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Objective@# To investigate the effects of over expression and low expression of antisense transcripts of circular RNA cerebellar degeneration associated protein 1 (CDR1as) in Balb/C mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on factors related to osteogenesis and angiogenesis.@*Methods@#BMSCs were cultured and identified in vitro. The lentiviral (LV) vector containing the overexpressed and silenced circRNA CDR1as genes and the control lentivirus were respectively transfected into mouse BMSCs, and stable cell lines were screened. The cells were divided into the circRNACDR1as over expression group and the over expression control group, and the CircRNACDR1as low expression group and the low expression control group. The components were stained with Alizarin Red S and alkaline phosphatase after 14 and 21 days of osteoinduction; qRT-PCR was used to detect the target genes circRNA CDR1as, osteogenic differentiation markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP), runt- related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), osteocalcin (OCN), osteopontin (OPN), osterix(Osx), collagen I (COL-1), and the mRNA expression levels of vascular endothelial grown factor (VEGF) and angiogenin-1 (Ang-1). @*Results@# The results of alizarin red staining and alkaline phosphatase staining showed that the extracellular matrix calcium precipitation and ALP staining area of the over expression experimental group was greater than its control group, and those of the low expression experimental group was less than its control group. As the number of days of osteogenic induction increased, the calcium precipitation and ALP staining in each group also increased. RT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression levels of circRNA CDR1as, ALP, RUNX2, OCN, OPN, OSX, COL-1, VEGF and Ang-1 in the over expression experimental group BMSCs were significantly increased (P<0.001). In the low expression experimental group, the mRNA expression levels of circRNA CDR1as, ALP, RUNX2, OCN, OPN, OSX, COL-1, VEGF and Ang-1 in BMSCs were significantly reduced (P<0.001). @*Conclusion@# Over expression of the circRNA CDR1as gene promotes the osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis of BMSCs. Low expression of the circRNA CDR1as gene inhibits the osteogenic differentiation and angiogenesis of BMSCs.
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OBJECTIVE@#To evaluate the synergy of the Burkholderia signaling molecule cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) and fluconazole (FLU) or itraconazole (ITRA) against two azole-resistant C. albicans clinical isolates in vitro and in vivo.@*METHODS@#Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of antibiotics against two azole-resistant C. albicans were measured by the checkerboard technique, E-test, and time-kill assay. In vivo antifungal synergy testing was performed on mice. Analysis of the relative gene expression levels of the strains was conducted by quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR).@*RESULTS@#BDSF showed highly synergistic effects in combination with FLU or ITRA with a fractional inhibitory concentration index of ⪕ 0.08. BDSF was not cytotoxic to normal human foreskin fibroblast cells at concentrations of up to 300 μg/mL. The qRT-PCR results showed that the combination of BDSF and FLU/ITRA significantly inhibits the expression of the efflux pump genes CDR1 and MDR1 via suppression of the transcription factors TAC1 and MRR1, respectively, when compared with FLU or ITRA alone. No dramatic difference in the mRNA expression levels of ERG1, ERG11, and UPC2 was found, which indicates that the drug combinations do not significantly interfere with UPC2-mediated ergosterol levels. In vivo experiments revealed that combination therapy can be an effective therapeutic approach to treat candidiasis.@*CONCLUSION@#The synergistic effects of BDSF and azoles may be useful as an alternative approach to control azole-resistant Candida infections.
Subject(s)
Humans , Antifungal Agents , Pharmacology , Burkholderia cenocepacia , Chemistry , Candida albicans , Physiology , Candidiasis , Drug Therapy , Drug Resistance, Fungal , Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated , Fluconazole , Pharmacology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Triazoles , MetabolismABSTRACT
We used the antibody grafting technology to prepare anti-hCG single-domain antibodies on the basis of antigen-binding peptide to simplify the single-domain antibody preparation process and improving the biochemical stability of peptide. By using a universal single-domain antibody backbone (cAbBCII10), CDR1 or CDR3 was replaced by the hCG-binding peptide, and the grafted antibody gene sequences were synthesized and cloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pET30a(+) in fusion with a C-terminal sfGFP gene, i.e. pET30a-(His6)-cAbBCII10-CDR1/hCGBP1-sfGFP and pET30a-(His6)-cAbBCII10-CDR3/hCGBP3-sfGFP. The recombinant plasmids were transformed into E. coli BL21(DE3), and the fusion proteins were induced by IPTG. Highly soluble recombinant fusion proteins were obtained and purified by Ni-NTA affinity column. SDS-PAGE confirmed the purified protein as the target protein. The antigen-antibody binding assay showed that both the CDR1 and CDR3 grafted antibodies have hCG-binding activities. While the titers of the two grafted antibodies were similar, the binding affinity of CDR3 grafted antibody was higher than that of CDR1 grafted protein (about 2-3 times). The grafted antibodies retained the relatively high biochemical stability of the single-domain antibody backbone and were relatively thermostable and alkaline tolerant. The obtained antibodies also had a relatively high antigen-binding specificity to hCG. This study provided a reliable experimental basis for further optimization of anti-hCG single domain antibody by antibody grafting technology using antigen-binding peptide.
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To investigate the effect of CDR1/CDR2 or MDR1 genes overexpression on oxidative stress in Candida albicans,we evaluated the effect of H2O2 on cell viability in C.albicans overexpressing genes CDR1 /CDR2 or MDR1 and their parent strains.After establishing an oxidative stress model with H2O2,we detected reactive oxygen species (ROS),mitochondrial membrane potential (Δψm) and the expression of oxidative stress response-related genes (CAP1 and GRP2) and ROS clearance related-genes (SOD2 and SOD5).The results showed that C.albicans growth were inhibited by 100％ after the treatment of 5 mmol/L H2O2.HeO2 caused more ROS accumulation and Δψm reduction in parent strains than in CDR1/CDR2 or MDR1 genes overexpressed strains (P＜0.05).Compared to parent strains,the up-regulated expression of CAP1 and GRP2 were relatively less in CDR1/CDR2 or MDR1 genes overexpressed strains,moreover,the down-regulated expression of SOD2 and SOD5 were also relatively less in CDR1/CDR2 or MDR1 genes overexpressed strains (P＜0.05).In conclusion,the overexpression of CDR1/CDR2 and MDR1 genes could reduce the oxidative stress response and enhance the adaptability of C.albicans to oxidative stress.
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Introduction: The commensal yeast Candida albicans, can cause superficial or systemic candidiasis in susceptible hosts. In Chile, azole antifungals are the most widely used drugs in the treatment of candidiasis. In a previous study performed at our center, 2.1 and 1.6% of clinical isolates of C. albicans were found to be resistant to fluconazole and voriconazole, respectively. Objective: To characterize the resistance mechanisms involved in azoles resistance in Chilean clinical isolates. Methodology: Eight resistant, nine susceptible-dose dependent (SDD) and 10 susceptible strains (n: 27) were selected according to the Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-S3 criteria, from vaginal and urine samples. Mutations in the 408-488 region of the ERG11 gene were studied by sequencing, and the relative expression of ERG11 gene and efflux pump genes CDR1, CDR2 and MDR1, was evaluated by quantitative real-time PCR (q-PCR). Results: No mutations were detected in the ERG11 gene and its overexpression was found only in 12.5% of the resistant strains (1/8). The most prevalent mechanism of resistance was the over-expression of efflux pumps (62.5%; 5/8). Conclusion: The study of the expression of efflux pumps by q-PCR could be a useful diagnostic tool for early detection of azole resistance in C. albicans.
Introducción: Candida albicans es una levadura comensal capaz de causar una infección oportunista en hospederos susceptibles denominada candidiasis, que puede ser superficial o sistémica. En Chile, los antifúngicos más utilizados para el tratamiento de las candidiasis son los azoles. En un estudio previo en nuestro centro, se detectó que 2,1 y 1,6% de cepas clínicas de C. albicans fueron resistentes a fluconazol y voriconazol, respectivamente. Objetivo: Caracterizar los mecanismos de resistencia involucrados en la resistencia a azoles en cepas clínicas chilenas. Metodología: Según los criterios del Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-S3, se seleccionaron ocho cepas resistentes, nueve cepas susceptibles dosis dependiente (SDD) y 10 cepas sensibles (n: 27), aisladas de flujo vaginal y orina. Se evaluó la presencia de mutaciones en la región 408-488 del gen ERG11 por secuenciación y la expresión relativa del gen ERG11 y de los genes de bombas de eflujo CDR1, CDR2 y MDR1 por RPC en tiempo real cuantitativa (q-PCR). Resultados: No se encontraron mutaciones en el gen ERG11 y la sobre-expresión de éste sólo se presentó en 12,5% de las cepas resistentes (1/8). El mecanismo prevalente en la cepas resistentes fue la sobre-expresión de bombas de eflujo encontrándose en 62,5% de las cepas resistentes (5/8). Conclusión: El estudio de la expresión bombas de eflujo por q-PCR podría ser una herramienta diagnóstica útil para la detección temprana de resistencia a azoles en C. albicans.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Antifungal Agents/pharmacology , Candida albicans/drug effects , Fluconazole/pharmacology , Voriconazole/pharmacology , Chile , Candida albicans/genetics , Candida albicans/isolation & purification , Drug Resistance, Fungal , Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal , Genes, Fungal/genetics , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , RNA, Fungal/geneticsABSTRACT
ATP binding cassette transporter (ABCT),a membrane transporting protein existing in mammalian, bacterial, fungal and many other types of cells, is correlated with multidrug resistance in many cells. To date 10 ABCT have been described in Candida albicans , but only CDR1 and CDR2 genes were associated with multidrug resistance. Moreover, their encoding proteins Cdr1p and Cdr2p have many functions such as efflux pump and phospholipid translocator. The progress in the study of Cdr1p and Cdr2p proteins mediating multidrug resistance in Candida albicans was summarized in the paper.