紫草素对白色念珠菌的抑制作用机制

【目的】研究紫草素抑制白色念珠菌的作用机制。【方法】通过微量稀释法测定紫草素对白色念珠菌的最低抑菌浓度(MIC)和最低杀菌浓度(MFC);紫外分光光度法测定紫草素对白色念珠菌细胞膜渗透性的影响;扫描电镜观察紫草素对菌体形态的影响;激光共聚焦显微镜测定紫草素对白色念珠菌细胞内钙离子浓度的影响;卵黄平板培养基法检测紫草素对白色念珠菌的细胞膜磷脂酶活性的影响;RT-PCR检测紫草素对白色念珠菌PLB1和PLB2基因表达量的影响。【结果】紫草素对白色念珠菌有较强的抑制作用,其对白色念珠菌的MIC和MFC分别为16μg/m L和32μg/mL。紫草素能破坏白色念珠菌细胞膜的完整性,使细胞膜的通透性增加,导致细胞内DNA和RNA等大分子物质的泄漏和细胞内钙离子的流失。其中MIC的紫草素作用菌体16 h后,上清液中的DNA和RNA等大分子含量与对照组相比增加了117.32%(P0.01);细胞内的[Ca~(2+)]降低了72.02%(P0.01)。扫描电镜结果也证明了紫草素对白色念珠菌细胞膜的破坏作用。紫草素也能抑制白色念珠菌分泌磷脂酶,且呈浓度剂量依赖。其中,与对照组相比,MIC的紫草素能使白色念珠菌分泌磷脂酶的量下降56.3%(P0.01)。RT-PCR结果显示,紫草素能抑制编码磷脂酶B的基因PLB1和PLB2的表达量,其中1/2 MIC的紫草素作用白色念珠菌16 h后,与对照组相比,PLB1和PLB2基因的相对表达量分别降低了56.4%和61.4%(P0.01)。【结论】紫草素对白色念珠菌有较强的抑杀作用,其作用机制是通过破坏白色念珠菌细胞膜的完整性,增加菌体细胞膜的通透性,导致细胞内DNA和RNA等大分子的泄漏和细胞内[Ca~(2+)]的流失,最终引起菌体的死亡。而紫草素对白色念珠菌磷脂酶分泌的抑制作用,致使其不能及时维护和修复由紫草素造成的细胞膜的破坏和损伤,也是导致菌体死亡的原因。     

The Candida albicans histidine kinase Chk1p: Signaling and cell wall mannan

Several published functions associated with the CHK1 histidine kinase of Candida albicans resemble those of the MAPK Cek1p and its cognate receptor Sho1p (SSU81). To explore this further, we have compared mutants lacking the proteins mentioned above and have constructed a double sho1/chk1Δ null mutant to determine relationships among these proteins. We observed that the sensitivity to Congo red (CR), calcofluor white (CW), as well as clumping of cells, was slightly increased in the double mutant compared to the single chk1Δ or sho1Δ mutants. However, Cek1p phosphorylation via Sho1p, which occurs during log phase growth in the presence or absence of CR in Wt cells, does not require Chk1p. These data suggest that Chk1p and Sho1p are components of parallel but independent signal pathways. In addition, bulk mannan of strains was analyzed by GLC/MS and GPC MALLS and NMR. Compared to Wt and a CHK1 gene-reconstituted strain (CHK23) that contained high, intermediate and low Mw mannan species, we found that the mannan of strains CHK21 (chk1Δ null), the cek1Δ null, and the double mutant consisted only of low Mw mannan. The sho1Δ null mutant only demonstrated a reduced intermediate type of mannan. Alcian blue binding was lower in cek1Δ, chk1Δ, and the double sho1/chk1Δ null mutant lacking high and intermediate Mw mannan than in the sho1Δ null which had a partial loss of intermediate Mw mannan only. We conclude that the Chk1p HK is part of a functionally similar but parallel pathway to the Sho1p-Cek1p pathway that confers resistance to the cell wall inhibitors CR and CW. However, a functional relationship in mannan biosynthesis of Chk1p and Cek1p exists that only partially requires Sho1p.     

和厚朴酚通过ROS的积累和破坏细胞膜杀死白色念珠菌

[目的]研究在体外情况下和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌的抑制作用及其可能机制。[方法]采用微量稀释法测定和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌的最低抑菌浓度（MIC₈₀）和最低杀菌浓度（MFC）;用透射电镜观察不同浓度和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌超微结构的影响;采用Annexin V-FITC/PI染色法分析不同浓度和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌细胞凋亡的影响;用DCFH-DA染色法测定不同浓度和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌细胞内活性氧积累的影响;用JC-1染色法分析不同浓度和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌线粒体膜电位的影响;用碘化丙啶染色、考马斯亮蓝G-250染色检测和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌细胞膜通透性的影响;通过测定加入麦角甾醇后,和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌的抑制作用的变化,检测和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌细胞膜的影响。[结果]和厚朴酚对白色念珠菌具有很强的抑制作用,MIC和MFC分别为16 μg/mL和32 μg/mL。对白色念珠菌细胞壁、细胞膜和胞浆均有明显的影响。和厚朴酚是通过增加活性氧的产生和破坏线粒体功能来诱导白念珠菌的细胞凋亡和坏死。它也影响细胞膜的通透性,这可能和细胞壁的破坏和与麦角固醇的结合有关。[结论]和厚朴酚通过产生活性氧并伴随着一系列的细胞损伤这种复杂的机制从而对白色念珠菌产生抑制作用,使和厚朴酚成为一种潜在的抗真菌药物。     

抗菌肽AMP-17抗白念珠菌作用靶点鉴定

白念珠菌(Candida albicans)是侵袭性真菌感染的主要致病性病原体。抗菌肽AMP-17有较强的抗念珠菌活性,经AMP-17作用白念珠菌后的蛋白组学结果显示,细胞壁(XOG1)和氧化应激(SRR1)蛋白基因表达差异显著,提示AMP-17可能通过影响XOG1和SRR1基因发挥其抗白念珠菌作用。为进一步探究XOG1和SRR1基因是否为AMP-17的作用靶点,本研究利用规律成簇间隔短回文重复序列相关蛋白9(clustered regulatory interspaced short palindromic repeats-associated protein 9,CRISPR/Cas9)系统构建了白念珠菌xog1Δ/Δ和srr1Δ/Δ缺失菌;表型观察结果发现除XOG1基因缺失可影响白念珠菌的体外应激和菌丝形成,2个基因缺失对白念珠菌生长繁殖和生物膜形成无明显影响;药敏实验分析显示AMP-17对xog1Δ/Δ和srr1Δ/Δ缺失菌的MIC₈₀值从野生菌的8μg/mL增至16μg/mL,而对srr1Δ/Δ::srr1回补菌的MIC₈₀值降至野...     

Molecular cloning and analysis of CDC28 and cyclin homologues from the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans

In the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, progress of the cell cycle beyond the major control point in G1 phase, termed START, requires activation of the evolutionarily conserved Cdc28 protein kinase by direct association with GI cyclins. We have used a conditional lethal mutation in CDC28 of S. cerevisiae to clone a functional homologue from the human fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The protein sequence, deduced from the nucleotide sequence, is 79% identical to that of S. cerevisiae Cdc28 and as such is the most closely related protein yet identified. We have also isolated from C. albicans two genes encoding putative G1 cyclins, by their ability to rescue a conditional GI cyclin defect in S. cerevisiae; one of these genes encodes a protein of 697 amino acids and is identical to the product of the previously described CCN1 gene. The second gene codes for a protein of 465 residues, which has significant homology to S. cerevisiae Cln3. These data suggest that the events and regulatory mechanisms operating at START are highly conserved between these two organisms.     

一种强力霉素诱导型白念珠菌基因敲除与筛选标记再循环工具包

【目的】在白念珠菌中建立一个快捷方便经济的基因敲除与筛选标记再循环的DNA操作系统。【方法】通过ExoIII介导的不依赖于连接酶的克隆策略,在异源筛选标记基因CmLEU2、CdHIS1和CdARG4基因的两侧分别插入了loxP位点,成为筛选标记基因盒扩增的模板。全基因合成了经过白念珠菌密码子优化的rTetR元件,并组装成Tet-on启动子。将密码子优化的重组酶Cre基因置于该启动子控制下。然后将他们插入筛选标记基因CdHIS1和CdARG4的CDS区域,形成筛选标记基因再循环载体。【结果】构建了3个用于白念珠菌基因敲除的侧翼含有loxP位点的筛选标记基因载体,以及2个含有Tet-on启动子控制的Cre酶的载体用于筛选标记基因的再循环。【结论】成功构建了一个白念珠菌中可诱导的基因敲除和筛选标记再循环的载体系统并成功应用于多个基因缺失株构建。这个系统有助于快速构建白念珠菌的单基因和多基因敲除菌株。     

蝎毒多肽Ctry2459抗白色念珠菌机制研究

【目的】探究蝎毒多肽Ctry2459抗白色念珠菌的作用机制。【方法】采用肉汤稀释法并结合平板计数法测定蝎毒多肽Ctry2459对白色念珠菌的最小抑菌浓度和最小杀真菌浓度;通过平板计数法绘制蝎毒多肽Ctry2459对白色念珠菌的时间-杀菌动力学曲线;通过PI吸收实验检测蝎毒多肽Ctry2459对白色念珠菌细胞膜完整性的影响;通过核酸阻滞实验检测蝎毒多肽Ctry2459与核酸间是否具有结合作用;通过流式细胞技术检测蝎毒多肽Ctry2459对白色念珠菌活性氧、线粒体膜电位以及凋亡/坏死的影响。【结果】蝎毒多肽Ctry2459对白色念珠菌的最小抑菌浓度和最小杀真菌浓度分别为25μg/mL和50μg/mL。蝎毒多肽Ctry2459对白色念珠菌的杀菌作用具有时间和浓度依赖性,并可通过直接破坏细胞膜的完整性以及通过ROS介导的线粒体失能导致细胞坏死的方式杀灭白色念珠菌细胞。【结论】蝎毒多肽Ctry2459可以作为抗白色念珠菌药物研发的候选分子或者分子模板。     

白念珠菌CaGDT1基因的功能研究

人类跨膜蛋白TMEM165与酿酒酵母Sc Gdt1均属于阳离子/钙离子交换器家族的成员,在本研究中,通过序列比对在白念珠菌中发现了Sc GDT1的同源基因Ca GDT1,表型互补实验显示Ca GDT1基因的表达能够抑制Sc GDT1基因缺失所造成的钙离子敏感性,证明Ca GDT1是Sc GDT1的同功基因。此外,通过同源重组原理敲除了Ca GDT1的2个等位基因。表型筛选结果表明gdt1/gdt1缺失株对钙离子、细胞壁和内质网3种胁迫均不敏感,而对酮康唑和特比萘芬2种抗真菌药物具有耐受性。     

Isolation of Hem3 mutants from Candida albicans by sequential gene disruption

Summary Molecular methods for directed mutagenesis in Candida albicans have relied on a combination of gene disruption by transformation to inactivate one allele and UV-induced mitotic recombination or point mutation to produce lesions in the second allele. An alternate method which uses two sequential gene disruptions was developed and used to construct a C. albicans mutant defective in a gene essential for synthesizing tetrapyrrole (uroporphyrinogen I synthase). The Candida gene was cloned from a random library by complementation of the hem3 mutation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The complementing region was limited to a 2.0 kb fragment by subcloning and a BglII site was determined to be within an essential region. Linear fragments containing either the Candida URA3 or LEU2 gene inserted into the BglII site were used to disrupt both alleles of a leu2, ura3 mutant by sequential transformation. Ura⁺, Leu⁺ heme-requiring strains were recovered and identified as hem3 mutants by Southern hybridization, transformation to heme independence by the cloned gene, and enzyme assays.     

有机栽培龙脑百里香精油对白色念珠菌体外抑菌活性的研究

【背景】白色念珠菌(Candidaalbicans)属于条件致病性真菌,可引起严重的黏膜真菌感染及全身系统性真菌感染,是导致患者高发病率和高死亡率的主要菌群之一。【目的】探究百里香精油对白色念珠菌的抑菌活性及抑制机理。【方法】测定5种百里香精油对白色念珠菌的抑菌圈直径,分析具有高抑菌活性的精油成分。在此基础上,通过扫描电子显微镜(scanning electron microscope, SEM)观察精油对白色念珠菌菌体细胞形态的影响。测定碱性磷酸酶(alkaline phosphatase, AKP)含量、胞外溶液电导率并进行碘化丙啶(propidium iodide, PI)染色分析,探究精油对白色念珠菌生物膜的形成与黏附及磷脂酶活性的影响,并通过实时荧光定量PCR法分析与白色念珠菌生物膜形成相关基因(凝集素样序列基因ALS4,从酵母型向菌丝型细胞的形态转变基因HWP1、磷脂酶基因PLB1)的表达水平,探究该精油对白色念珠菌的抑菌机制。【结果】筛选出了对白色念珠菌高度敏感的有机栽培龙脑百里香精油(Thymus vulgaris CT borneol essential oil, T...     

白色念珠菌中几丁质合酶CHS3对菌丝生长及致病性的影响

CHS3是催化白色念珠菌(Candida albicans)几丁质合成的关键酶，构建白色念珠菌几丁质合酶CHS3基因缺失菌株，确定CHS3的功能及对致病性的影响。以野生型白色念珠菌SC5314为母本菌株，通过SAT1-flipper技术构建chs3Δ/Δ突变体，对该突变体在小鼠系统性感染模型中的毒力进行检测，并对该突变体的毒力相关表型进行分析。结果表明，chs3Δ/Δ突变体的细胞壁几丁质含量下降、菌丝生长缺陷以及在小鼠系统性感染模型中的毒力减弱。CHS3可能通过调控白色念珠菌的菌丝生长，从而影响白色念珠菌的致病性。     

白色念珠菌胞外囊泡的组成及其功能研究进展

念珠菌病指念珠菌属引起的急性、亚急性或慢性感染,通常累及皮肤、黏膜,也可累及内脏和各个系统器官,可造成严重后果,是目前发病率最高的深部真菌病.白色念珠菌是念珠菌种中最为常见的一种机会致病性真菌,近来,越来越多的研究证实了白色念珠菌的细胞外囊泡对其致病性具有重要的作用,它参与重要蛋白、遗传物质的转运,影响白色念珠菌的耐药...     

Constitutive activation of the Saccharomyces cerevislae mating response pathway by a MAP kinase kinase from Candida albicans

The HST7 gene of Candida albicans encodes a protein with structural similarity to MAP kinase kinases. Expression of this gene in Saccharomyces cerevisiae complements disruption of the Ste7 MAP kinase kinase required for both mating in haploid cells and pseudohyphal growth in diploids. However, Hst7 expression does not complement loss of either the Pbs2 (Hog4) MAP kinase kinase required for response to high osmolarity, or loss of the Mkk1 and Mkk2 MAP kinase kinases required for proper cell wall biosynthesis. Intriguingly, HST7 acts as a hyperactive allele of STE7; expression of Hst7 activates the mating pathway even in the absence of upstream signaling components including the Ste7 regulator Ste11, elevates the basal level of the pheromone-inducible FUS1 gene, and amplifies the pseudohyphal growth response in diploid cells. Thus Hst7 appears to be at least partially independent of upstream activators or regulators, but selective in its activity on downstream target MAP kinases. Creation of Hst7/Ste7 hybrid proteins revealed that the C-terminal two-thirds of Hst7, which contains the protein kinase domain, is sufficient to confer this partial independence of upstream activators.Communicated by C. P. Hollenberg     

中药蛴螬多肽Probrelin抗白色念珠菌活性研究

[目的] 研究蛴螬多肽Probrelin对白色念珠菌的抗菌活性。[方法] 采用肉汤稀释法测定蛴螬多肽Probrelin对正常菌株及临床耐药菌株的最小抑菌浓度,同时结合平板计数法测定最小杀真菌浓度;通过不同浓度多肽处理后经平板计数绘制时间-杀菌动力学曲线;通过PI吸收实验检测多肽对白色念珠菌细胞膜完整性的影响;通过核酸阻滞实验检测多肽与核酸间是否具有结合作用;通过扫描电子显微镜检测多肽对白色念珠菌形态的影响;通过结晶紫染色法检测多肽对生物膜生成及成熟生物膜的影响;通过显微镜观察多肽对白色念珠菌菌丝形成的影响;通过棋盘法检测多肽与抗真菌药物间的相互效应;通过小鼠皮下感染模型检测多肽在生理条件下的抗白色念珠菌活性。[结果] 蛴螬多肽Probrelin对正常菌株及临床耐药菌株的最小抑菌浓度均为100 μg/mL,最小杀真菌浓度为100-200 μg/mL,且对白色念珠菌的杀菌动力学具有时间和浓度依赖性;该多肽以浓度依赖性的方式影响白色念珠菌细胞膜的完整性,并通过破坏白色念珠菌细胞壁的结构影响其形态,但与核酸间不具有结合作用;该多肽既可抑制白色念珠菌生物膜的形成,又可清除成熟生物膜,同时还可抑制白色念珠菌菌丝的形成;该多肽与抗真菌药物Clotrimazole间具有协同效应;在小鼠皮下感染模型中,该多肽可以有效杀灭白色念珠菌,进而抑制感染。[结论] 蛴螬多肽Probrelin对白色念珠菌具有良好的抑制杀灭活性,可以作为新的药物分子或模板分子用于抗白色念珠菌药物的研发。     

白念珠菌14-3-3蛋白Bmh1在细胞生长和菌丝发育中的功能解析

【目的】应用Tet-off启动子研究白念珠菌唯一的14-3-3蛋白Bmh1在白念珠菌生长和菌丝发育过程中的功能。【方法】在白念珠菌URA3+菌株SN152中,我们敲除了1个BMH1基因拷贝,并用Tet-off启动子替代另一个BMH1基因拷贝的启动子,得到了可以用强力霉素(Doxycycline)控制Bmh1表达水平的菌株。然后我们通过斑点试验和形态学观察对该菌株的生长和菌丝发育表型进行了分析。通过在ras1、flo8、efg1、cph1、tec1等重要菌丝发育调控因子突变体中过表达Bmh1,我们初步研究了Bmh1在菌丝发育调控网络中的位置。最后,我们构建了一些不同C末端的Bmh1嵌合体并检测了其对白念珠菌生长和菌丝发育的影响。【结果】Doxycycline诱导Bmh1表达水平下调时严重抑制了细胞的生长。非Doxycycline诱导条件下Bmh1高表达强烈促进了细胞的菌丝发育。这一促进作用绕过了ras1、efg1、cph1和tec1等基因缺失的影响,却被flo8基因的缺失阻断。C末端缺失或更换异源C末端的所有Bmh1突变株在Doxycycline诱导时都能够正常生长,但是没有明显促进菌丝发育。【结论】验证了白念珠菌14-3-3蛋白Bmh1是细胞生长所必需的,证明了Tet-off启动子可以严密控制Bmh1的表达水平。Bmh1是一个菌丝发育的正调控因子,位于Ras1、Efg1、Cph1和Tec1的下游,Flo8的上游。Bmh1的保守结构域是细胞生长所必需的,而C末端则是生长非必需的。     

表达GFP/mCherry白色念珠菌的构建及其在与巨噬细胞互作中的应用

白色念珠菌(Candida albicans)被巨噬细胞吞噬的效率与被吞噬后的形态观察是研究白色念珠菌与巨噬细胞互作的重要内容。【目的】以野生型菌株SC5314为母本,构建能够表达绿色荧光蛋白(green fluorescent protein, GFP)/mCherry的白色念珠菌,应用于巨噬细胞与白色念珠菌互作的研究。【方法】通过生长与形态观察、细胞活性检测及小鼠系统性感染模型确定荧光蛋白的表达对菌株生长、形态与毒力的影响;在共培养条件下,通过流式细胞术及荧光显微镜检测巨噬细胞的吞噬率及白色念珠菌的形态变化。【结果】构建的菌株在表型上与野生型菌株一致,并可用于在共培养下测定巨噬细胞吞噬率的流式细胞术以及观察白色念珠菌的形态变化。【结论】表达荧光蛋白的菌株为研究巨噬细胞与白色念珠菌的互作提供了新方法。     

N-Acetyl-d-Glucosamine Induces Germination in Candida albicans through a Mechanism Sensitive to Inhibitors of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase

The present study examines the involvement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the dimorphic transition of Candida albicans by assessing the in vivo effect of two permeable PKA inhibitors on N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc)- and serum-induced differentiation. The permeable myristoylated derivative of the heat-stable PKA inhibitor (MyrPKI), which inhibited C. albicans PKA in vitro, caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of germ-tube formation in cultures induced to germinate by GlcNAc; germination halted irrespective of the time of addition of the inhibitor. MyrPKI also blocked dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP)- and glucagon-stimulated germination but did not affect serum-induced germination. H-89, another highly specific PKA inhibitor, displayed the same effect on germination. Neither MyrPKI nor H-89 had any effect on budding of yeast cells. In conclusion, our results indicate that cAMP-mediated activation of PKA plays a pivotal role in the biochemical mechanism underlying morphogenesis.     

N-Acetyl-d-Glucosamine Induces Germination in Candida albicans through a Mechanism Sensitive to Inhibitors of cAMP-Dependent Protein Kinase

The present study examines the involvement of cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) in the dimorphic transition of Candida albicans by assessing the in vivo effect of two permeable PKA inhibitors on N-acetyl-d-glucosamine (GlcNAc)- and serum-induced differentiation. The permeable myristoylated derivative of the heat-stable PKA inhibitor (MyrPKI), which inhibited C. albicans PKA in vitro, caused a concentration-dependent inhibition of germ-tube formation in cultures induced to germinate by GlcNAc; germination halted irrespective of the time of addition of the inhibitor. MyrPKI also blocked dibutyryl-cAMP (dbcAMP)- and glucagon-stimulated germination but did not affect serum-induced germination. H-89, another highly specific PKA inhibitor, displayed the same effect on germination. Neither MyrPKI nor H-89 had any effect on budding of yeast cells. In conclusion, our results indicate that cAMP-mediated activation of PKA plays a pivotal role in the biochemical mechanism underlying morphogenesis.     

Synergic effect of grape seed extract with amphotericin B against disseminated candidiasis due to Candida albicans

Amphotericin B (Amp B) is considered as a drug of choice for treatment of fungal infections, but it causes severe side effects such as renal damage. To lessen the severity, it is often combined with the azole, but data reporting resistance of Candida albicans to the azole have been recently increasing. Thus, finding a new product that can reduce Amp B dose by combination seems to be important. In the present study, we investigated a synergic effect of grape seed extract (GSE) combined with Amp B against the fungus. Our results showed that the GSE alone inhibited growth of C. albicans yeast cells, and that in a murine model of disseminated candidiasis mice groups given GSE before intravenous inoculation with the yeast cells survived longer than diluent-received (control) mice groups (P<0.05). This GSE antifungal effect was dose-dependent. Upon combination of GSE plus Amp B, the combination therapy strikingly retarded the yeast growth as determined by the broth susceptibility method. Against the disseminated disease, mice given diluent (negative control), Amp B (0.5mg/kg of body weight), or GSE (2mg/kg of body weight) had mean survival times (MSTs) of approximately 11.4, 14.4, and 17.6 days, respectively. However, mice treated with the combination of the doses of Amp B and GSE had a MST value of 38.4 days, surviving an average of 24 days longer than Amp B alone-treated mice groups. This MST value from the combination-received mice group was greater than the MST value from the mice group given four times the Amp B dose (2mg/kg of body weight). All these data indicate that the combination therapy can reduce more than 75% of Amp B dose, implying that GSE has a synergic effect with Amp B.