Reduction in Pathogenicity in Yeast-like Fungi by Farnesol in Quail Model.

Nadezhda Sachivkina,Maria Molchanova,Ekaterina Lenchenko,Natalia Zhabo,Arfenia Karamyan,Alfia Ibragimova,Olga Kuznetsova,Elena Vasilieva

doi:10.3390/ani12040489

Abstract

Simple SummaryDespite the discoveries of new therapeutic antimycotics, the development of drug resistance is still the main clinical challenge in the treatment of mycoses. Data on the presence of new phytopreparations, along with the direct fungicidal effects that interfere with the resistance of fungal pathogens located in the biofilm, are of great interest. The use of these compounds as monotherapies or in combination with known antimycotics may be an effective strategy for preventing and/or destroying Candida biofilms found on the surface of biomedical devices and in vivo. The action mechanisms of farnesol in fungi have yet to be fully understood, but they are complex and likely include several mechanisms such as growth inhibition and apoptosis promotion.Candida albicans was the first eukaryotic microorganism to exhibit quorum-sensing through the secretion of the sesquiterpene E, farnesol. This molecule is generated by dephosphorylation of farnesyl pyrophosphate in the mevalonate biosynthetic pathway in mammalian and yeast cells. Exogenous farnesol inhibits yeast-to-hyphal formation in a concentration- and time-dependent manner at the earliest stage of hyphal development. Much research has been devoted to studying the role of farnesol as an inhibitor of hyphal morphogenesis; however, little research has been published regarding the in vivo impacts of farnesol on fungal virulence and the development of Candida infection. While other studies have examined the impact of multiple doses of farnesol in addition to antimycotics, we hypothesize that C. albicans treated with a single dose of this quorum-sensing molecule could reduce fungal virulence in a quail model.

Highlights

Yeast-like fungi (YLF) of the genus Candida are unicellular microorganisms, aerobes, of relatively large size and rounded shape, and belong to conditionally pathogenic microorganisms
Our research focused on four investigations: (1) we analyzed the characteristic aspects of the biofilm development of this YLF strain; (2) we histopathologically analyzed the development of gastrointestinal candidiasis in quails; (3) we compared the hematological blood and serum biochemical analyses; and (4) we observed the changes in microbial composition in quail feces under the action of farnesol
Phenotypic Characteristics of C. albicans Strain Used in the Study

Summary

Introduction

Yeast-like fungi (YLF) of the genus Candida are unicellular microorganisms, aerobes, of relatively large size and rounded shape, and belong to conditionally pathogenic microorganisms. Fungi of the genus Candida are widespread. They live on household items and food, primarily on sugar-rich vegetables and fruits, in dairy products as well as in the internal cavities of mammals including humans [3,4,5]. Saprophytic fungi of the genus Candida are capable of acquiring pathogenic properties under certain conditions. In such cases, single or few elements of the fungus (blastospores), which are usually located on healthy mucous membranes, begin to multiply intensively, forming budding cells and multiple filamentous forms (pseudomycelia). The fungus cells acquiring pathogenic properties attach to the epithelial cells of the mucous membrane, primarily to cells rich in glycogen. The fungi invade the epithelial cells and parasitize their cytoplasm and nuclei, destroying the host cell [6,7]

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