近平滑念珠菌的形态转换观察

目的观察近平滑念珠菌在不同培养基的形态转换现象,以及温度对其形态转换的影响。方法收集近平滑念珠菌正常人皮肤携带株及临床致病株和标准株,接种于改良Lee培养基和含桃红B的YPD培养基,观察其不同形态转换,以及温度变化对光滑(W)与皱褶(O)形态转换的影响。结果近平滑念珠菌在Lee培养基和含桃红B的YPD培养基上,均可以出现多种形态以及一定频率W-O转换现象。在观察W向O形态转换过程中发现,与25℃培养温度相比,37℃条件下光滑菌落形态占更多的比例。结论近平滑念珠菌体外培养时存在形态转换及W-O转换现象,且于37℃时更易保持光滑形态。含桃红B的YPD培养基也可以用于基本的W-O形态转换观察。     

1株近平滑假丝酵母的分离及其鉴定

采用平板稀释法从土壤及水果中分离出1株近平滑假丝酵母（Candida parapsilosis）,YPD培养基培养酵母,利用分子生物学方法对其rRNA基因内转录间区（ITS区）进行了克隆测序,并与GenBank中已有的有关序列进行比较及系统发育分析。测序结果表明该序列长度为547 bp,与GenBank中近平滑假丝酵母同源率在98.5%~100%之间,进化分析表明与C.parapsilosis（EF193067）、C.parapsilosis UOA/HCPF（FJ872013）属于一单独分支中,形态结果及分子鉴定表明近平滑假丝酵母培养成功,为其进一步开发利用提供了依据。     

Complementary selectivity to (S)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol-forming Candida parapsilosis by expressing its carbonyl reductase in Escherichia coli for (R)-specific reduction of 2-hydroxyacetophenone

An (R)-specific carbonyl reductase from Candida parapsilosis CCTCCM203011 (CprCR) was shown to catalyze the asymmetric reduction of 2-hydroxyacetophenone to (R)-1-phenyl-1,2-ethanediol (PED), which is a critical chiral building block in organic synthesis. The gene (rcr) encoding CprCR was cloned based on the amino acid sequences of tryptic fragments of the enzyme. Sequence analysis revealed that rcr is comprised of 1008 nucleotides encoding a 35 977 Da polypeptide, and shares similarity to proteins of the medium-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (MDR) superfamily. Recombinant rcr expressed in Escherichia coli showed a specific 2-hydroxyacetophenone-reducing activity. Using rcr expressing cells, (R)-PED was obtained by asymmetric reduction, which is complementary in enantiomeric configuration to (S)-PED obtained by using whole cells of C. parapsilosis. After optimization of reaction conditions, (R)-PED was produced at 95.5% enantiomeric excess with a yield of 92.6% when isopropanol was used for cofactor regeneration.     

Dynamics of in vitro acquisition of resistance by Candida parapsilosis to different azoles

Candida parapsilosis is a common isolate from clinical fungal infectious episodes. Resistance of C. parapsilosis to azoles has been increasingly reported. To analyse the development of resistance in C. parapsilosis , four azole-susceptible clinical strains and one American Type Culture Collection type strain were cultured in the presence of fluconazole, voriconazole and posaconazole at different concentrations. The isolates developed variable degrees of azole resistance according to the antifungal used. Fluconazole was the fastest inducer while posaconazole was the slowest. Fluconazole and voriconazole induced resistance to themselves and each other, but not to posaconazole. Posaconazole induced resistance to all azoles. Developed resistance was stable; it could be confirmed after 30 days of subculture in drug-free medium. Azole-resistant isolates revealed a homogeneous population structure; the role of azole transporter efflux pumps was minor after evaluation by microdilution and cytometric assays with efflux pump blockers (verapamil, ibuprofen and carbonyl cyanide 3-chloro-phenylhydrazone). We conclude that the rapid development of azole resistance occurs by a mechanism that might involve mutation of genes responsible for ergosterol biosynthesis pathway, stressed by exposure to antifungals.     

Xylitol production in repeated fed batch cultivation

The ability of Candida parapsilosis to produce xylitol was tested using successive substrate supplies, and the importance of the amount of viable cells in enhancing the conversion rate was demonstrated. The suitability of this yeast for the production of xylitol was investigated in repeated fed-batch cultivation, using pure xylose or mixtures of xylose and glucose. The use of this process increased productivity by about 40% compared with simple batch cultivation without loss of yield of product on substrate. The presence of glucose in the culture medium seemed to stimulate the specific growth rate, but had no influence over other fermentative parameters.     

Antifungal effects of the flavonoids kaempferol and quercetin: a possible alternative for the control of fungal biofilms

This study aimed to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of kaempferol and quercetin against planktonic and biofilm forms of the Candida parapsilosis complex. Initially, nine C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, nine C. orthopsilosis and nine C. metapsilosis strains were used. Planktonic susceptibility to kaempferol and quercetin was assessed. Growing and mature biofilms were then exposed to the flavonoids at MIC or 10xMIC, respectively, and theywere also analyzed by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The MIC ranges were 32-128 µg ml^?1 for kaempferol and 0.5-16 µg ml^?1 for quercetin. Kaempferol and quercetin decreased (P?<?0.05) the metabolic activity and biomass of growing biofilms of the C. parapsilosis complex. As for mature biofilms, the metabolic effects of the flavonoids varied, according to the cryptic species, but kaempferol caused an overall reduction in biofilm biomass. Microscopic analyses showed restructuring of biofilms after flavonoid exposure. These results highlight the potential use of these compounds as sustainable resources for the control of fungal biofilms.     

Cloning and characterization of Sapp2p, the second aspartic proteinase isoenzyme from Candida parapsilosis

The human fungal pathogen Candida parapsilosis possesses at least three genes encoding secreted aspartic proteinases. Whereas the Sapp1p isoenzyme has already been biochemically characterized, the SAPP2 and SAPP3 gene products have not. The Sapp2p precursor, pro-Sapp2p, was therefore expressed in Escherichia coli and purified. Autoactivation of pro-Sapp2p in acidic conditions was inefficient and resulted in a protein extended by eight amino acids at the N-terminus (Sapp2p(+8)). The correct promature junction KR/SSPSS was cleaved by trypsin or by a membrane-bound Kex2-like proteinase from Candida parapsilosis. The mature Sapp2p obtained by the assisted activation was proteolytically active. Its activity was more than twofold higher than that of the self-processed protein species Sapp2p(+8), as measured by the hemoglobin cleavage test. The substrate specificity of Sapp2p differs from that of Sapp1p. Peptides containing aromatic residues in the P1 and P1' positions are cleaved poorly by Sapp2p. A fluorogenic substrate was synthesized to facilitate further studies.     

Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330 can also deracemise 1-arylethanols

Abstract

Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7330 grown using different culture conditions (inoculum size 4% (v/v), inoculum age 12 h, and harvest time 14 h) from those previously reported (inoculum size 2% (v/v), inoculum age 24 h, and harvest time 44 h) successfully deracemised racemic 1-arylethanols and 4-phenyl-2-butanol to the (R)-enantiomer (ee up to >99%). The deracemisation of racemic 1-aryl ethanol proceeds via (i) enantioselective oxidation of (S)-enantiomer followed by (ii) reduction of the ketone formed to give the racemic alcohol which gets kinetically resolved thus enriching for the (R)-enantiomer from the racemate. This is the first report on the deracemisation of 1-arylethanols using Candida parapsilosis ATTC 7330 via dynamic kinetic resolution.     

Correlation between Two Glycine tRNAs and Corresponding Glycyl tRNA Synthetases

A gene encoding a stereo-specific secondary alcohol dehydrogenase (CpSADH) that catalyzed the oxidation of (S)-1,3-BDO to 4-hydroxy-2-butanone was cloned from Candida parapsilosis. This CpSADH-gene consisted of 1,009 nucleotides coding for a protein with M _r 35,964. A recombinant Escherichia coli JM109 strain harboring the expression plasmid, pKK-CPA1, produced (R)-1,3-BDO (93.5% ee, 94.7% yield) from the racemate without any additive to regenerate NAD⁺ from NADH.