Article
Microbiology
Cristina Jimenez-Ortigosa, Jennifer Jiang, Muyuan Chen, Xuyuan Kuang, Kelley R. Healey, Paul Castellano, Nikpreet Boparai, Steven J. Ludtke, David S. Perlin, Wei Dai
Summary: Echinocandin drugs have become a front-line therapy against Candida spp. infections, but the rising resistance to these drugs by Candida species is a concern. By using cryo-ET and subtomogram analysis, researchers have provided a preliminary structure of the putative C. glabrata GS complex, laying the foundation for future studies on this elusive protein complex.
Article
Microbiology
Neeraja Swaminathan, Katherine Anderson, Joshua D. Nosanchuk, Matthew J. Akiyama
Summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an increase in the incidence of invasive fungal infections, including pulmonary aspergillosis, mucormycosis, and candidiasis. This article describes a rare case of post-COVID-19 multifocal necrotizing pneumonia complicated by a polymicrobial empyema, which included Candida glabrata. Candida empyema is another manifestation of COVID-19-associated fungal opportunistic infection, and its diagnosis and management require a high degree of clinical suspicion.
Article
Microbiology
Ali Korhan Sig, Meliha Cagla Sonmezer, Dolunay Gulmez, Serhat Duyan, Omrum Uzun, Sevtap Arikan-Akdagli
Summary: The frequency of invasive fungal infections is increasing, with a shift towards non-albicans Candida species. This includes the emergence of echinocandin resistance in Candida glabrata, highlighting the importance of routine antifungal susceptibility testing and clinical attention to this trend.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pan Zhu, Chaoping Yue, Xin Zeng, Xiulai Chen
Summary: Artemisinin and its derivatives exhibit antifungal activity by regulating the transcription factor PDR1, which affects drug efflux pumps and ergosterol biosynthesis pathways in fungi, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction.
Article
Microbiology
Rocio Garcia-Rubio, Rosa Y. Hernandez, Alissa Clear, Kelley R. Healey, Erika Shor, David S. Perlin
Summary: Fungal infections are increasing, with drug-resistant Candida strains posing a significant threat. Azole antifungals have high resistance, leading to echinocandins being recommended as the first line treatment. Genes involved in cell wall integrity are important in echinocandin tolerance.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Bao Gia Vu, Lucia Simonicova, W. Scott Moye-Rowley
Summary: Fluconazole use leads to the selection of resistant organisms, particularly in Candida glabrata. Elevated minimal inhibitory concentrations for fluconazole in C. glabrata are associated with mutations in the PDR1 gene. Calcineurin, a protein phosphatase, is required for the induction of PDR1 transcriptional regulation by fluconazole, and it links azole and echinocandin susceptibility together through the control of transcription factor activity.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Sergi Burguera, Antonio Frontera, Antonio Bauza
Summary: By combining computations and X-ray structure analysis, we have demonstrated that [Pt(CN4)](2-) can act as a Lewis acid inside an enzyme's cavity. The nature of an unexpected contact between a catalytically active GLN residue in a mitochondrial synthase and the Pt(ii) center was investigated using molecular dynamics and quantum mechanics calculations. The results confirm the electron acceptor role of [Pt(CN4)](2-), which serves as inspiration for designing biomolecular cages that can modify the nucleophilic/electrophilic character of an organometallic compound.
CHEMICAL COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Payal Gupta, Hrishikesh Gupta, Shweta Tripathi, Krishna Mohan Poluri
Summary: The antifungal mechanism of berberine was investigated and it was found to control the surface properties of C. glabrata cells, alter cell membrane composition, inhibit efflux pump activity, and generate osmotic stress and oxidative stress. Transcriptional expression study and metabolomics analysis supported these findings. Additionally, berberine was found to potentiate the effects of some antifungal drugs, making it a potential adjuvant for fungal infection eradication.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Payal Gupta, Hrishikesh Gupta, Krishna Mohan Poluri
Summary: The research evaluated the antifungal activity of geraniol against Candida glabrata biofilm, discovering multiple mechanisms including biofilm eradication, cellular pathway interference, and induction of apoptosis. These findings strengthen the candidacy of geraniol as a novel antifungal therapeutic.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Nair M. Lakshmi, Mohan Binoop, Chandrasekharan Nair Salini, Narisetty Vivek, Raveendran Sindhu, Ashok Pandey, Parameswaran Binod
Summary: A novel wild strain, Candida glabrata, capable of producing isobutanol under submerged fermentation conditions has been reported in this study, with improved yield through optimization of process parameters. Enhancement of isobutanol production is observed in the presence of valine, indicating the pathway of valine degradation plays a crucial role.
Article
Microbiology
Sanne Schrevens, Dominique Sanglard
Summary: Urinary tract infections caused by fungi, especially Candida species, are common in patients with urinary catheters, and can lead to high mortality rates. The pathogenesis of Candida glabrata UTIs has not been extensively studied, and bioluminescence imaging is an effective tool for in vivo research in this area.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Georgios Vasilopoulos, Roman Moser, Jonas Petersen, Meriyem Aktas, Franz Narberhaus
Summary: Bacterial membranes are primarily composed of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and cardiolipin (CL). Some bacteria also produce phosphatidylcholine (PC), the hallmark of eukaryotic membranes. The biosynthesis pathways for PC and CL in bacteria have been studied, revealing enzyme activities involved in these processes.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF LIPIDS
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Elizangela Pestana Motta, Josivan Regis Farias, Arthur Andre Castro da Costa, Anderson Franca da Silva, Alberto Jorge Oliveira Lopes, Maria do Socorro Sousa Cartagenes, Roberto Nicolete, Afonso Gomes Abreu, Elizabeth Soares Fernandes, Flavia Raquel Fernandes Nascimento, Claudia Quintino da Rocha, Cristina Andrade Monteiro, Rosane Nassar Meireles Guerra
Summary: This study evaluated the anti-Candida activity of the hydroalcoholic extract from the leaves of Vismia guianensis and found that it inhibited the virulence factors of the fungi. The main compound responsible for this activity was identified as vismione D.
Article
Microbiology
Irene Stefanini, Emily Stoakes, Houdini H. T. Wu, Li Xu-McCrae, Abid Hussain, John Moat, Christopher G. Dowson, Miruna D. David, Chrystala Constantinidou
Summary: By analyzing a large set of strains using multiple methods, this study revealed strict relationships between large chromosomal rearrangements in C. glabrata and phylogenetic clades, genes subjected to different selective pressures, and new sets of genes associated with resistance to antifungals. These findings contribute to our understanding of C. glabrata evolution and epidemiology and provide a foundation for the future development of tailored therapeutic approaches.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Mariana de Sa Alves, Luciana Ruano de Oliveira Fugisaki, Jessica Diane dos Santos, Liliana Scorzoni, Rebeca Previate Medina, Dulce Helena Siqueira Silva, Juliana Campos Junqueira
Summary: The study found that the crude extract of Streptococcus mutans has antifungal effects on clinical Candida strains susceptible and resistant to fluconazole in the Galleria mellonella model, while not affecting certain strains.
Article
Cell Biology
Katarina Vaskovicova, Thuraya Awadova, Petra Vesela, Maria Balazova, Miroslava Opekarova, Jan Malinsky
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2017)
Article
Cell Biology
Maria Chomova, Maria Balazova, Jana Muchova
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2017)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Veronika Vircikova, Lucia Pokorna, Dana Tahotna, Vladimira Dzugasova, Maria Balazova, Peter Griac
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR AND CELL BIOLOGY OF LIPIDS
(2018)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yu-Jen Chao, Wen-Hsin Wu, Maria Balazova, Ting-Yuan Wu, Jamie Lin, Yi-Wen Liu, Yuan-Hao Howard Hsu
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anton Misak, Lucia Kurakova, Eduard Goffa, Vlasta Brezova, Marian Grman, Elena Ondriasova, Miroslav Chovanec, Karol Ondrias
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Zuzana Sestakova, Katarina Kalavska, Bozena Smolkova, Vera Miskovska, Katarina Rejlekova, Zuzana Sycova-Mila, Patrik Palacka, Jana Obertova, Andrea Holickova, Lenka Hurbanova, Dana Jurkovicova, Jan Roska, Eduard Goffa, Daniela Svetlovska, Michal Chovanec, Jozef Mardiak, Michal Mego, Miroslav Chovanec
MUTATION RESEARCH-GENETIC TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS
(2020)
Article
Neurosciences
M. Nemec, L. Vernerova, N. Laiferova, M. Balazova, M. Vokurkova, T. Kurdiova, S. Oreska, K. Kubinova, M. Klein, M. Spiritovic, M. Tomcik, J. Vencovsky, J. Ukropec, B. Ukropcova
Summary: Regular exercise improves muscle functional capacity and clinical state of patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathy (IIM). In the study, muscle cells from IIM patients exhibited altered dynamics of lipid metabolism and impaired response to saturated fatty acid challenge, which was improved after a 6-month intensive exercise intervention. This suggests that intrinsic metabolic defects in skeletal muscle could contribute to muscle weakness in IIM, and exercise can have a positive impact on lipid metabolism and clinical outcomes.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katarina Vaskovicova, Petra Vesela, Jakub Zahumensky, Dagmar Folkova, Maria Balazova, Jan Malinsky
Article
Microbiology
Ivana Durovcova, Eduard Goffa, Zuzana Sestakova, Dominika Manikova, Katarina Gaplovska-Kysela, Miroslav Chovanec, Andrea Sevcovicova
Summary: BPA, a major component in common plastic products, acts as an endocrine disrupting compound with adverse physiological effects. High concentrations of BPA affect cell survival and increase intracellular oxidation, primarily in the mitochondrion, but acute exposure does not cause significant oxidative damage to DNA or proteins.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Paulina Kanovicova, Petra Cermakova, Dominika Kubalova, Lenka Babelova, Petra Vesela, Martin Valachovic, Jakub Zahumensky, Anton Horvath, Jan Malinsky, Maria Balazova
Summary: This study characterized a new yeast model of Barth syndrome (BTHS) and found that it better mimics the cellular phenotype of BTHS patients compared to previous models. The study also identified the positive effects of valproic acid on lipid composition and mitochondrial function in these yeast BTHS models.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
I Chu, Ying-Chih Chen, Ruo-Yun Lai, Jui-Fen Chan, Ya-Hui Lee, Maria Balazova, Yuan-Hao Howard Hsu
Summary: The study aims to recover the distorted mitochondrial lipid composition in Barth syndrome and found that supplementing specific lipids can decrease the concentration of monolyso-CL and restore the morphology and structure of mitochondria. Furthermore, the study also reveals the impact of TAZ gene mutation on other genes related to CL metabolism, potentially leading to increased production of MLCL.
Article
Microbiology
Maria Balazova, Petra Vesela, Lenka Babelova, Ivana Durisova, Paulina Kanovicova, Jakub Zahumensky, Jan Malinsky
Summary: The absence of Isc1 in yeast leads to mitochondrial dysfunction, but this defect can be rescued by the deletion of phospholipase Pgc1. Pgc1 regulates lipid homeostasis by inhibiting the activities of other phospholipases and controlling phospholipid synthesis. The interconnection of Isc1 and Pgc1 plays a significant role in maintaining lipid balance in the cell.
MICROBIOLOGY SPECTRUM
(2022)
Article
Rheumatology
N. Alchus Laiferova, M. Nemec, L. Vernerova, M. Balazova, M. Vokurkova, S. Oreska, M. Klein, M. Spiritovic, M. Tomcik, J. Vencovsky, J. Ukropec, B. Ukropcova
Summary: This study found that microRNAs involved in myogenesis and regeneration in muscle cells were upregulated in patients with idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). Furthermore, these microRNAs were associated with the metabolic profile of muscle cells and clinical parameters, suggesting their role in modulating muscle metabolism and the clinical state of patients.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Mycology
Alexandra Bencova, Eduard Goffa, Marcela Morvova, Martin Valachovic, Peter Griac, Nora Toth Hervay, Yvetta Gbelska
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Dominika Kubalova, Paulina Kanovicova, Petra Vesela, Thuraya Awadova, Vladimira Dzugasova, Guenther Daum, Jan Malinsky, Maria Balazova
FEMS YEAST RESEARCH
(2019)