In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilities

ABSTRACT Candida auris is a rapidly spreading multidrug-resistant fungus that causes fatal infections under certain global conditions. Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH) are stable derivatives of houttuynin (decyl aldehyde) extracted from Houttuynia cordata, both possessing...

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Main Authors: Guangyuan Yang, Ruotong Yang, Xiaoxiao Zhu, Qianwen Xu, Xiaojia Niu, Chengui Miao, Wenfan Wei, Changzhong Wang, Tianming Wang, Daqiang Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Society for Microbiology 2025-08-01
Series:Microbiology Spectrum
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Online Access:https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00222-25
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author Guangyuan Yang
Ruotong Yang
Xiaoxiao Zhu
Qianwen Xu
Xiaojia Niu
Chengui Miao
Wenfan Wei
Changzhong Wang
Tianming Wang
Daqiang Wu
author_facet Guangyuan Yang
Ruotong Yang
Xiaoxiao Zhu
Qianwen Xu
Xiaojia Niu
Chengui Miao
Wenfan Wei
Changzhong Wang
Tianming Wang
Daqiang Wu
author_sort Guangyuan Yang
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Candida auris is a rapidly spreading multidrug-resistant fungus that causes fatal infections under certain global conditions. Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH) are stable derivatives of houttuynin (decyl aldehyde) extracted from Houttuynia cordata, both possessing antifungal and antibacterial pharmacological activities. However, the inhibitory effects of SH and SNH on C. auris remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the potential activity and possible mechanisms of SH and SNH as antifungal agents against C. auris. First, our results showed that SH and SNH exhibit significantly inhibitory activity against fluconazole-resistant C. auris strains, but do not possess effective fungicidal activity. In addition, transcriptome and RT-qPCR studies revealed that SH and SNH can repress the expression of genes related to adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation. Next, we observed that SH and SNH can disrupt the adhesion and aggregation of early-stage C. auris. Furthermore, using the XTT assay, crystal violet staining, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we found that the biofilm formation ability of C. auris was disrupted by SH and SNH. We also found that SH and SNH can potentially increase chitin content and expose β-1,3-glucan in the cell wall. Finally, infection models using Galleria mellonella larvae and mice with systemic candidiasis demonstrated that SH and SNH significantly inhibited the colonization and pathological damage of C. auris in vivo. Therefore, our presented results suggest that SH and SNH can effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation to treat its colonization and pathological damage to the host of C. auris.IMPORTANCERecently, the annual proportion of non-C. albicans infections has been rising. The most notable characteristic of C. auris is its resistance to drugs, including multidrug resistance, which results in treatment failures and poses significant challenges in controlling its spread. Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH) are effective and stable derivatives of houttuynin (decyl aldehyde) extracted from traditional Chinese herbal medicine Houttuynia cordata, both possessing antifungal and antibacterial pharmacological activities. However, the inhibitory effects of SH and SNH on C. auris remain unclear. Through in vitro and in vivo approaches, we have demonstrated that SH and SNH can effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation to treat its colonization and pathological damage to the host of C. auris. Thus, our findings provide new insights into possible options for clinical applications in the anti-C. auris.
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spelling doaj-art-334e300346aa435f9793d1be770caf2f2025-08-20T03:44:01ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-08-0113810.1128/spectrum.00222-25In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilitiesGuangyuan Yang0Ruotong Yang1Xiaoxiao Zhu2Qianwen Xu3Xiaojia Niu4Chengui Miao5Wenfan Wei6Changzhong Wang7Tianming Wang8Daqiang Wu9Department of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaKey laboratory of Xin’an Medicine, Ministry of Education, Research Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui Academy of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaDepartment of Pathogenic Biology and Immunology, College of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, Anhui, ChinaABSTRACT Candida auris is a rapidly spreading multidrug-resistant fungus that causes fatal infections under certain global conditions. Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH) are stable derivatives of houttuynin (decyl aldehyde) extracted from Houttuynia cordata, both possessing antifungal and antibacterial pharmacological activities. However, the inhibitory effects of SH and SNH on C. auris remain unclear. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate the potential activity and possible mechanisms of SH and SNH as antifungal agents against C. auris. First, our results showed that SH and SNH exhibit significantly inhibitory activity against fluconazole-resistant C. auris strains, but do not possess effective fungicidal activity. In addition, transcriptome and RT-qPCR studies revealed that SH and SNH can repress the expression of genes related to adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation. Next, we observed that SH and SNH can disrupt the adhesion and aggregation of early-stage C. auris. Furthermore, using the XTT assay, crystal violet staining, and confocal laser scanning microscopy, we found that the biofilm formation ability of C. auris was disrupted by SH and SNH. We also found that SH and SNH can potentially increase chitin content and expose β-1,3-glucan in the cell wall. Finally, infection models using Galleria mellonella larvae and mice with systemic candidiasis demonstrated that SH and SNH significantly inhibited the colonization and pathological damage of C. auris in vivo. Therefore, our presented results suggest that SH and SNH can effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation to treat its colonization and pathological damage to the host of C. auris.IMPORTANCERecently, the annual proportion of non-C. albicans infections has been rising. The most notable characteristic of C. auris is its resistance to drugs, including multidrug resistance, which results in treatment failures and poses significant challenges in controlling its spread. Sodium houttuyfonate (SH) and sodium new houttuyfonate (SNH) are effective and stable derivatives of houttuynin (decyl aldehyde) extracted from traditional Chinese herbal medicine Houttuynia cordata, both possessing antifungal and antibacterial pharmacological activities. However, the inhibitory effects of SH and SNH on C. auris remain unclear. Through in vitro and in vivo approaches, we have demonstrated that SH and SNH can effectively inhibit the growth, adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation to treat its colonization and pathological damage to the host of C. auris. Thus, our findings provide new insights into possible options for clinical applications in the anti-C. auris.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00222-25Candida aurissodium houttuyfonatesodium new houttuyfonateadhesionaggregationbiofilm
spellingShingle Guangyuan Yang
Ruotong Yang
Xiaoxiao Zhu
Qianwen Xu
Xiaojia Niu
Chengui Miao
Wenfan Wei
Changzhong Wang
Tianming Wang
Daqiang Wu
In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilities
Microbiology Spectrum
Candida auris
sodium houttuyfonate
sodium new houttuyfonate
adhesion
aggregation
biofilm
title In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilities
title_full In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilities
title_fullStr In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilities
title_full_unstemmed In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilities
title_short In vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against Candida auris infection by affecting adhesion, aggregation, and biofilm formation abilities
title_sort in vitro and in vivo activity of sodium houttuyfonate and sodium new houttuyfonate against candida auris infection by affecting adhesion aggregation and biofilm formation abilities
topic Candida auris
sodium houttuyfonate
sodium new houttuyfonate
adhesion
aggregation
biofilm
url https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.00222-25
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