Project description:Purpose: The identification of genes and regulatory pathways involved in the susceptibility to ciclopirox activity Methods: mRNA profiles of ciclopirox treatment in wild-type strain using Illumina sequencing. Results: Using an optimized data analysis workflow, we mapped about 1 million sequence reads per sample to the E. coli K-12 genome and identified 4,290 transcripts in wild-type with our without sublethal concentration of ciclopirox (12.5 ug/mL). Overall, this is the first genome-wide level analysis of ciclopirox as an antibacterial against Gram-negative bacteria and shown that >13 pathways were affected by ciclopirox with the change of expression level of >10 genes. Data analysis with CLRNASeq showed some differently expressed transcripts by ciclopirox treatment. Conclusions: Our study represents the first detailed analysis of ciclopirox-affected transcriptomes, with biologic replicates, generated by RNA-seq technology. The optimized data analysis workflows reported here should provide a framework for comparative investigations of expression profiles. Our results show that NGS offers a comprehensive and more accurate quantitative and qualitative evaluation of mRNA content within a cell or tissue. We conclude that RNA-seq based transcriptome characterization would expedite genetic network analyses and permit the dissection of complex biologic functions.
Project description:In the light of the increasing occurrence of antifungal resistance, there is an urgent need to search for new therapeutic strategies to overcome this phenomenon. One of the applied approaches is the synthesis of small-molecule compounds showing antifungal properties. Here we present a continuation of the research on the recently discovered anti-Candida albicans agent 4-AN. Using next generation sequencing and transcriptional analysis, we revealed that the treatment of C. albicans with 4-AN can change the expression profile of a large number of genes. The highest up-regulation was observed in the case of genes involved in cell stress, while the highest down-regulation was shown for genes coding sugar transporters. Real-time PCR analysis revealed 4-AN mediated reduction of the relative expression of genes engaged in fungal virulence (ALS1, ALS3, BCR1, CPH1, ECE1, EFG1, HWP1, HYR1, and SAP1). The determination of the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) showed that the combination of 4-AN with Amphotericin B is synergistic. Finally, flow cytometry analysis revealed that the compound induces mainly necrosis in Candida albicans cells.
Project description:A 13-(4-isopropylbenzyl)berberine derivative (named KR-72) was synthesized and examined for antifungal activities against various human pathogenic fungi. The synthesized compound exhibited remarkably enhanced antifungal activity than berberine and berberrubine. Regardless of the potent antifungal activity of KR-72, its mode of action and the physiological impacts of the drug on fungal metabolism remain elusive. In this study, we performed the DNA microarray-based transcriptome analysis to identify KR-72 responsive genes and employed reverse genetics approaches to characterize their functions in Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes fatal meningoencephalitis in humans. First, KR-72 treatment altered in remodeling of transcriptome profiles in C. neoformans. Genes involved in translation and transcription were mostly upregulated, while those involved in cytoskeleton, intracellular trafficking, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and energy production were downregulated. Supporting this, KR-72 has a strong synergistic effect with a calcineurin inhibitor FK506, while it has an antagonistic effect with polyene drug. Finally, KR-72 treatment promoted expression of ECM16, NOP14, HSP10, and MGE1, which we proved to be essential for the growth of C. neoformans. Among them, KR-72 mediated induction of MGE1 also appeared to hamper the viability of C. neoformans, potentially through impaired cell cycle or DNA repair system. This study will proposed mode of action for KR-72.
Project description:A 13-(4-isopropylbenzyl)berberine derivative (named KR-72) was synthesized and examined for antifungal activities against various human pathogenic fungi. The synthesized compound exhibited remarkably enhanced antifungal activity than berberine and berberrubine. Regardless of the potent antifungal activity of KR-72, its mode of action and the physiological impacts of the drug on fungal metabolism remain elusive. In this study, we performed the DNA microarray-based transcriptome analysis to identify KR-72 responsive genes and employed reverse genetics approaches to characterize their functions in Cryptococcus neoformans, which causes fatal meningoencephalitis in humans. First, KR-72 treatment altered in remodeling of transcriptome profiles in C. neoformans. Genes involved in translation and transcription were mostly upregulated, while those involved in cytoskeleton, intracellular trafficking, lipid and carbohydrate metabolism and energy production were downregulated. Supporting this, KR-72 has a strong synergistic effect with a calcineurin inhibitor FK506, while it has an antagonistic effect with polyene drug. Finally, KR-72 treatment promoted expression of ECM16, NOP14, HSP10, and MGE1, which we proved to be essential for the growth of C. neoformans. Among them, KR-72 mediated induction of MGE1 also appeared to hamper the viability of C. neoformans, potentially through impaired cell cycle or DNA repair system. This study will proposed mode of action for KR-72. The six slides of Cryptococcus_neoformans 3X20K are used in this analysis, 3 biological replicate experiments are performed, total RNAs are extracted under 2 conditions (with or without treatment of KR-72 with H99 (H99 Wild type strain (Cryptococcus neoformans var. grubii serotype A). We use the KR-72 non-treated RNAs from this experiment as a control RNA. We use Cy5 as Sample dye and Cy3 as a control dye.
Project description:The transcription factor CrzA influences cell wall organization in the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus fumigatus, and also binds to the promoter regions of chitin synthase genes upon exposure to the antifungal drug caspofungin. To gain an overview of the genes directly regulated by CrzA, the CrzA binding sites were determined genome-wide by ChIP-seq
Project description:Fungal infections have become a clinical challenge due to the emergence of drug-resistance of invasive fungi and a rapid increase of novel pathogens. The development of drug resistance has further restricted the use of antifungal agents. Therefore, there is anurgentneedto searchforalternativetreatmentoptions for Cryptococcus neoformans (C. neoformans). Disulfiram (DSF) has a high human safety profile and promising applications as an antiviral, antifungal, antiparasitic, and anticancer agent. In contrast, the effect of DSF on Cryptococcus has yet to be thoroughly researched. This study investigated the antifungal effect and mechanism of DSF againstC. neoformansto provide a new theoretical foundation for treating Cryptococcal infections. In vitro studies demonstrated that DSF inhibitedCryptococcusat minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1.0 to 8.0 μg/mL. Combined antifungal effects were also observed with 5-fluorocytosine, amphotericin B, terbinafine, or ketoconazole. In vivo, DSF exerted asignificantprotectiveeffectforGalleria mellonella infected with C. neoformans.Mechanistic investigations showed that DSF dose-dependently inhibited the melanin, urease, acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, capsule, and biofilm formation or viability ofC. neoformans.Further study indicated DSF affectedC. neoformansby interfering with multiple biological pathways, including replication, metabolism, membrane transport, and biological enzyme activity. Potentially essential targets of these pathways included acetaldehyde dehydrogenase, catalase, ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABC transporter) AFR2, and iron-sulfur cluster transporter ATM1. These findings contribute to the understanding of mechanisms inC. neoformans, and provide new insights for the application of DSF.
Project description:Our aim is to determine the metabolic effects of increasing doses of an antifungal agent on C. albicans metabolism (untargeted, steady state metabolomics). We will culture in vitro Candida cells to the mid-logarithmic growth in liquid media (RPMI-1640) at 37°C and then inoculate biological replicates (1ml) onto 22mm nitrocellulose filters under vocuum filtration in sterile conditions. Subsequently, isolates will be cultivated to midlogarithmic phase of growth on the same agar (RPMI-1640) to which the antifungal agent has been added at a range of concentrations to achieve doses equivalent to 0 MIC (no drug), 0.0625 MIC, 0.125 MIC, 0.25 MIC, 0.5 MIC and 1.0 MIC at 37°C. At mid-logarithmic phase of growth (12h) replicates will be metabolically quenched by immersion into a solvent mixture of 40% acetonitrile: 40% methanol: 20% water precooled at -40°C. The resulting quenched isolate/solvent mixtrue will be mechanically lysed by bead-beating with 0.1mm Zirconia beads in a tissue homogenizer and then centrifuged to seperate out cell wall components. Supernatants will be removed and stored at -80°C until they will be sent to SECIM facility.
Project description:A systematic approach allowing the identification of the molecular way of action of novel potential drugs still represents the golden-tool for drug-discovery researchers. While high-throughput screening technologies of large libraries is now well established, the assessment of the drug targets and mechanism of action is still under development. Taking advantage of the yeast model Saccharomyces cerevisiae, we herein applied BarSeq, a Next Generation Sequencing based method to the analysis of both haploinsufficiency and homozygous fitness effects of a novel antifungal drug compared to the well-known antifungal, ketoconazole. Integrative bioinformatic analysis of BarSeq, whole genome expression analysis and classical biological assays identified the target and cell pathways affected by the novel antifungal. Confirmation of the effects observed in the yeast model as well as in pathogenic fungi further demonstrated the reliability of the multi-sided approach and the novelty of the targets and mode of action of the new class of molecules studied that thus represent a valuable source of novel antifungals.