Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sang Hu Kim, Luke Steere, Yong-Kang Zhang, Cari McGregor, Chris Hahne, Yasheen Zhou, Chunliang Liu, Yan Cai, Haibo Zhou, Xuefei Chen, Emily Puumala, Dustin Duncan, Gerard D. Wright, Tony Liu, Luke Whitesell, Leah E. Cowen
Summary: With the increasing resistance to current agricultural fungicides, there is a need for new antifungals that target unexploited pathways. A novel series of diazaborines with potent activity against fungal plant pathogens has been identified. The mode of action was determined to be through targeting the Erg25 enzyme, which is involved in ergosterol biosynthesis in fungi. The diazaborines showed promising efficacy in models of soybean-rust and grape-rot fungal diseases.
ACS CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Camille Botcazon, Thomas Bergia, Didier Lecouturier, Chloe Dupuis, Alice Rochex, Sebastien Acket, Philippe Nicot, Valerie Leclere, Catherine Sarazin, Sonia Rippa
Summary: Rhamnolipids and fengycins are lipid compounds from bacteria that can be used as alternatives to synthetic pesticides for crop protection. This study found that Rhamnolipids have a stronger antifungal effect against Botrytis cinerea, while fengycins have a stronger effect against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Electron microscopy observations revealed that Rhamnolipids cause mycelial destructuring through asperities emergence and hyphal fusions, while fengycins promote swelling and formation of vesicle-like structures through vacuole fusions and autophagy. It was also found that Rhamnolipids can trigger programmed cell death, while fengycins always induce programmed cell death. The sensitivity of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum to Rhamnolipids is positively correlated with the ergosterol content in its mycelium, while the sensitivity of Botrytis cinerea to fengycins is positively correlated with a lower ergosterol content.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kwang-Woo Jung, Moon-Soo Chung, Hyoung-Woo Bai, Byung-Yeoup Chung, Sungbeom Lee
Summary: This study revealed the antifungal mechanisms of thymol against Cryptococcus neoformans by regulating multiple signaling pathways including calcineurin, unfolded protein response, and HOG MAPK pathways. Thymol was shown to reduce intracellular Ca2+ concentration, N-glycosylation, and endogenous ergosterol content in a calcineurin-dependent and HOG MAPK pathway-dependent manner.
Article
Microbiology
Ziwei Hu, Hao Hu, Zhili Hu, Xiaojun Zhong, Yifu Guan, Yunshi Zhao, Lu Wang, Liang Ye, Liliang Ming, Muhammad Shahid Riaz Rajoka, Zhendan He, Yan Wang, Xun Song
Summary: This study investigated the mechanism of sanguinarine (SAN) against Candida albicans. SAN exhibited antifungal activity, induced morphological changes, disrupted cell structure, and damaged cell membranes of C. albicans. In a murine model, SAN significantly improved survival, reduced weight loss, and decreased fungal burden in the kidney. Histopathological examination showed no fungal cells in lung and kidney tissues after SAN treatment. SAN is a promising plant-derived compound for the development of an effective anticandidal agent.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zhuang Li, Na Liu, Wanzhen Yang, Jie Tu, Yahui Huang, Wei Wang, Chunquan Sheng
Summary: The first light-responsive antifungal agents were designed by controlling the fungal ergosterol biosynthesis pathway with photocaged triazole lanosterol 14α-demethylase inhibitors. The light-activated compound showed efficient recovery of antifungal activity after shielding and activation. These new chemical tools enable precise regulation of fungal growth, morphology, and biofilm formation. In vivo models demonstrated the efficacy of these light-activated compounds in prolonging survival and reducing fungal burden.
ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA B
(2023)
Review
Physiology
Lorand Kiss, Gabriella Fur, Sailaja Pisipati, Prasad Rajalingamgari, Nils Ewald, Vijay Singh, Zoltan Rakonczay
Summary: Hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) is a metabolic disorder characterized by high levels of triglycerides in the blood, and it increases the risk of acute pancreatitis (AP). This review discusses the pathophysiology of HTG-induced AP and the role of fatty acids in causing the consequences of HTG during AP. Experimental results suggest that reducing fatty acid production through lipase inhibitors may offer new therapeutic options for AP.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Shan Sasidharan, Kumar S. Nishanth, Hareendran. J. Nair
Summary: The study aimed to investigate the anticandidal potential of fractions purified from the hydroalcoholic extract of C. bonduc seed. Fraction 3 showed the best activity against C. albicans and targeted the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway by inhibiting the lanosterol 14-a demethylase enzyme. It also exhibited significant antibiofilm activity and enhanced production of intracellular reactive oxygen species.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jananishree Sathiyamoorthy, Sudarshan Singh Rathore, Suma Mohan, C. Uma Maheshwari, Jayapradha Ramakrishnan
Summary: In the era of antiretroviral therapy, the prevalence of Cryptococcal infection among HIV patients in developed countries has decreased considerably. However, C. neoformans ranks top among the critical priority pathogen that affects a wide range of immunocompromised individuals. The threat of C. neoformans is because of its incredibly multifaceted intracellular survival capabilities.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Antonio Serrano, Miguel A. Basante-Bedoya, Martine Bassilana, Robert A. Arkowitz
Summary: Ergosterol, an essential component of the fungal plasma membrane, plays a critical role in the cell cycle of Candida albicans. The dynamics of ergosterol and its response to drug treatment were investigated using the D4H reporter. The study showed that highly polarized ergosterol is not necessary for budding or filamentous growth in this opportunistic pathogen.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tessa Siswina, Mia Miranti Rustama, Dadan Sumiarsa, Eti Apriyanti, Hirofumi Dohi, Dikdik Kurnia
Summary: This research aimed to isolate antifungal constituents from Red Betel and evaluate their activities as ergosterol biosynthesis inhibitors. Two new compounds and one known compound were isolated, and their structures were determined using spectroscopic methods. In vitro and in silico studies showed that compound 3 exhibited the strongest antifungal activity and had the best Ki value. Based on the research data, Red Betel is a promising antifungal candidate for treating Candida albicans infections.
Article
Oncology
Ludovica Ceci, Tianhao Zhou, Ilaria Lenci, Vik Meadows, Lindsey Kennedy, Ping Li, Burcin Ekser, Martina Milana, Wenjun Zhang, Chaodong Wu, Keisaku Sato, Sanjukta Chakraborty, Shannon S. Glaser, Heather Francis, Gianfranco Alpini, Leonardo Baiocchi
Summary: This review provides an overview of the research progress on the risk factors and mechanisms of cholangiocarcinoma. These studies contribute to understanding the etiology and treatment options for cholangiocarcinoma.
Article
Microbiology
Yi Xu, Hui Lu, Shuo Zhu, Wan-Qian Li, Yuan-ying Jiang, Judith Berman, Feng Yang
Summary: This study demonstrates that tolerance to ketoconazole in Candida albicans is regulated by multiple factors, including temperature, growth medium composition, known efflux pump genes, Hsp90, calcineurin components, and vacuolar ATPase subunits. The study highlights the importance of physiological and genetic mechanisms in determining drug tolerance, as well as the complex interaction between tolerance and resistance.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jan Struckmann Poulsen, Anne Mette Madsen, John Kerr White, Jeppe Lund Nielsen
Summary: Aspergillus niger, an opportunistic pathogen commonly found in various environments, exhibited resistance to itraconazole in this study. Through proteomics analysis, it was found that the response of A. niger to sublethal levels of antifungal stress involved alterations in the expression of various proteins, including peroxidative enzymes and ATP-binding cassette transporters. The mode of action of triazoles in A. niger was determined to be more complex than previously thought, potentially revealing new targets for antifungal treatment.
ANTIMICROBIAL AGENTS AND CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Review
Food Science & Technology
Lili Jiang, Dandan Han, Youling Hao, Zhuan Song, Zhiyuan Sun, Zhaolai Dai
Summary: Serotonin produced by EC cells in the gut is crucial for maintaining gut function and homeostasis. The interactions between dietary factors, gut microbiota, and gut serotonin play important roles in gut metabolism and immune function, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN FOOD SCIENCE AND NUTRITION
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Roy A. Khalaf, Nour Fattouh, Matej Medvecky, Jaroslav Hrabak
Summary: This study analyzed point mutations in genes related to antifungal resistance in Candida albicans and investigated the correlation between resistance, virulence, and ergosterol content. The results showed that mutations in resistance genes were associated with increased ergosterol content, but there was no difference in virulence potential between the resistant isolate and the susceptible strain. This suggests that antifungal resistance and virulence potential may not be directly correlated in this specific antifungal resistant isolate.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)