scholarly journals ALS3 Expression as an Indicator for Candida albicans Biofilm Formation and Drug Resistance

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Keke Deng ◽  
Wei Jiang ◽  
Yanyu Jiang ◽  
Qi Deng ◽  
Jinzhong Cao ◽  
...  

Resistance caused by the formation of the Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm is one of the main reasons for antifungal therapy failure. Thus, it is important to find indicators that predict C. albicans biofilm formation to provide evidence for the early prevention and treatment of the C. albicans biofilms. In this study, C. albicans samples were selected from C. albicans septicemia that were sensitive to common antifungal agents. It was found that the agglutinin-like sequence 3 (ALS3) gene was differentially expressed in free, antifungal, drug-sensitive C. albicans. The average ALS3 gene expression was higher in the C. albicans strains with biofilm formation than that in the C. albicans strains without biofilm formation. Then, it was further confirmed that the rate of biofilm formation was higher in the high ALS3 gene expression group than that in the low ALS3 gene expression group. It was found that C. albicans with biofilm formation was more resistant to fluconazole, voriconazole, and itraconazole. However, it maintained its sensitivity to caspofungin and micafungin in vitro and in mice. Further experiments regarding the prevention of C. albicans biofilm formation were performed in mice, in which only caspofungin and micafungin prevented C. albicans biofilm formation. These results suggest that the expression level of ALS3 in C. albicans may be used as an indicator to determine whether C. albicans will form biofilms. The results also show that the biofilm formation of C. albicans remained sensitive to caspofungin and micafungin, which may help to guide the selection of clinical antifungal agents for prevention and therapy.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harikrishnan Pandurangan ◽  
Balamani Arayambath ◽  
Vijay Karthik Jayaraman ◽  
Kanimozhi Ekambaram ◽  
Emad A Ahmed ◽  
...  

Abstract Candida albicans is a commensal human fungal pathogen that colonizes and develops dental biofilm which cause Oral candidiosis. This study investigates the effects of a new molecule Thidiazuron against the growth and biofilm formation properties of C. albicans. This study applied computational and in vitro approaches such as broth microdilution, SEM, time-kill dynamics, crystal violet assay, XTT reduction assay, ergosterol quantification and quantitative RT PCR analysis of gene expression to validate the growth and biofilm inhibitory potential of thidiazuron against C. albicans. Preliminary molecular docking study revealed potential interaction between thidiazuron and amino acids residues of CYP51. Further in vitro anti-fungal susceptibility test, SEM and time kill analysis revealed anti-fungal potency of thidiazuron in dose and time dependent passion. Crystal violet staining, XTT reduction assay and Acridine Orange staining visually confirmed biofilm inhibitory potential of thidiazuron. Gene expression study shows that thidiazuron treatment down regulated the expression of genes involved in ergosterol synthesis, cell adhesion and hyphae development in C. albicans. This study identified thidiazuron as CYP51 inhibitor and a new antibiofilm agent against C. albicans.


2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (7) ◽  
pp. 574
Author(s):  
Natalia Gómez-Casanova ◽  
Tania Lozano-Cruz ◽  
Juan Soliveri ◽  
Rafael Gomez ◽  
Paula Ortega ◽  
...  

Candida albicans is a human pathogen of significant clinical relevance. This pathogen is resistant to different drugs, and most clinical antifungals are not effective against the prevention and treatment of C. albicans infections. As with other microorganisms, it can produce biofilms that serve as a barrier against antifungal agents and other substances, contributing to infection in humans and environmental tolerance of this microorganism. Thus, resistances and biofilm formation make treatment difficult. In addition, the complete eradication of biofilms in implants, catheters and other medical devices, is challenging and necessary to prevent relapses of candidemia. Therefore, it is a priority to find new molecules or combinations of compounds with anti-Candida biofilm activity. Due to the difficulty of treating and removing biofilms, the aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro ability of different generation of cationic carbosilane dendrons derived from 4-phenylbutyric acid, ArCO2Gn(SNMe3I)m, to eradicate C. albicans biofilms. Here, we assessed the antifungal activity of the second generation dendron ArCO2G2(SNMe3I)4 against C. albicans cells and established biofilms since it managed to seriously damage the membrane. In addition, the combinations of the second generation dendron with AgNO3 or EDTA eradicated the viability of biofilm cells. Alterations were observed by scanning electron microscopy and cytotoxicity was assessed on HeLa cells. Our data suggest that the dendritic compound ArCO2G2(SNMe3I)4 could represent an alternative to control the infections caused by this pathogen.


2008 ◽  
Vol 167 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heleen Nailis ◽  
Roosmarijn Vandenbroucke ◽  
Kelly Tilleman ◽  
Dieter Deforce ◽  
Hans Nelis ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 2368
Author(s):  
Qiuxiang Zhang ◽  
Jiaxun Li ◽  
Wenwei Lu ◽  
Jianxin Zhao ◽  
Hao Zhang ◽  
...  

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum CCFM8724 is a probiotic with the potential to prevent dental caries in vitro and in vivo. To explore the effects of this probiotic at inhibiting Streptococcus mutans-Candida albicans mixed-species biofilm and preventing dental caries, multi-omics, including metabolomics and transcriptomics, was used to investigate the regulation of small-molecule metabolism during biofilm formation and the gene expression in the mixed-species biofilm. Metabolomic analysis revealed that some carbohydrates related to biofilm formation, such as sucrose, was detected at lower levels due to the treatment with the L. plantarum supernatant. Some sugar alcohols, such as xylitol and sorbitol, were detected at higher levels, which may have inhibited the growth of S. mutans. In transcriptomic analysis, the expression of the virulence genes of C. albicans, such as those that code agglutinin-like sequence (Als) proteins, was affected. In addition, metabolomics coupled with a Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis and RNA-seq revealed that the L. plantarum supernatant had an active role in sugar metabolism during the formation of the S. mutans-C. albicans mixed-species biofilm, and the L. plantarum supernatant was also related to carbohydrate utilization, glucan biosynthesis, and mycelium formation. Hence, L. plantarum CCFM8724 decreased the mixed-species biofilm mass from the perspective of gene expression and metabolic reprogramming. Our results provide a rationale for evaluating L. plantarum CCFM8724 as a potential oral probiotic for inhibiting cariogenic pathogen biofilm formation and improving dental caries.


mBio ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jigar V. Desai ◽  
Vincent M. Bruno ◽  
Shantanu Ganguly ◽  
Ronald J. Stamper ◽  
Kaitlin F. Mitchell ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTBiofilm formation byCandida albicanson medically implanted devices poses a significant clinical challenge. Here, we compared biofilm-associated gene expression in two clinicalC. albicansisolates, SC5314 and WO-1, to identify shared gene regulatory responses that may be functionally relevant. Among the 62 genes most highly expressed in biofilms relative to planktonic (suspension-grown) cells, we were able to recover insertion mutations in 25 genes. Twenty mutants had altered biofilm-related properties, including cell substrate adherence, cell-cell signaling, and azole susceptibility. We focused on one of the most highly upregulated genes in our biofilm proles,RHR2, which specifies the glycerol biosynthetic enzyme glycerol-3-phosphatase. Glycerol is 5-fold-more abundant in biofilm cells than in planktonic cells, and anrhr2Δ/Δ strain accumulates 2-fold-less biofilm glycerol than does the wild type. Underin vitroconditions, therhr2Δ/Δ mutant has reduced biofilm biomass and reduced adherence to silicone. Therhr2Δ/Δ mutant is also severely defective in biofilm formationin vivoin a rat catheter infection model. Expression profiling indicates that therhr2Δ/Δ mutant has reduced expression of cell surface adhesin genesALS1,ALS3, andHWP1, as well as many other biofilm-upregulated genes. Reduced adhesin expression may be the cause of therhr2Δ/Δ mutant biofilm defect, because overexpression ofALS1,ALS3, orHWP1restores biofilm formation ability to the mutantin vitroandin vivo. Our findings indicate that internal glycerol has a regulatory role in biofilm gene expression and that adhesin genes are among the main functional Rhr2-regulated genes.IMPORTANCECandida albicansis a major fungal pathogen, and infection can arise from the therapeutically intractable biofilms that it forms on medically implanted devices. It stands to reason that genes whose expression is induced during biofilm growth will function in the process, and our analysis of 25 such genes confirms that expectation. One gene is involved in synthesis of glycerol, a small metabolite that we find is abundant in biofilm cells. The impact of glycerol on biofilm formation is regulatory, not solely metabolic, because it is required for expression of numerous biofilm-associated genes. Restoration of expression of three of these genes that specify cell surface adhesins enables the glycerol-synthetic mutant to create a biofilm. Our findings emphasize the significance of metabolic pathways as therapeutic targets, because their disruption can have both physiological and regulatory consequences.


2011 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 148-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa H. Miceli ◽  
Stella M. Bernardo ◽  
T. S. Neil Ku ◽  
Carla Walraven ◽  
Samuel A. Lee

ABSTRACTInfections and thromboses are the most common complications associated with central venous catheters. Suggested strategies for prevention and management of these complications include the use of heparin-coated catheters, heparin locks, and antimicrobial lock therapy. However, the effects of heparin onCandida albicansbiofilms and planktonic cells have not been previously studied. Therefore, we sought to determine thein vitroeffect of a heparin sodium preparation (HP) on biofilms and planktonic cells ofC. albicans. Because HP contains two preservatives, methyl paraben (MP) and propyl paraben (PP), these compounds and heparin sodium without preservatives (Pure-H) were also tested individually. The metabolic activity of the mature biofilm after treatment was assessed using XTT [2,3-bis-(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide] reduction and microscopy. Pure-H, MP, and PP caused up to 75, 85, and 60% reductions of metabolic activity of the mature preformedC. albicansbiofilms, respectively. Maximal efficacy against the mature biofilm was observed with HP (up to 90%) compared to the individual compounds (P< 0.0001). Pure-H, MP, and PP each inhibitedC. albicansbiofilm formation up to 90%. A complete inhibition of biofilm formation was observed with HP at 5,000 U/ml and higher. When tested against planktonic cells, each compound inhibited growth in a dose-dependent manner. These data indicated that HP, MP, PP, and Pure-H havein vitroantifungal activity againstC. albicansmature biofilms, formation of biofilms, and planktonic cells. Investigation of high-dose heparin-based strategies (e.g., heparin locks) in combination with traditional antifungal agents for the treatment and/or prevention ofC. albicansbiofilms is warranted.


2007 ◽  
Vol 6 (6) ◽  
pp. 931-939 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fang Li ◽  
Michael J. Svarovsky ◽  
Amy J. Karlsson ◽  
Joel P. Wagner ◽  
Karen Marchillo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Candida albicans is the leading cause of systemic fungal infections in immunocompromised humans. The ability to form biofilms on surfaces in the host or on implanted medical devices enhances C. albicans virulence, leading to antimicrobial resistance and providing a reservoir for infection. Biofilm formation is a complex multicellular process consisting of cell adhesion, cell growth, morphogenic switching between yeast form and filamentous states, and quorum sensing. Here we describe the role of the C. albicans EAP1 gene, which encodes a glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored, glucan-cross-linked cell wall protein, in adhesion and biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo. Deleting EAP1 reduced cell adhesion to polystyrene and epithelial cells in a gene dosage-dependent manner. Furthermore, EAP1 expression was required for C. albicans biofilm formation in an in vitro parallel plate flow chamber model and in an in vivo rat central venous catheter model. EAP1 expression was upregulated in biofilm-associated cells in vitro and in vivo. Our results illustrate an association between Eap1p-mediated adhesion and biofilm formation in vitro and in vivo.


2007 ◽  
Vol 56 (11) ◽  
pp. 1528-1535 ◽  
Author(s):  
Moshe Shemesh ◽  
Avshalom Tam ◽  
Doron Steinberg

Streptococcus mutans is known as a primary pathogen of dental caries, one of the most common human infectious diseases. Exopolysaccharide synthesis, adherence to tooth surface and biofilm formation are important physiological and virulence factors of S. mutans. In vitro comparative gene expression analysis was carried out to differentiate 10 selected genes known to be mostly involved in S. mutans biofilm formation by comparing the expression under biofilm and planktonic environments. Real-time RT-PCR analyses indicated that all of the genes tested were upregulated in the biofilm compared to cells grown in planktonic conditions. The influence of simple dietary carbohydrates on gene expression in S. mutans biofilm was tested also. Among the tested genes, in the biofilm phase, the greatest induction was observed for gtf and ftf, which are genes encoding the extracellular polysaccharide-producing enzymes. Biofilm formation was accompanied by a 22-fold induction in the abundance of mRNA encoding glucosyltransferase B (GTFB) and a 14.8 -fold increase in mRNA encoding GTFC. Levels of mRNA encoding fructosyltransferase were induced approximately 11.8-fold in biofilm-derived cells. Another notable finding of this study suggests that glucose affects the expression of S. mutans GS5 biofilm genes. In spite of a significant upregulation in biofilm-associated gene expression in the presence of sucrose, the presence of glucose with sucrose reduced expression of most tested genes. Differential analysis of the transcripts from S. mutans, grown in media with various nutrient contents, revealed significant shifts in the expression of the genes involved in biofilm formation. The results presented here provide new insights at the molecular level regarding gene expression in this bacterium when grown under biofilm conditions, allowing a better understanding of the mechanism of biofilm formation by S. mutans.


2004 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 2386-2389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Staib ◽  
Ayfer Binder ◽  
Marianne Kretschmar ◽  
Thomas Nichterlein ◽  
Klaus Schröppel ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The Tec1p transcription factor is involved in the expression of hypha-specific genes in Candida albicans. Although the induction of the hypha-associated SAP5 gene by serum in vitro depends on Tec1p, deletion of all Tec1p binding site consensus sequences from the SAP5 promoter did not affect its activation. In two different animal models of candidiasis, the SAP5 promoter was induced even in a Δtec1 deletion mutant, demonstrating that the requirement for Tec1p in gene expression in C. albicans depends on the environmental conditions within the host.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document