Effect of farnesol on Candida dubliniensis morphogenesis

AIMS: Cell-cell signalling in Candida albicans is a known phenomenon and farnesol was identified as a quorum sensing molecule determining the yeast morphology. The aim of this work was to verify if farnesol had a similar effect on Candida dubliniensis, highlighting the effect of farnesol on Candida spp. morphogenesis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Two different strains of C. dubliniensis and one of C. albicans were grown both in RPMI 1640 and in serum in the presence of absence of farnesol. At 150 micromol l(-1) farnesol the growth rate of both Candida species was not affected. On the contrary, farnesol inhibited hyphae and pseudohyphae formation in C. dubliniensis. CONCLUSION: Farnesol seems to mediate cell morphology in both Candida species. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The effect of farnesol on C. dubliniensis morphology was not reported previously.     

黄芩素与氟康唑协同抗白念珠菌生物被膜作用研究

目的：研究黄芩素与氟康唑合用对白念珠菌生物被膜形成的影响。方法采用激光共聚焦显微镜观察黄芩素与氟康唑合用对白念珠菌生物被膜生长形态的影响;采用 XTT 法考察黄芩素与氟康唑合用对白念珠菌生物被膜形成能力的影响;应用水-烃两相测定实验考察黄芩素与氟康唑合用对白念珠菌生物被膜细胞表面疏水性（ Cell surface hydrophobicity, CSH）的影响;应用实时定量 RT-PCR（Real Time RT-PCR）实验考察黄芩素与氟康唑合用对白念珠菌 CSH1、EFG1、HWP1、ALS1基因表达的影响。结果黄芩素与氟康唑合用能够协同抑制白念珠菌生物被膜的形成,经黄芩素与氟康唑处理的白念珠菌不能形成正常的生物被膜,其生长动力学及细胞表面疏水性下降,细胞疏水性相关基 CSH1、菌丝形成调控基因EFG1、黏附相关基因 HWP1基因的表达水平降低。结论黄芩素与氟康唑合用可协同抑制白念珠菌生物被膜的形成。     

Purification and germination of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis chlamydospores cultured in liquid media

Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis are the only Candida sp. that have been observed to produce chlamydospores. The function of these large, thick-walled cells is currently unknown. In this report, we describe the production and purification of chlamydospores from these species in defined liquid media. Staining with the fluorescent dye FUN-1 indicated that chlamydospores are metabolically active cells, but that metabolic activity is undetectable in chlamydospores that are >30 days old. However, 5–15-day-old chlamydospores could be induced to produce daughter chlamydospores, blastospores, pseudohyphae and true hyphae depending on the incubation conditions used. Chlamydospores that were preinduced to germinate were also observed to escape from murine macrophages following phagocytosis, suggesting that these structures may be viable in vivo . Mycelium-attached and purified chlamydospores rapidly lost their viability in water and when subjected to dry stress, suggesting that they are unlikely to act as long-term storage structures. Instead, our data suggest that chlamydospores represent an alternative specialized form of growth by C. albicans and C. dubliniensis .     

间接免疫荧光法快速鉴别白念珠菌和都柏林念珠菌的初步研究

目的 用一种新制备的单克隆抗体MAb03．2Cl-C2鉴别生物学形态相近的白念珠菌和都柏林念珠菌。方法 用小鼠体内诱导法制备抗白念珠菌芽管胞壁外膜单克隆抗体MAb03．2Cl-C2。用不完全RPMI1640培养液、L—DMEM、H—DMEM、完全1640液、小牛血清诱导白念珠菌和都柏林念珠菌芽管及菌丝形成,间接免疫荧光（IIF）方法检测都柏林念珠菌芽管或菌丝表面有无可与该单抗相结合的成分。收集临床口腔念珠菌病标本涂片,直接做IIF试验。结果 用不完全RP-MI1640培养液37℃,6h可同时最高效率地诱导白念珠菌和都柏林念珠菌芽管或菌丝形成。单抗MAb03．2Cl-C2仅与白念珠菌芽管或菌丝特异性地结合,与都柏林念珠菌的孢子和菌丝不能结合。结论 单抗MAh03．2Cl-C2可用于白念珠菌和都柏林念珠菌实验室的速鉴别。     

Comparison of the epidemiology, drug resistance mechanisms, and virulence of Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans

Candida dubliniensis is a pathogenic yeast species that was first identified as a distinct taxon in 1995. Epidemiological studies have shown that C. dubliniensis is prevalent throughout the world and that it is primarily associated with oral carriage and oropharyngeal infections in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) patients. However, unlike Candida albicans, C. dubliniensis is rarely found in the oral microflora of normal healthy individuals and is responsible for as few as 2% of cases of candidemia (compared to approximately 65% for C. albicans). The vast majority of C. dubliniensis isolates identified to date are susceptible to all of the commonly used antifungal agents, however, reduced susceptibility to azole drugs has been observed in clinical isolates and can be readily induced in vitro. The primary mechanism of fluconazole resistance in C. dubliniensis has been shown to be overexpression of the major facilitator efflux pump Mdr1p. It has also been observed that a large number of C. dubliniensis strains express a non-functional truncated form of Cdr1p, and it has been demonstrated that this protein does not play a significant role in fluconazole resistance in the majority of strains examined to date. Data from a limited number of infection models reflect findings from epidemiological studies and suggest that C. dubliniensis is less pathogenic than C. albicans. The reasons for the reduced virulence of C. dubliniensis are not clear as it has been shown that the two species express a similar range of virulence factors. However, although C. dubliniensis produces hyphae, it appears that the conditions and dynamics of induction may differ from those in C. albicans. In addition, C. dubliniensis is less tolerant of environmental stresses such as elevated temperature and NaCl and H(2)O(2) concentration, suggesting that C. albicans may have a competitive advantage when colonising and causing infection in the human body. It is our hypothesis that a genomic comparison between these two closely-related species will help to identify virulence factors responsible for the far greater virulence of C. albicans and possibly identify factors that are specifically implicated in either superficial or systemic candidal infections.     

都柏林念珠菌的鉴定及与白念珠菌3种表型鉴别方法的研究

目的 从临床分离的念珠菌中进一步鉴定都柏林念珠菌,并评价3种表型鉴别白念珠菌和都柏林念珠菌的方法.方法 对17株临床分离并初步鉴定的白念珠菌和1株ATCC白念珠菌标准株,采用PHR1同源序列PCR法检测,鉴定出其中的都柏林念珠菌;分别采用45℃生长试验、YEPD(1%酵母浸膏,2%蛋白胨,2%葡萄糖)液基39℃芽管生成试验、Staib琼脂(鸟食琼脂)厚壁孢子形成试验对两种菌的表型特点进行比较.结果 17株临床分离的白念珠菌中有3株鉴定为都柏林念珠菌;45℃时,两种菌在改良沙堡弱琼脂上均无明显生长,YEPD液基中仅有1株白念珠菌生长良好;YEPD液基39℃培养2种菌均无芽管生成;Staib琼脂培养72h,3株都柏林念珠菌中有2株可形成厚壁孢子,而白念珠菌则无,与PHR1同源序列检测结果基本一致.结论 PHR1同源序列检测是鉴别都柏林念珠菌与白念珠菌的可靠方法,Staib琼脂厚壁孢子形成试验有助于鉴别两菌,45℃生长试验和YEPD液基39℃芽管生成试验则不能有效鉴别两菌.     

抗白念珠菌生物被膜药物的研究进展

白念珠菌是临床最常见的一种能产生生物被膜的致病真菌,所产生的生物被膜是导致高度耐药性和临床白念珠菌反复感染的直接原因.近年来,科学家们开始关注天然产物的抗生物被膜活性,以及不同药物联合应用的抗生物被膜效果,该文对抗白念珠菌生物被膜药物的研究进展作一综述.     

白念珠菌生物被膜形成的遗传调控机制

白念珠菌是人体重要的条件性致病真菌。形态的多样性和可塑性是白念珠菌典型的生物学特征,这与它的致病性、宿主适应能力以及有性生殖过程密切相关。白念珠菌生物被膜(Biofilm)是由不同形态细胞(包括酵母型、菌丝和假菌丝)以及胞外基质组成的致密结构,也是毒性和耐药性形成的重要因子。生物被膜对抗真菌药物、宿主免疫系统和环境胁迫因子等都表现出较强的抵抗力和耐受性,是临床上病原真菌感染防治的重大挑战。随着基因表达谱和遗传操作技术的发展,白念珠菌生物被膜的形成及其耐药性的获得所依赖的遗传调控通路和分子调控机制越来越清楚。主要包括MAPK和cAMP介导的信号途径以及Bcr1和Tec1等因子介导的转录调控。此外,白念珠菌生物被膜的形成与形态转换和有性生殖之间存在密切的联系。文中综述了白念珠菌生物被膜形成的遗传调控机制,重点介绍了细胞壁相关蛋白、转录因子和交配型对该过程的调控以及生物被膜的耐药机制。     

The carboxylic acid transporters Jen1 and Jen2 affect the architecture and fluconazole susceptibility of Candida albicans biofilm in the presence of lactate

Candida albicans has the ability to adapt to different host niches, often glucose-limited but rich in alternative carbon sources. In these glucose-poor microenvironments, this pathogen expresses JEN1 and JEN2 genes, encoding carboxylate transporters, which are important in the early stages of infection. This work investigated how host microenvironments, in particular acidic containing lactic acid, affect C. albicans biofilm formation and antifungal drug resistance. Multiple components of the extracellular matrix were also analysed, including their impact on antifungal drug resistance, and the involvement of both Jen1 and Jen2 in this process. The results show that growth on lactate affects biofilm formation, morphology and susceptibility to fluconazole and that both Jen1 and Jen2 might play a role in these processes. These results support the view that the adaptation of Candida cells to the carbon source present in the host niches affects their pathogenicity.     

大蒜素对白色念珠菌生物被膜形成的作用

生物被膜的形成是白色念珠菌产生耐药性的重要原因之一。本研究首先构建白色念珠菌体外生物被膜模型,通过倒置显微镜和甲基四氮盐（XTT）法检测大蒜素对白色念珠菌生物被膜形成的影响,同时采用实时荧光定量PCR法（qRT-PCR）对白色念珠菌生物被膜相关基因ALS1、ALS3、HWP1、MP65、SUN41的表达水平进行检测。结果显示,当大蒜素浓度≥12.5μg/mL时,白色念珠菌生物被膜的生长被抑制,并且在生物被膜形成的早期,大蒜素干预能有效抑制其形成;大蒜素能下调白色念珠菌生物被膜相关基因ALS1、ALS3、HWP1、MP65、SUN41的表达水平。研究结果提示,大蒜素可有效抑制体外白色念珠菌生物被膜的形成,可能与其下调生物被膜相关基因的表达有关。     

Relationship between thigmotropism and Candida biofilm formation in vitro

The biofilm formation of the oral fungal pathogen Candida on denture acrylic strips coated with saliva or serum was examined in relation to the ability to induce hyphae by thigmotropic reaction, using C. albicans (4 isolates), C. glabrata (3 isolates) and C. tropicalis (3 isolates). Both the degree of biofilm formation and the amount of hyphae exhibiting thigmotropism varied depending upon both the species and strains of Candida. Although there was no significant correlation between the amount of hyphae induced by thigmotropic reaction of fungal isolates and biofilm formation on uncoated control specimens (r = 0.577; p < 0.05), the ability of hyphae induced by thigmotropic reaction significantly correlated with the amount of both saliva- and serum-admixed biofilms (r = 0.734; p < 0.05 and r = 0.793; p < 0.01, respectively). Taken together our in vitro data suggested that the hyphal induction by thigmotropic reaction is of importance in candidal biofilm formation on saliva- or serum-coated acrylic surfaces. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Candida albicans biofilm formation on peptide functionalized polydimethylsiloxane

In order to prevent biofilm formation by Candida albicans, several cationic peptides were covalently bound to polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). The salivary peptide histatin 5 and two synthetic variants (Dhvar 4 and Dhvar 5) were used to prepare peptide functionalized PDMS using 4-azido-2,3,5,6-tetrafluoro-benzoic acid (AFB) as an interlinkage molecule. In addition, polylysine-, polyarginine-, and polyhistidine-PDMS surfaces were prepared. Dhvar 4 functionalized PDMS yielded the highest reduction of the number of C. albicans biofilm cells in the Modified Robbins Device. Amino acid analysis demonstrated that the amount of peptide immobilized on the modified disks was in the nanomole range. Poly-d-lysine PDMS, in particular the homopeptides with low molecular weight (2500 and 9600) showed the highest activity against C. albicans biofilms, with reductions of 93% and 91%, respectively. The results indicate that the reductions are peptide dependent.     

Impact of oxidative and osmotic stresses on Candida albicans biofilm formation

Candida albicans possesses an ability to grow under different host-driven stress conditions by developing robust protective mechanisms. In this investigation the focus was on the impact of osmotic (2M NaCl) and oxidative (5 mM H₂O₂) stress conditions during C. albicans biofilm formation. Oxidative stress enhanced extracellular DNA secretion into the biofilm matrix, increased the chitin level, and reduced virulence factors, namely phospholipase and proteinase activity, while osmotic stress mainly increased extracellular proteinase and decreased phospholipase activity. Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy analysis of mannan isolated from the C. albicans biofilm cell wall revealed a decrease in mannan content and reduced β-linked mannose moieties under stress conditions. The results demonstrate that C. albicans adapts to oxidative and osmotic stress conditions by inducing biofilm formation with a rich exopolymeric matrix, modulating virulence factors as well as the cell wall composition for its survival in different host niches.     

A novel mechanism of fluconazole resistance associated with fluconazole sequestration in Candida albicans isolates from a myelofibrosis patient

A series of 10 strains of Candida albicans, from TIMM 3309 to TIMM 3318, were repeatedly isolated in one myelofibrosis-complicated patient with recurrent candidemia. The latter five isolates, from TIMM 3314 to TIMM 3318, became suddenly resistant to fluconazole during the 10 to 16 weeks after antimycotic therapy. We investigated the resistant mechanism of fluconazole using one susceptible isolate and two of the five resistant isolates in the series. The ergosterol synthesis by cell-free extracts from the two resistant isolates was less susceptible to fluconazole partly as a result of a decreased affinity of cytochrome P-450. Unexpectedly, these two resistant isolates showed higher levels of an intracellular accumulation of [H]fluconazole than the susceptible isolate and the control strain of C. albicans ATCC 10231. In the resistant isolate, TIMM 3318, most intracellular incorporated fluconazole was distributed in the 12,000 X g pellet (P-120) fraction by centrifugation unlike the two susceptible strains. An observation of the ultrastructure of TIMM 3318 showed the most notable alteration to be the characteristic appearance of numerous vesicular vacuoles (diameter, 150 to 400 nm); these vacuoles were not observed, however, in either of the susceptible strains. A direct observation of the subcellular fraction prepared from TIMM 3318 by the electron microscopy negative-staining method suggests that most of the vesicular vacuoles were recovered in the P-120 fraction. These results suggest that fluconazole sequestration caused by vesicular vacuoles of the resistant isolate might act as a novel mechanism of fluconazole resistance besides the decreased affinity of cytochrome P-450.     

Caspofungin‐induced in‐vitro post‐antifungal effect and its impact on adhesion related traits of oral Candida dubliniensis and Candida albicans isolates

Adhesion to buccal epithelial cells (BEC) and denture acrylic surfaces (DAS), germ tube (GT) formation and cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) are all virulence traits involved in the pathogenicity of Candida. Post‐antifungal effect (PAFE) also have a bearing on pathogenicity and virulence of Candida. Candida dubliniensis is associated with oral and systemic candidosis, which can be managed with caspofungin. There is no published information on caspofungin‐induced PAFE and its impact on adhesion traits of C. dubliniensis isolates. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to determine the in vitro duration of PAFE on 20 C. dubliniensis isolates following transient exposure to caspofungin. Furthermore the impacts of caspofungin‐induced PAFE on adhesion to BEC and DAS, GT formation and CSH of these isolates were also determined. After establishing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of caspofungin, C. dubliniensis isolates were exposed to sub‐lethal concentrations (×3 MIC) of caspofungin for 1 hr. Thereafter the duration of PAFE, adhesion to BEC and DAS, GT formation and CSH were determined by previously described in‐vitro assays. MIC (μg/mL) of C. dubliniensis isolates to caspofungin ranged from 0.004 to 0.19. Caspofungin‐induced mean PAFE on C. dubliniensis isolates was 2.17 hr. Exposure to caspofungin suppressed the ability of C. dubliniensis isolates to adhere to BEC and DAS, form GT and CSH by 69.97%, 71.95%, 90.06% and 32.29% (P < 0.001 for all), respectively. Thus, transient exposure of C. dubliniensis isolates to caspofungin produces an antifungal effect not only by suppressing its growth but also by altering its adhesion traits.     

A rapid screening test to distinguish between Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis using NMR spectroscopy

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy combined with a statistical classification strategy (SCS) successfully distinguished between Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. 96% of the isolates from an independent test set were identified correctly. This proves that this rapid approach is a valuable method for the identification and chemotaxonomic characterisation of closely related taxa. Most discriminatory regions were correlated with metabolite profiles, indicating biochemical differences between the two species.     

The antagonistic effect of Saccharomyces boulardii on Candida albicans filamentation, adhesion and biofilm formation

The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans is a member of the normal flora residing in the intestinal tract of humans. In spite of this, under certain conditions it can induce both superficial and serious systemic diseases, as well as be the cause of gastrointestinal infections. Saccharomyces boulardii is a yeast strain that has been shown to have applications in the prevention and treatment of intestinal infections caused by bacterial pathogens. The purpose of this study was to determine whether S. boulardii affects the virulence factors of C. albicans . We demonstrate the inhibitory effect of live S. boulardii cells on the filamentation (hyphae and pseudohyphae formation) of C. albicans SC5314 strain proportional to the amount of S. boulardii added. An extract from S. boulardii culture has a similar effect. Live S. boulardii and the extract from S. boulardii culture filtrate diminish C. albicans adhesion to and subsequent biofilm formation on polystyrene surfaces under both aerobic and microaerophilic conditions. This effect is very strong and requires lower doses of S. boulardii cells or concentrations of the extract than serum-induced filamentation tests. Saccharomyces boulardii has a strong negative effect on very important virulence factors of C. albicans , i.e. the ability to form filaments and to adhere and form biofilms on plastic surfaces.     

Efficacy of surface-generated nitric oxide against Candida albicans adhesion and biofilm formation

This report details the efficacy of nitric oxide (NO)-releasing xerogel surfaces composed of N-(6-aminohexyl)aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (AHAP3) and isobutyltrimethoxysilane (BTMOS) against Candida albicans adhesion, viability, and biofilm formation. A parallel plate flow cell assay was used to examine the effect of NO on planktonic fungal cells. Nitric oxide fluxes as low as 14 pmol cm^?2 s^?1 were sufficient to reduce fungal adhesion by ～49% over the controls after 90 min. By utilizing a fluorescence live/dead assay and replicate plating, NO flux was determined to reduce fungal viability in a dose-dependent manner. The formation of C. albicans biofilms on NO-releasing xerogel-coated silicon rubber (SiR) coupons was impeded when compared to control (non-NO-releasing) and bare SiR surfaces. The synergistic efficacy of NO and silver sulfadiazine against adhered fungal cells and biofilms is reported with increased killing and biofilm inhibition over NO alone.     

汉防己甲素及其联合氟康唑对白念珠菌细胞周期影响的初步研究

目的 探讨汉防己甲素联合氟康唑对白念珠菌细胞周期的影响.方法 将白念珠菌CA-1菌悬液与汉防己甲素和（或）氟康唑共培养12h,应用流式细胞仪测定空白对照组、汉防己甲素组、氟康唑组及汉防己甲素联合氟康唑组DNA含量.比较细胞周期各期DNA含量变化并计算增殖抑制率PI％,分析汉防己甲素及其联合氟康唑对白念珠菌细胞周期的影响.结果 汉防己甲素、氟康唑组与对照组S期DNA含量相比,分别能增加17.25％ （P =0.018）与6.54％ （P ＞0.05）,其联合运用效果更明显,S期DNA含量可增加31.52％ （P =0.002）.这说明汉防己甲素能将白念珠菌细胞阻滞在S期.结论 汉防己甲素能抑制白念珠菌细胞DNA合成,阻断白念珠菌细胞周期进程,抑制细胞分裂,其与氟康唑联用时阻滞作用更显著.