Antifungal Tetrahydrocarbazole Compound CAR-8 Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Candida albicans.

The development of new effective antifungal agents is essential to combat fungal infections. Tetrahydrocarbazole has been exploited as a promising skeleton against various pathogenic microorganisms and is used to search for novel active antifungal compounds. In this study, a library composed of small tetrahydrocarbazole compounds was screened, and a potent antifungal agent, CAR-8, was identified with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 2-4 µg/mL against Candida albicans. CAR-8 showed strong fungicidal activities and killed almost all C. albicans within 3 h at a concentration of 16 µg/mL. At concentrations of 2 and 8 µg/mL, CAR-8 significantly inhibited the formation of hyphae and biofilms. Moreover, CAR-8 at 10 and 20 mg/kg reduced the fungal load and improved the survival in the C. albicans infection model in the invertebrate Galleria mellonella. Transcriptome analysis revealed significant changes in the expression of genes associated with protein processing in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), ER-associated degradation, and unfolded protein response (UPR), which suggested that CAR-8 treatment induced ER stress. Moreover, CAR-8 treatment resulted in various phenotypes similar to tunicamycin, a classical ER stress inducer. These included nonconventional splicing of HAC1 mRNA, the fragmented morphology of ER, the distribution changes of GFP-Snc1 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and cell apoptosis probably caused by ER stress. More importantly, the disruption of IRE1 or HAC1 increased the sensitivity of C. albicans to CAR-8, confirming that the UPR signaling pathway was critical for CAR-8 resistance. Overall, our study identifies a potent ER stress-induced antifungal compound that will help the discovery of new antifungal drugs.

Otilonium Bromide Exhibits Potent Antifungal Effects by Blocking Ergosterol Plasma Membrane Localization and Triggering Cytotoxic Autophagy in Candida Albicans.

Candidiasis, which presents a substantial risk to human well-being, is frequently treated with azoles. However, drug-drug interactions caused by azoles inhibiting the human CYP3A4 enzyme, together with increasing resistance of Candida species to azoles, represent serious issues with this class of drug, making it imperative to develop innovative antifungal drugs to tackle this growing clinical challenge. A drug repurposing approach is used to examine a library of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs, ultimately identifying otilonium bromide (OTB) as an exceptionally encouraging antifungal agent. Mechanistically, OTB impairs vesicle-mediated trafficking by targeting Sec31, thereby impeding the plasma membrane (PM) localization of the ergosterol transporters, such as Sip3. Consequently, OTB obstructs the movement of ergosterol across membranes and triggers cytotoxic autophagy. It is noteworthy that C. albicans encounters challenges in developing resistance to OTB because it is not a substrate for drug transporters. This study opens a new door for antifungal therapy, wherein OTB disrupts ergosterol subcellular distribution and induces cytotoxic autophagy. Additionally, it circumvents the hepatotoxicity associated with azole-mediated liver enzyme inhibition and avoids export-mediated drug resistance in C. albicans.

Pitavastatin Calcium Confers Fungicidal Properties to Fluconazole by Inhibiting Ubiquinone Biosynthesis and Generating Reactive Oxygen Species.

Fluconazole (FLC) is extensively employed for the prophylaxis and treatment of invasive fungal infections (IFIs). However, the fungistatic nature of FLC renders pathogenic fungi capable of developing tolerance towards it. Consequently, converting FLC into a fungicidal agent using adjuvants assumes significance to circumvent FLC resistance and the perpetuation of fungal infections. This drug repurposing study has successfully identified pitavastatin calcium (PIT) as a promising adjuvant for enhancing the fungicidal activity of FLC from a comprehensive library of 2372 FDA-approved drugs. PIT could render FLC fungicidal even at concentrations as low as 1 µM. The median lethal dose (LD50) of PIT was determined to be 103.6 mg/kg. We have discovered that PIT achieves its synergistic effect by inhibiting the activity of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase, thereby impeding ubiquinone biosynthesis, inducing reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, triggering apoptosis, and disrupting Golgi function. We employed a Candida albicans strain that demonstrated a notable tolerance to FLC to infect mice and found that PIT effectively augmented the antifungal efficacy of FLC against IFIs. This study is an illustrative example of how FDA-approved drugs can effectively eliminate fungal tolerance to FLC.

Geldanamycin confers fungicidal properties to azole by triggering the activation of succinate dehydrogenase.

AIMS: Azoles have been widely employed for the treatment of invasive fungal diseases; however, their efficacy is diminished as pathogenic fungi tolerate them due to their fungistatic properties. Geldanamycin (GdA) can render azoles fungicidal by inhibiting the ATPase and molecular chaperone activities of heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90). Nonetheless, the clinical applicability of GdA is restricted due to its cytotoxic ansamycin scaffold structure, its induction of cytoprotective heat shock responses, and the conservative nature of Hsp90. Hence, it is imperative to elucidate the mechanism of action of GdA to confer fungicidal properties to azoles and mitigate the toxic adverse effects associated with GdA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through various experimental methods, including the construction of gene-deleted Candida albicans mutants, in vitro drug sensitivity experiments, Western blot analysis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) assays, and succinate dehydrogenase activity assays, we identified Hsp90 client proteins associated with the tolerance of C. albicans to azoles. KEY FINDINGS: It was observed that GdA effectively hindered the entry of Hsp90 into mitochondria, resulting in the alleviation of inhibitory effect of Hsp90 on succinate dehydrogenase. Consequently, the activation of succinate dehydrogenase led to an increased production of ROS. within the mitochondria, thereby facilitating the antifungal effects of azoles against C. albicans. SIGNIFICANCE: This research presents a novel approach for conferring fungicidal properties to azoles, which involves specifically disrupting the interaction of between Hsp90 and succinate dehydrogenase rather than employing a non-specific inhibition of ATPase activity of Hsp90.

The vacuolar fusion regulated by HOPS complex promotes hyphal initiation and penetration in Candida albicans.

The transition between yeast and hyphae is crucial for regulating the commensalism and pathogenicity in Candida albicans. The mechanisms that affect the invasion of hyphae in solid media, whose deficiency is more related to the pathogenicity of C. albicans, have not been elucidated. Here, we found that the disruption of VAM6 or VPS41 which are components of the homotypic vacuolar fusion and protein sorting (HOPS) complex, or the Rab GTPase YPT72, all responsible for vacuole fusion, led to defects in hyphal growth in both liquid and solid media, but more pronounced on solid agar. The phenotypes of vac8Δ/Δ and GTR1OE-vam6Δ/Δ mutants indicated that these deficiencies are mainly caused by the reduced mechanical forces that drive agar and organs penetration, and confirmed that large vacuoles are required for hyphal mechanical penetration. In summary, our study revealed that large vacuoles generated by vacuolar fusion support hyphal penetration and provided a perspective to refocus attention on the role of solid agar in evaluating C. albicans invasion.

Discovery of a Novel Potent Tetrazole Antifungal Candidate with High Selectivity and Broad Spectrum.

Thirty-one novel albaconazole derivatives were designed and synthesized based on our previous work. All compounds exhibited potent in vitro antifungal activities against seven pathogenic fungi. Among them, tetrazole compound D2 was the most potent antifungal with MIC values of <0.008, <0.008, and 2 µg/mL against Candida albicans, Cryptococcus neoformans, and Aspergillus fumigatus, respectively, the three most common and critical priority pathogenic fungi. In addition, compound D2 also exhibited potent activity against fluconazole-resistant C. auris isolates. Notably, compound D2 showed a lower inhibitory activity in vitro against human CYP450 enzymes as well as a lower inhibitory effect on the hERG K+ channel, indicating a low risk of drug-drug interactions and QT prolongation. Moreover, with improved pharmacokinetic profiles, compound D2 showed better in vivo efficacy than albaconazole at reducing fungal burden and extending the survival of C. albicans-infected mice. Taken together, compound D2 will be further investigated as a promising candidate.

Marine-Derived Metabolites Act as Promising Antifungal Agents.

The incidence of invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) is on the rise globally, particularly among immunocompromised patients, leading to significant morbidity and mortality. Current clinical antifungal agents, such as polyenes, azoles, and echinocandins, face increasing resistance from pathogenic fungi. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development of novel antifungal drugs. Marine-derived secondary metabolites represent valuable resources that are characterized by varied chemical structures and pharmacological activities. While numerous compounds exhibiting promising antifungal activity have been identified, a comprehensive review elucidating their specific underlying mechanisms remains lacking. In this review, we have compiled a summary of antifungal compounds derived from marine organisms, highlighting their diverse mechanisms of action targeting various fungal cellular components, including the cell wall, cell membrane, mitochondria, chromosomes, drug efflux pumps, and several biological processes, including vesicular trafficking and the growth of hyphae and biofilms. This review is helpful for the subsequent development of antifungal drugs due to its summary of the antifungal mechanisms of secondary metabolites from marine organisms.

Promising immunotherapeutic targets for treating candidiasis.

In the last twenty years, there has been a significant increase in invasive fungal infections, which has corresponded with the expanding population of individuals with compromised immune systems. As a result, the mortality rate linked to these infections remains unacceptably high. The currently available antifungal drugs, such as azoles, polyenes, and echinocandins, face limitations in terms of their diversity, the escalating resistance of fungi and the occurrence of significant adverse effects. Consequently, there is an urgent need to develop new antifungal medications. Vaccines and antibodies present a promising avenue for addressing fungal infections due to their targeted antifungal properties and ability to modulate the immune response. This review investigates the structure and function of cell wall proteins, secreted proteins, and functional proteins within C. albicans. Furthermore, it seeks to analyze the current advancements and challenges in macromolecular drugs to identify new targets for the effective management of candidiasis.

Halofantrine Hydrochloride Acts as an Antioxidant Ability Inhibitor That Enhances Oxidative Stress Damage to Candida albicans.

Candida albicans, a prominent opportunistic pathogenic fungus in the human population, possesses the capacity to induce life-threatening invasive candidiasis in individuals with compromised immune systems despite the existence of antifungal medications. When faced with macrophages or neutrophils, C. albicans demonstrates its capability to endure oxidative stress through the utilization of antioxidant enzymes. Therefore, the enhancement of oxidative stress in innate immune cells against C. albicans presents a promising therapeutic approach for the treatment of invasive candidiasis. In this study, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of a library of drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). We discovered that halofantrine hydrochloride (HAL) can augment the antifungal properties of oxidative damage agents (plumbagin, menadione, and H2O2) by suppressing the response of C. albicans to reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, our investigation revealed that the inhibitory mechanism of HAL on the oxidative response is dependent on Cap1. In addition, the antifungal activity of HAL has been observed in the Galleria mellonella infection model. These findings provide evidence that targeting the oxidative stress response of C. albicans and augmenting the fungicidal capacity of oxidative damage agents hold promise as effective antifungal strategies.

From Synergy to Monotherapy: Discovery of Novel 2,4,6-Trisubstituted Triazine Hydrazone Derivatives with Potent Antifungal Potency In Vitro and In Vivo.

Invasive fungal infections pose a serious threat to public health and are associated with high mortality and incidence rates. The development of novel antifungal agents is urgently needed. Based on hit-to-lead optimization, a series of 2,4,6-trisubstituted triazine hydrazone compounds were designed, synthesized, and biological evaluation was performed, leading to the identification of compound 28 with excellent in vitro synergy (FICI range: 0.094-0.38) and improved monotherapy potency against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans and Candida auris (MIC range: 1.0-16.0 µg/mL). Moreover, 28 exhibited broad-spectrum antifungal activity against multiple pathogenic strains. Furthermore, 28 could inhibit hyphal and biofilm formation, which may be related to its ability to disrupt the fungal cell wall. Additionally, 28 significantly reduced the CFU in a mouse model of disseminated infection with candidiasis at a dose of 10 mg/kg. Overall, the triazine-based hydrazone compound 28 with low cytotoxicity, hemolysis, and favorable ADME/T characteristics represents a promising lead to further investigation.

Fungicide-tolerant persister formation during cryptococcal pulmonary infection.

Bacterial persisters, a subpopulation of genetically susceptible cells that are normally dormant and tolerant to bactericides, have been studied extensively because of their clinical importance. In comparison, much less is known about the determinants underlying fungicide-tolerant fungal persister formation in vivo. Here, we report that during mouse lung infection, Cryptococcus neoformans forms persisters that are highly tolerant to amphotericin B (AmB), the standard of care for treating cryptococcosis. By exploring stationary-phase indicator molecules and developing single-cell tracking strategies, we show that in the lung, AmB persisters are enriched in cryptococcal cells that abundantly produce stationary-phase molecules. The antioxidant ergothioneine plays a specific and key role in AmB persistence, which is conserved in phylogenetically distant fungi. Furthermore, the antidepressant sertraline (SRT) shows potent activity specifically against cryptococcal AmB persisters. Our results provide evidence for and the determinant of AmB-tolerant persister formation in pulmonary cryptococcosis, which has potential clinical significance.

Design, synthesis and evaluation of novel deferasirox derivatives with high antifungal potency in vitro and in vivo.

Here we designed and synthesized 58 deferasirox derivatives with the aim of discovering novel antifungal agents. Most compounds exhibited moderate to excellent in vitro antifungal activities against Cryptococcus neoformans H99 with MIC values ranging from 0.25 µg/mL to 16 µg/mL, including ten compounds with MIC values less than 1 µg/mL that were further screened against an additional six pathogenic fungi. This class of compounds showed high potency against Candida glabrata with MIC values ranging from <0.125 µg/mL to 1 µg/mL. We identified that compound 54 has high potency against 14 strains of Candida glabrata spp. and Cryptococcus spp. with MIC values ranging from <0.125 µg/mL to 1 µg/mL. In addition, compound 54 significantly reduced the CFU in a mouse model of disseminated infection with Cryptococcus neoformans H99 at a dose of 10 mg/kg, which is comparable to FLC. Further investigations on compound 54 are currently in progress.

Unexpected Inhibitory Effect of Octenidine Dihydrochloride on Candida albicans Filamentation by Impairing Ergosterol Biosynthesis and Disrupting Cell Membrane Integrity.

Candida albicans filamentation plays a significant role in developing both mucosal and invasive candidiasis, making it a crucial virulence factor. Consequently, exploring and identifying inhibitors that impede fungal hyphal formation presents an intriguing approach toward antifungal strategies. In line with this anti-filamentation strategy, we conducted a comprehensive screening of a library of FDA-approved drugs to identify compounds that possess inhibitory properties against hyphal growth. The compound octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT) exhibits potent inhibition of hyphal growth in C. albicans across different hyphae-inducing media at concentrations below or equal to 3.125 µM. This remarkable inhibitory effect extends to biofilm formation and the disruption of mature biofilm. The mechanism underlying OCT's inhibition of hyphal growth is likely attributed to its capacity to impede ergosterol biosynthesis and induce the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), compromising the integrity of the cell membrane. Furthermore, it has been observed that OCT demonstrates protective attributes against invasive candidiasis in Galleria mellonella larvae through its proficient eradication of C. albicans colonization in infected G. mellonella larvae by impeding hyphal formation. Although additional investigation is required to mitigate the toxicity of OCT in mammals, it possesses considerable promise as a potent filamentation inhibitor against invasive candidiasis.

Discovery of Novel 8-Hydroxyquinoline Derivatives with Potent In Vitro and In Vivo Antifungal Activity.

Fungal pathogens can cause life-threatening infections, yet current antifungals are inadequate at treating many of these, highlighting the importance of novel drug discovery. Here, we report hit compound L14, a novel 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative with potent and broad-spectrum antifungal activity. In vitro experiments exhibited that L14 had better activity and lower cytotoxicity than that of clioquinol and showed synergy in combination with fluconazole (FLC). In a Candida albicans-infected murine model, L14 at 2 mg/kg showed better in vivo efficacy than clioquinol at reducing fungal burden and extending the survival of C. albicans-infected mice. In addition, L14 alone or in combination with FLC had significant inhibitory activity against hypha and biofilm formation. Overall, our data indicated that 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative L14 has favorable pharmacokinetics and acceptable safety profiles and could be further investigated as a promising antifungal hit compound.

Natural Polyketides Act as Promising Antifungal Agents.

Invasive fungal infections present a significant risk to human health. The current arsenal of antifungal drugs is hindered by drug resistance, limited antifungal range, inadequate safety profiles, and low oral bioavailability. Consequently, there is an urgent imperative to develop novel antifungal medications for clinical application. This comprehensive review provides a summary of the antifungal properties and mechanisms exhibited by natural polyketides, encompassing macrolide polyethers, polyether polyketides, xanthone polyketides, linear polyketides, hybrid polyketide non-ribosomal peptides, and pyridine derivatives. Investigating natural polyketide compounds and their derivatives has demonstrated their remarkable efficacy and promising clinical application as antifungal agents.

Understanding fluconazole tolerance in Candida albicans: implications for effective treatment of candidiasis and combating invasive fungal infections.

OBJECTIVES: Fluconazole (FLC) tolerant phenotypes in Candida species contribute to persistent candidemia and the emergence of FLC resistance. Therefore, making FLC fungicidal and eliminating FLC tolerance are important for treating invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) caused by Candida species. However, the mechanisms of FLC tolerance in Candida species remain to be fully explored. METHODS: This review discusses the high incidence of FLC tolerance in Candida species and the importance of successfully clearing FLC tolerance in treating candidiasis. We further define and characterize FLC tolerance in C. albicans. RESULTS: This review identifies global factors affecting FLC tolerance and suggest that FLC tolerance is a strategy of C. albicans response to FLC damage whose mechanism differs from FLC resistance. CONCLUSIONS: This review highlights the significance of the cell membrane and cell wall integrity in FLC tolerance, guiding approaches to combat IFDs caused by Candida species..

The dynamic impact mechanism of China's financial conditions on real economy and international crude oil market.

As financial conditions become more complex and variable, capturing economic patterns becomes harder. The Financial Conditions Index (FCI) has gained traction as a tool to assess the performance of financial markets in nations or regions. This paragraph has created the China FCI using various financial indicators from 2002 to 2022. And with the use of statistical models like DMA-TVP-FAVAR, mixed-frequency Granger causality test, TVP-SV-VAR, and MS-VAR to analyze the relationship between China's financial condition, real economy, and the crude oil market. Different impacts were observed over time and in response to economic shocks, Results show that the fluctuation of international oil price has a negative impact on our financial condition. Therefore, the government should consider the impact of external shock factors such as international crude oil price when formulating financial policies to prevent financial risks.

Exploration of Baicalein-Core Derivatives as Potent Antifungal Agents: SAR and Mechanism Insights.

Baicalein (BE), the major component of Scutellaria Baicalensis, exhibited potently antifungal activity against drug-resistant Candida albicans, and strong inhibition on biofilm formation. Therefore, a series of baicalein-core derivatives were designed and synthesized to find more potent compounds and investigate structure-activity relationship (SAR) and mode of action (MoA). Results demonstrate that A4 and B5 exert a more potent antifungal effect (MIC80 = 0.125 µg/mL) than BE (MIC80 = 4 µg/mL) when used in combination with fluconazole (FLC), while the MIC80 of FLC dropped from 128 µg/mL to 1 µg/mL. SAR analysis indicates that the presence of 5-OH is crucial for synergistic antifungal activities, while o-dihydroxyls and vic-trihydroxyls are an essential pharmacophore, whether they are located on the A ring or the B ring of flavonoids. The MoA demonstrated that these compounds exhibited potent antifungal effects by inhibiting hypha formation of C. albicans. However, sterol composition assay and enzymatic assay conducted in vitro indicated minimal impact of these compounds on sterol biosynthesis and Eno1. These findings were further confirmed by the results of the in-silico assay, which assessed the stability of the complexes. Moreover, the inhibition of hypha of this kind of compound could be attributed to their effect on the catalytic subunit of 1,3-ß-d-glucan synthase, 1,3-ß-d-glucan-UDP glucosyltransferase and glycosyl-phosphatidylinositol protein, rather than inhibiting ergosterol biosynthesis and Eno1 activity by Induced-Fit Docking and Molecular Dynamics Simulations. This study presents potential antifungal agents with synergistic effects that can effectively inhibit hypha formation. It also provides new insights into the MoA.

Mechanism of Action for an All-in-One Monoclonal Antibody Against Staphylococcus aureus Infection.

Staphylococcus aureus is a major human pathogen associated with high mortality rates. The extensive use of antibiotics is associated with the rise of drug resistance, and exotoxins are not targeted by antibiotics. Therefore, monoclonal antibody (mAb) therapy has emerged as a promising solution to solve the clinical problems caused by refractory S aureus. Recent research suggests that the synergistic effects of several cytotoxins, including bicomponent toxins, are critical to the pathogenesis of S aureus. By comparing the amino acid sequences, researchers found that α-toxin and bicomponent toxins have high homology. Therefore, we aimed to screen an antibody, designated an all-in-one mAb, that could neutralize α-toxin and bicomponent toxins through hybridoma fusion. We found that this mAb has a significant pharmacodynamic effect within in vivo mouse models and in vitro experiments.