Molecular targets of biofabricated silver nanoparticles in Candida albicans.

We have analyzed the expressions of genes which regulate Ras-cAMP-EFG1 and CEK1-MAPK pathways involved in yeast to hyphal form morphogenesis in Candida albicans. The expression profile of genes associated with serum-induced morphogenesis showed reduced expressions of genes involved in these pathways by the treatment with biofabricated silver nanoparticles. Cell elongation gene, ECE1, was downregulated by 5.1 fold by the treatment of silver nanoparticles. Expression of hyphal inducer gene, TEC1 was downregulated by 6.28 fold. Negative regulators of yeast to hyphal transition, TUP1 and RFG1 were downregulated by 2.45 and 5.43 fold, respectively. Current study suggests that silver nanoparticles affect gene expression and may subsequently reduce virulence in C. albicans. Targeting genes involved in virulence may be an acceptable novel treatment strategy for pathogenic fungal infections.

Anticancer Drugs as Antibiofilm Agents in Candida albicans: Potential Targets.

The human pathogen Candida albicans can grow as a biofilm on host tissues and on the surfaces of different prosthetic devices in a patient's body. Various studies have reported that biofilms formed by C. albicans are resistant to most of the currently used antibiotics including the widely prescribed drug, fluconazole. As such, novel strategies for the treatment of drug-resistant biofilms are required. Drug repositioning or the use of drugs outside their unique indication has the potential to radically change drug development. We have tested 16 anticancer drugs for their activities against C. albicans. For the first time, we are reporting repositioning of anticancer drugs as potential antibiofilm agents in C. albicans. Nine categories of drugs with different chemical modes of action effectively inhibited biofilms at a concentration range of 0.25-4 mg/mL, establishing their potential for the inhibition of biofilms. Human genes targeted by these drugs show significant identity with their homologous genes in C. albicans at the amino acid as well as nucleotide levels. This study indicates that anticancer drugs could be potential candidates for repositioning as anti-Candida biofilm agents.

The Dietary Food Components Capric Acid and Caprylic Acid Inhibit Virulence Factors in Candida albicans Through Multitargeting.

Capric acid and caprylic acid are the dietary food components. They are found to inhibit the virulence factors like morphogenesis, adhesion, and biofilm formation in the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. Our study demonstrated that yeast-to-hyphal signal transduction pathways were affected by capric acid and caprylic acid. The expression profile of genes associated with serum-induced morphogenesis showed reduced expressions of Cdc35, Hwp1, Hst7, and Cph1 by the treatment with both the fatty acids. Cell elongation gene, Ece1, was surprisingly downregulated by 5208-fold by the treatment of caprylic acid. Nrg1 and Tup1, negative regulators of hyphal formation, were overexpressed in presence of capric or caprylic acid. Cell cycle studies revealed that capric and caprylic acids arrested cell cycle at G2/M and S phase. Targeting the virulence factors like yeast-to-hyphal transition is efficacious for treatment of opportunistic fungal infections. This research suggests that both capric and caprylic acid may be effective interventions for treating C. albicans yeast infections.