effectively eradicate species of yeast responsible for VP failure. Additionally, in our in vitro experimental setting, when different Candida species were subjected to CSA-13 and CSA-131 during 25 passages, no tested Candida strain showed the significant development of resistance. Using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS), we found that VP immersion in an ethanol solution containing CSA-131 results in silicon impregnation with CSA-131 molecules, and in vitro testing revealed that fungal biofilm formation on such VP surfaces was inhibited by embedded ceragenins. Future in vivo studies will validate the use of ceragenin-coated VP for improvement in the life quality and safety of patients after a total laryngectomy.

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Staphylococcus aureus Trigger Factor is Involved in Biofilm Formation and Cooperates with the Chaperone PpiB

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.00681-20 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Rebecca A. Keogh ◽

Rachel L. Zapf ◽

Andrew Frey ◽

Emily C. Marino ◽

Gillian G. Null ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Protein Folding ◽

Virulence Factors ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

Double Mutant ◽

Chaperone Activity ◽

Trigger Factor ◽

Chaperone Proteins

Peptidyl-prolyl cis/trans isomerases (PPIases) are enzymes that assist in protein folding around proline-peptide bonds, and often possess chaperone activity. Staphylococcus aureus encodes three PPIases; PrsA, PpiB and Trigger factor (TF). Previous work by our group demonstrated a role for both PrsA and PpiB in S. aureus, however, TF remains largely unstudied. Here, we identify a role for TF in S. aureus biofilm formation, and demonstrate cooperation between TF and the cytoplasmic PPIase PpiB. Mutation of the tig gene (encoding TF) leads to reduced biofilm development in vitro but no significant attenuation of virulence in a mouse model of infection. To investigate if TF possesses chaperone activity, we analyzed the ability of a tig mutant to survive acid and basic stress. While there was no significant decrease in a tig mutant, a ppiB/tig double mutant exhibited a significant decrease in cell viability after acid and base challenge. We then demonstrate that a ppiB/tig double mutant has exacerbated phenotypes in vitro and in vivo when compared to either single mutant. Finally, in vivo immunoprecipitation of epitope tagged PpiB reveals that PpiB interacts with four times the number of proteins when TF is absent from the cell, suggesting it may be compensating for the loss of TF. Interestingly, the only proteins found to interact with TF are TF itself, FnBPB and the chaperone protein ClpB. Collectively, these results support the first phenotype for S. aureus TF and demonstrate a greater network of cooperation between chaperone proteins in Staphylococcus aureus. IMPORTANCE S. aureus encodes a large number of virulence factors that aid the bacterium in survival and pathogenesis. These virulence factors have a wide variety of functions, however, they must all be properly secreted in order to be functional. Bacterial chaperone proteins often assist in secretion by trafficking proteins to secretion machinery or assisting in proper protein folding. Here, we report that the S. aureus chaperone Trigger factor (TF) contributes to biofilm formation and cooperates with the chaperone PpiB to regulate S. aureus virulence processes. These data highlight the first known role for TF in S. aureus, and suggest that S. aureus chaperone proteins may be involved in a greater regulatory network in the cell.

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Novel Sulfones with Antifungal Properties: Antifungal Activities and Interactions with Candida spp. Virulence Factors

Mini-Reviews in Medicinal Chemistry ◽

10.2174/1389557518666180924121209 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 19 (1) ◽

pp. 12-21 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Małgorzata Gizińska ◽

Monika Staniszewska ◽

Zbigniew Ochal

Keyword(s):

Antifungal Activity ◽

Virulence Factors ◽

Hydrolytic Enzymes ◽

Candida Spp ◽

Pathogenic Potential ◽

Robust Response ◽

New Strategies ◽

Sulfone Derivatives

Since candidiasis is so difficult to eradicate with an antifungal treatment and the existing antimycotics display many limitations, hopefully new sulfone derivatives may overcome these deficiencies. It is pertinent to study new strategies such as sulfone derivatives targeting the virulence attributes of C. albicans that differentiate them from the host. During infections, the pathogenic potential of C. albicans relies on the virulence factors as follows: hydrolytic enzymes, transcriptional factors, adhesion, and development of biofilms. In the article we explored how the above-presented C. albicans fitness and virulence attributes provided a robust response to the environmental stress exerted by sulfones upon C. albicans; C. albicans fitness and virulence attributes are fungal properties whose inactivation attenuates virulence. Our understanding of how these mechanisms and factors are inhibited by sulfones has increased over the last years. As lack of toxicity is a prerequisite for medical approaches, sulfones (non-toxic as assessed in vitro and in vivo) may prove to be useful for reducing C. albicans pathogenesis in humans. The antifungal activity of sulfones dealing with these multiple virulence factors and fitness attributes is discussed.

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The Role of Candida albicans Secreted Polysaccharides in Augmenting Streptococcus mutans Adherence and Mixed Biofilm Formation: In vitro and in vivo Studies

Frontiers in Microbiology ◽

10.3389/fmicb.2020.00307 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Zaid H. Khoury ◽

Taissa Vila ◽

Taanya R. Puthran ◽

Ahmed S. Sultan ◽

Daniel Montelongo-Jauregui ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Candida Albicans ◽

Streptococcus Mutans ◽

Biofilm Formation ◽

In Vivo Studies

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Resveratrol Favors Adhesion and Biofilm Formation of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei subsp. paracasei Strain ATCC334

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms21155423 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 21 (15) ◽

pp. 5423

Author(s):

Jana Al Azzaz ◽

Alissar Al Tarraf ◽

Arnaud Heumann ◽

David Da Silva Barreira ◽

Julie Laurent ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biofilm Formation ◽

Chemical Properties ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Probiotic Properties ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

Potent Inducer ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Biofilm Development

Bacterial strains of the Lactobacillaceae family are widely used as probiotics for their multifaceted potential beneficial properties. However, no official recommendations for their clinical use exist since, in many cases, oral administrations of these bacteria displayed limited beneficial effects in human. Additional research is thus needed to improve the efficiency of existing strains with strong potential. In this context, we assess in vitro the effects of nine polyphenols to stimulate biofilm formation by lactobacilli, a feature enhancing their functionalities. Among these polyphenols, we identify trans-Resveratrol (referred to hereafter as Resveratrol) as a potent inducer of biofilm formation by Lacticaseibacillus paracasei (formerly designated as Lactobacillus paracasei) ATCC334 strain. This effect is strain-dependent and relies on the enhancement of L. paracasei adhesion to abiotic and biotic surfaces, including intestinal epithelial cells. Mechanistically, Resveratrol modify physico-chemical properties of the bacterial surface and thereby enhances L. paracasei aggregation, subsequently facilitating adhesion and biofilm development. Together, our in vitro data demonstrate that Resveratrol might be used to modulate the behavior of Lactobacilli with probiotic properties. Combination of probiotics and polyphenols could be considered to enhance the probiotic functionalities in further in vivo studies.

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