Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicans

Candidiasis caused by Candida albicans infection has long been a serious human health problem. The pathogenicity of C. albicans is mainly due to its virulence factors, which are novel targets of antifungal drugs for low risk of resistance development. In this study, we identified a maleimide compoun...

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Main Authors: Ying Li, Chaoqun Chen, Liu Cong, Shanshan Mao, Mingzhu Shan, Zibing Han, Jiayi Mao, Zhiyu Xie, Zuobin Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2023-12-01
Series:Virulence
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Online Access:https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2023.2230009
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author Ying Li
Chaoqun Chen
Liu Cong
Shanshan Mao
Mingzhu Shan
Zibing Han
Jiayi Mao
Zhiyu Xie
Zuobin Zhu
author_facet Ying Li
Chaoqun Chen
Liu Cong
Shanshan Mao
Mingzhu Shan
Zibing Han
Jiayi Mao
Zhiyu Xie
Zuobin Zhu
author_sort Ying Li
collection DOAJ
description Candidiasis caused by Candida albicans infection has long been a serious human health problem. The pathogenicity of C. albicans is mainly due to its virulence factors, which are novel targets of antifungal drugs for low risk of resistance development. In this study, we identified a maleimide compound [1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1hydro-pyrrole-2,5-dione, MPD] that exerts effective anti-virulence activity. It could inhibit the process of adhesion, filamentation, and biofilm formation in C. albicans. In addition, it exhibited low cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, and drug resistance development. Moreover, in Galleria mellonella-C. albicans (in vivo) infection model, the survival time of infected larvae was significantly prolonged under the treatment of MPD. Further, mechanism research revealed that MPD increased farnesol secretion by upregulating the expression of Dpp3. The increased farnesol inhibited the activity of Cdc35, which then decreased the intracellular cAMP content resulting in the inhibition of virulence factors via the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway. In all, this study evaluated the inhibitory effect of MPD on various virulence factors of C. albicans and identified the underlying mechanisms. This suggests a potential application of MPD to overcome fungal infections in clinics.
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publishDate 2023-12-01
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series Virulence
spelling doaj-art-89a8019186654fcab8c19b31fe968aec2025-08-20T03:32:18ZengTaylor & Francis GroupVirulence2150-55942150-56082023-12-0114110.1080/21505594.2023.2230009Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicansYing Li0Chaoqun Chen1Liu Cong2Shanshan Mao3Mingzhu Shan4Zibing Han5Jiayi Mao6Zhiyu Xie7Zuobin Zhu8School of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaSchool of Medical Technology, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaDepartment of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Micro-Nano Materials for Energy Storage and Conversion of Henan Province, Institute of Surface Micro and Nano Materials, College of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Xuchang University, Xuchang, ChinaDepartment of Genetics, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, ChinaCandidiasis caused by Candida albicans infection has long been a serious human health problem. The pathogenicity of C. albicans is mainly due to its virulence factors, which are novel targets of antifungal drugs for low risk of resistance development. In this study, we identified a maleimide compound [1-(4-methoxyphenyl)-1hydro-pyrrole-2,5-dione, MPD] that exerts effective anti-virulence activity. It could inhibit the process of adhesion, filamentation, and biofilm formation in C. albicans. In addition, it exhibited low cytotoxicity, hemolytic activity, and drug resistance development. Moreover, in Galleria mellonella-C. albicans (in vivo) infection model, the survival time of infected larvae was significantly prolonged under the treatment of MPD. Further, mechanism research revealed that MPD increased farnesol secretion by upregulating the expression of Dpp3. The increased farnesol inhibited the activity of Cdc35, which then decreased the intracellular cAMP content resulting in the inhibition of virulence factors via the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway. In all, this study evaluated the inhibitory effect of MPD on various virulence factors of C. albicans and identified the underlying mechanisms. This suggests a potential application of MPD to overcome fungal infections in clinics.https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2023.2230009MPDCandida albicansvirulence factorshyphaecAMP
spellingShingle Ying Li
Chaoqun Chen
Liu Cong
Shanshan Mao
Mingzhu Shan
Zibing Han
Jiayi Mao
Zhiyu Xie
Zuobin Zhu
Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicans
Virulence
MPD
Candida albicans
virulence factors
hyphae
cAMP
title Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicans
title_full Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicans
title_fullStr Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicans
title_full_unstemmed Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicans
title_short Inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of Candida albicans
title_sort inhibitory effects of a maleimide compound on the virulence factors of candida albicans
topic MPD
Candida albicans
virulence factors
hyphae
cAMP
url https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/10.1080/21505594.2023.2230009
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