Article
Infectious Diseases
Ghada El-Saeed Mashaly, Mayada Sabry Zeid
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between genotype, virulence factors and fluconazole tolerance among Candida albicans isolates from pediatric patients. The results showed that genotype A was the most prevalent, and biofilm formation and enzyme production were important virulence determinants in pediatric infections. Fluconazole tolerance was significantly correlated with biofilm formation and proteinase production.
INFECTION AND DRUG RESISTANCE
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Virginia E. Glazier, Juraj Kramara, Tomye Ollinger, Norma V. Solis, Robert Zarnowski, Rohan S. Wakade, Min-Ju Kim, Gabriel J. Weigel, Shen-Huan Liang, Richard J. Bennett, Melanie Wellington, David R. Andes, Mark A. Stamnes, Scott G. Filler, Damian J. Krysan, James W. Kronstad
Summary: Candida albicans, a diploid human fungal pathogen, displays significant genomic and phenotypic heterogeneity. The effect of Rob1 on biofilm and filamentation virulence traits is dependent on both the specific environmental condition and the clinical strain of C. albicans. Different alleles of Rob1 have different functional effects, with the rare ROB1(946S) allele supporting increased filamentation and biofilm formation. These findings highlight the importance of heterozygosity as a driver of C. albicans phenotypic heterogeneity.
Article
Immunology
Sanjib Das, Achintya Mohan Goswami, Tanima Saha
Summary: Candida albicans, a common member of the human microbiome, causes infections through the regulation of kinases, which control morphological features and virulence factors.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Jasminka Talapko, Martina Juzbasic, Tatjana Matijevic, Emina Pustijanac, Sanja Bekic, Ivan Kotris, Ivana Skrlec
Summary: Candida albicans is a common commensal fungus in the human body, which can cause various infections when the balance with the host immune system is disrupted. Factors such as dysbiosis of microbiota, immune dysfunction, and mucosal barrier damage contribute to the transition of C. albicans from a normal flora to a pathogenic state. The presence of C. albicans in the bloodstream can lead to invasive infections.
Article
Immunology
Ying Li, Chaoqun Chen, Liu Cong, Shanshan Mao, Mingzhu Shan, Zibing Han, Jiayi Mao, Zhiyu Xie, Zuobin Zhu
Summary: This study identified a maleimide compound (MPD) that effectively inhibits various virulence factors of C. albicans, including adhesion, filamentation, and biofilm formation. MPD has low cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, and drug resistance development. In a Galleria mellonella-C. albicans infection model, MPD treatment significantly prolonged the survival time of infected larvae. Mechanism research revealed that MPD increased farnesol secretion, which inhibited the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway and subsequently inhibited the virulence factors. This study suggests the potential application of MPD in overcoming fungal infections in clinics.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Qing-Ru Bu, Meng-Yuan Bao, Yue Yang, Tian-Ming Wang, Chang-Zhong Wang
Summary: Natural products, particularly functional foods, offer potential in preventing and treating Candida albicans infections by targeting its virulence factors.
Article
Plant Sciences
Estefania Cordisco, Elisa Petenatti, Laura Svetaz, Maximiliano Sortino
Summary: The study evaluated the photodynamic antifungal activity of T. pentachaeta root extracts, showing strong antifungal effects against C. albicans and the generation of active substances under UVA light irradiation.
Article
Microbiology
Sabi Pokhrel, Nawarat Boonmee, Orawan Tulyaprawat, Sujiraphong Pharkjaksu, Iyarit Thaipisutikul, Phoom Chairatana, Popchai Ngamskulrungroj, Chalermchai Mitrpant
Summary: Biofilm formation is an important virulence factor for the pathogenesis of Candida albicans. This study used the zebrafish model to evaluate the in vivo virulence of strains with different biofilm formation strengths. The results showed that stronger biofilm formation was associated with shorter survival time in zebrafish and higher up-regulation of biofilm-associated genes.
Article
Immunology
Lingbing Zeng, Yongcheng Huang, Junjun Tan, Jun Peng, Niya Hu, Qiong Liu, YanLi Cao, Yuping Zhang, Junzhu Chen, Xiaotian Huang
Summary: This study investigates the role of the cytochrome b-c1 complex subunit 7 gene (QCR7) in the virulence of Candida albicans. Defective QCR7 reduces inflammation cell recruitment and attenuates the virulence of C. albicans infection. It also affects the use of multiple carbon sources and causes mitochondrial dysfunction. Furthermore, overexpression of cell-surface-associated genes can restore the defective virulence and carbon-source utilization of the QCR7 knockout strain.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Mohammed A. El-Kholy, Ghada F. Helaly, Ebtisam F. El Ghazzawi, Gamal El-Sawaf, Sherine M. Shawky
Summary: This study examined the antifungal susceptibility profile and virulence factors of Candida tropicalis isolates from ICU patients in Alexandria, Egypt. The results showed an increasing trend in fluconazole and voriconazole resistance, with strong biofilm formation observed in blood culture isolates. Early and accurate identification of Candida species along with susceptibility testing is crucial due to the emergence of C. tropicalis as a serious source of infections.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Carolina Medeiros de Almeida Maia, Silvana Pasetto, Cassiano Francisco Weege Nonaka, Edja Maria Melo de Brito Costa, Ramiro Mendonca Murata
Summary: The study found that the A. colubrina extract has antifungal, anti-biofilm, and anti-proteolytic enzyme effects against Candida strains, with low cytotoxicity to host cells and modulatory effects on the host immune response.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Min Pan, Qirui Wang, Ting Cheng, Daqiang Wu, Tianming Wang, Guiming Yan, Jing Shao
Summary: The study demonstrated the potent synergistic potential of combined use of PAE and FLZ/AmB in inhibiting Candida virulence factors. The concomitant use of two drugs was consistently more effective than either drug alone in increasing survival rate, decreasing fungal burden, and alleviating pathological features of G. mellonella infected by the fungus. These findings suggest the anti-Candida effects of PAE plus FLZ/AmB and their potential to increase the sensitivity of C. albicans to FLZ/AmB.
Article
Microbiology
Yasmin Ahmed, Melanie A. C. Ikeh, Donna M. MacCallum, Alison M. Day, Kevin Waldron, Janet Quinn
Summary: Polyphosphate mobilization plays a vital role in the pathobiology of Candida albicans, impacting processes such as activation of the Pho4 transcription factor, cell cycle progression, stress resistance, morphogenetic switching, and virulence. Blocking polyphosphate mobilization leads to significant morphological defects and attenuated virulence.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Min Sung Choi, Ji Hyeon Kim, Chae Yeon Lee, Yul Min Lee, Sukmook Lee, Ha Kyun Chang, Hyun Jung Kim, Kyun Heo
Summary: Gentian violet (GV) is a compound that has antibacterial and antifungal effects, and recent studies have shown that it also inhibits the growth of various cancer cells, including ovarian cancer. The study found that GV significantly reduced the proliferation of OVCAR8, SKOV3, and A2780 cells by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, GV increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and upregulated the expression of p53, PUMA, BAX, and p21, which are important factors in inducing apoptosis. These findings suggest that GV has potential as a therapeutic agent for ovarian cancer.
Article
Immunology
Yufei Xie, Hong Hua, Peiru Zhou
Summary: Magnolol, a lignin compound extracted from Magnolia officinalis Cortex, exhibits prominent antifungal effects against Candida albicans by inhibiting adhesion, hyphal formation, and biofilm viability. It disrupts the spatial structure and ultrastructure of biofilms, causing thinning, rupture, and leakage of Candida albicans cell walls. Moreover, magnolol inhibits the expression of virulence factors and related signaling pathways, including PKC and Cek1 MAPK pathways. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for the clinical application of magnolol as an antifungal agent.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
