Nitric oxide (NO) elicits aminoglycoside tolerance in Escherichia coli but antibiotic resistance gene carriage and NO sensitivity have not co-evolved.

The spread of multidrug-resistance in Gram-negative bacterial pathogens presents a major clinical challenge, and new approaches are required to combat these organisms. Nitric oxide (NO) is a well-known antimicrobial that is produced by the immune system in response to infection, and numerous studies have demonstrated that NO is a respiratory inhibitor with both bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties. However, given that loss of aerobic respiratory complexes is known to diminish antibiotic efficacy, it was hypothesised that the potent respiratory inhibitor NO would elicit similar effects. Indeed, the current work demonstrates that pre-exposure to NO-releasers elicits a > tenfold increase in IC50 for gentamicin against pathogenic E. coli (i.e. a huge decrease in lethality). It was therefore hypothesised that hyper-sensitivity to NO may have arisen in bacterial pathogens and that this trait could promote the acquisition of antibiotic-resistance mechanisms through enabling cells to persist in the presence of toxic levels of antibiotic. To test this hypothesis, genomics and microbiological approaches were used to screen a collection of E. coli clinical isolates for antibiotic susceptibility and NO tolerance, although the data did not support a correlation between increased carriage of antibiotic resistance genes and NO tolerance. However, the current work has important implications for how antibiotic susceptibility might be measured in future (i.e. ± NO) and underlines the evolutionary advantage for bacterial pathogens to maintain tolerance to toxic levels of NO.

CO2 sensing in fungi: at the heart of metabolic signaling.

Adaptation to the changing environmental CO2 levels is essential for all living cells. In particular, microorganisms colonizing and infecting the human body are exposed to highly variable concentrations, ranging from atmospheric 0.04 to 5% and more in blood and specific host niches. Carbonic anhydrases are highly conserved metalloenzymes that enable fixation of CO2 by its conversion into bicarbonate. This process is not only crucial to ensure the supply of adequate carbon amounts for cellular metabolism, but also contributes to several signaling processes in fungi, including morphology and communication. The fungal specific carbonic anhydrase gene NCE103 is transcribed in response to CO2 availability. As recently shown, this regulation relies on the ATF/CREB transcription factor Cst6 and the AGC family protein kinase Sch9. Here, we review the regulatory mechanisms which control NCE103 expression in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae and the pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans and Candida glabrata and discuss which additional factors might contribute in this novel CO2 sensing cascade.

A mitochondrial CO2-adenylyl cyclase-cAMP signalosome controls yeast normoxic cytochrome c oxidase activity.

Mitochondria, the major source of cellular energy in the form of ATP, respond to changes in substrate availability and bioenergetic demands by employing rapid, short-term, metabolic adaptation mechanisms, such as phosphorylation-dependent protein regulation. In mammalian cells, an intramitochondrial CO2-adenylyl cyclase (AC)-cyclic AMP (cAMP)-protein kinase A (PKA) pathway regulates aerobic energy production. One target of this pathway involves phosphorylation of cytochrome c oxidase (COX) subunit 4-isoform 1 (COX4i1), which modulates COX allosteric regulation by ATP. However, the role of the CO2-sAC-cAMP-PKA signalosome in regulating COX activity and mitochondrial metabolism and its evolutionary conservation remain to be fully established. We show that in Saccharomyces cerevisiae, normoxic COX activity measured in the presence of ATP is 55% lower than in the presence of ADP. Moreover, the adenylyl cyclase Cyr1 activity is present in mitochondria, and it contributes to the ATP-mediated regulation of COX through the normoxic subunit Cox5a, homologue of human COX4i1, in a bicarbonate-sensitive manner. Furthermore, we have identified 2 phosphorylation targets in Cox5a (T65 and S43) that modulate its allosteric regulation by ATP. These residues are not conserved in the Cox5b-containing hypoxic enzyme, which is not regulated by ATP. We conclude that across evolution, a CO2-sAC-cAMP-PKA axis regulates normoxic COX activity.

The bZIP transcription factor Rca1p is a central regulator of a novel CO2 sensing pathway in yeast.

Like many organisms the fungal pathogen Candida albicans senses changes in the environmental CO(2) concentration. This response involves two major proteins: adenylyl cyclase and carbonic anhydrase (CA). Here, we demonstrate that CA expression is tightly controlled by the availability of CO(2) and identify the bZIP transcription factor Rca1p as the first CO(2) regulator of CA expression in yeast. We show that Rca1p upregulates CA expression during contact with mammalian phagocytes and demonstrate that serine 124 is critical for Rca1p signaling, which occurs independently of adenylyl cyclase. ChIP-chip analysis and the identification of Rca1p orthologs in the model yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Cst6p) point to the broad significance of this novel pathway in fungi. By using advanced microscopy we visualize for the first time the impact of CO(2) build-up on gene expression in entire fungal populations with an exceptional level of detail. Our results present the bZIP protein Rca1p as the first fungal regulator of carbonic anhydrase, and reveal the existence of an adenylyl cyclase independent CO(2) sensing pathway in yeast. Rca1p appears to regulate cellular metabolism in response to CO(2) availability in environments as diverse as the phagosome, yeast communities or liquid culture.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors: inhibition of the ß-class enzyme from the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata with sulfonamides, sulfamates and sulfamides.

The fungal pathogen Candida glabrata encodes for a ß-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), CgNce103, recently discovered. Only anions have been investigated as CgNce103 inhibitors up until now. Here we report the first sulfonamides inhibition study of this enzyme. Simple sulfonamides showed weak or moderate CgNce103 inhibitory properties, whereas acetazolamide, and a series of 4-substituted ureido-benzene-sulfonamides, sulfamates and sulfamides showed effective CgNce103 inhibitory properties, with KIs in the range of 4.1-115 nM, being also ineffective as human CA II inhibitors. As there is significant resistance of C. glabrata clinical isolates to many classical antifungal agents, inhibition of the ß-CA from this organism may allow an interesting means of controlling the pathogen growth, eventually leading to antifungals with a novel mechanism of action.

Carbonic anhydrase regulation and CO(2) sensing in the fungal pathogen Candida glabrata involves a novel Rca1p ortholog.

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a ubiquitous gas present at 0.0391% in atmospheric air and 5.5% in human blood. It forms part of numerous carboxylation and decarboxylation reactions carried out in every cell. Carbonic anhydrases (CA) enhance the hydration of CO2 to generate bicarbonate, which is subsequently used in cellular metabolism. In microorganisms, including the yeasts Candida albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae, inactivation of CA leads to a growth defect in air, which is complemented in an atmosphere enriched with CO2. In this study we characterize the CA from the fungal pathogen of humans Candida glabrata, CgNce103p, and report a comparable phenotype following its inactivation. Furthermore, we show that expression of the C. glabrata CA is strongly regulated by environmental CO2 at both the protein and transcript level. Similar to what we have previously reported for C. albicans and S. cerevisiae, C. glabrata CA regulation by CO2 is independent from the cAMP-PKA pathway and requires the novel bZIP transcription factor CgRca1p. We show that CgRca1p is an ortholog of the transcription factors Rca1p from C. albicans and Cst6p from S. cerevisiae and prove that CA induction in low CO2 involves the conserved DNA-binding motif TGACGTCA located on this C. glabrata promoter. However, in contrast to what is found in C. albicans CgRca1p expression itself is not affected by CO2. Although our results suggest a high level of similarity between the CO2 sensing pathways from C. glabrata, S. cerevisiae and C. albicans, they also point out significant intrinsic differences.

CO(2) acts as a signalling molecule in populations of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans.

When colonising host-niches or non-animated medical devices, individual cells of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans expand into significant biomasses. Here we show that within such biomasses, fungal metabolically generated CO(2) acts as a communication molecule promoting the switch from yeast to filamentous growth essential for C. albicans pathology. We find that CO(2)-mediated intra-colony signalling involves the adenylyl cyclase protein (Cyr1p), a multi-sensor recently found to coordinate fungal responses to serum and bacterial peptidoglycan. We further identify Lys 1373 as essential for CO(2)/bicarbonate regulation of Cyr1p. Disruption of the CO(2)/bicarbonate receptor-site interferes selectively with C. albicans filamentation within fungal biomasses. Comparisons between the Drosophila melanogaster infection model and the mouse model of disseminated candidiasis, suggest that metabolic CO(2) sensing may be important for initial colonisation and epithelial invasion. Our results reveal the existence of a gaseous Candida signalling pathway and its molecular mechanism and provide insights into an evolutionary conserved CO(2)-signalling system.

Dithiocarbamates are strong inhibitors of the beta-class fungal carbonic anhydrases from Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata.

A series of N-mono- and N,N-disubstituted dithiocarbamates have been investigated as inhibitors of three ß-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, that is, Can2, CaNce103 and CgNce103, respectively. These enzymes were inhibited with efficacies between the subnanomolar to the micromolar range, depending on the substitution pattern at the nitrogen atom from the dithiocarbamate zinc-binding group. This new class of ß-CA inhibitors may have the potential for developing antifungal agents with a diverse mechanism of action compared to the clinically used drugs for which drug resistance was reported, and may also explain the efficacy of dithiocarbamates as agricultural antifungal agents.

The quorum-sensing molecules farnesol/homoserine lactone and dodecanol operate via distinct modes of action in Candida albicans.

Living as a commensal, Candida albicans must adapt and respond to environmental cues generated by the mammalian host and by microbes comprising the natural flora. These signals have opposing effects on C. albicans, with host cues promoting the yeast-to-hyphal transition and bacteria-derived quorum-sensing molecules inhibiting hyphal development. Hyphal development is regulated through modulation of the cyclic AMP (cAMP)/protein kinase A (PKA) signaling pathway, and it has been postulated that quorum-sensing molecules can affect filamentation by inhibiting the cAMP pathway. Here, we show that both farnesol and 3-oxo-C(12)-homoserine lactone, a quorum-sensing molecule secreted by Pseudomonas aeruginosa, block hyphal development by affecting cAMP signaling; they both directly inhibited the activity of the Candida adenylyl cyclase, Cyr1p. In contrast, the 12-carbon alcohol dodecanol appeared to modulate hyphal development and the cAMP signaling pathway without directly affecting the activity of Cyr1p. Instead, we show that dodecanol exerted its effects through a mechanism involving the C. albicans hyphal repressor, Sfl1p. Deletion of SFL1 did not affect the response to farnesol but did interfere with the response to dodecanol. Therefore, quorum sensing in C. albicans is mediated via multiple mechanisms of action. Interestingly, our experiments raise the possibility that the Burkholderia cenocepacia diffusible signal factor, BDSF, also mediates its effects via Sfl1p, suggesting that dodecanol's mode of action, but not farnesol or 3-oxo-C(12)-homoserine lactone, may be used by other quorum-sensing molecules.

A multi-protein complex controls cAMP signalling and filamentation in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans. The ability of the fungus to grow as both yeast and filamentous forms is essential for its pathogenicity. Morphogenesis of C. albicans is largely regulated through the secondary messenger cAMP, produced by the soluble adenylyl cyclase, Cyr1p. Recent evidence suggests that Cyr1p can be directly stimulated by environmental cues to increase cytoplasmic cAMP levels and thus promote hyphal development. In this issue of Molecular Microbiology, Zou et al. demonstrate that, in response to some environmental cues, Cyr1p functions as part of a tripartite complex additionally involving Cap1p and G-actin. All three proteins in the complex are required to raise cytosolic cAMP levels after stimulation with serum and bacterial peptidoglycan. The formation of such a complex highlights the importance of precise regulation of Cyr1p activity in response to host environmental cues.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of the ß-class enzymes from the fungal pathogens Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans with branched aliphatic/aromatic carboxylates and their derivatives.

The inhibition of the ß-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans (Can2) and Candida albicans (Nce103) with a series of 25 branched aliphatic and aromatic carboxylates has been investigated. Human isoforms hCA I and II were also included in the study for comparison. Aliphatic carboxylates were generally millimolar hCA I and II inhibitors and low micromolar/submicromolar ß-CA inhibitors. Aromatic carboxylates were micromolar inhibitors of the four enzymes but some of them showed low nanomolar activity against the fungal pathogenic enzymes. 4-Hydroxy- and 4-methoxy-benzoate inhibited Can2 with K(I)s of 9.5-9.9 nM. The methyl esters, hydroxamates, hydrazides and carboxamides of some of these derivatives were also effective inhibitors of the α- and ß-CAs investigated here.

CO2 enhances the formation, nutrient scavenging and drug resistance properties of C. albicans biofilms.

C. albicans is the predominant human fungal pathogen and frequently colonises medical devices, such as voice prostheses, as a biofilm. It is a dimorphic yeast that can switch between yeast and hyphal forms in response to environmental cues, a property that is essential during biofilm establishment and maturation. One such cue is the elevation of CO2 levels, as observed in exhaled breath for example. However, despite the clear medical relevance, the effect of CO2 on C. albicans biofilm growth has not been investigated to date. Here we show that physiologically relevant CO2 elevation enhances each stage of the C. albicans biofilm-forming process: from attachment through maturation to dispersion. The effects of CO2 are mediated via the Ras/cAMP/PKA signalling pathway and the central biofilm regulators Efg1, Brg1, Bcr1 and Ndt80. Biofilms grown under elevated CO2 conditions also exhibit increased azole resistance, increased Sef1-dependent iron scavenging and enhanced glucose uptake to support their rapid growth. These findings suggest that C. albicans has evolved to utilise the CO2 signal to promote biofilm formation within the host. We investigate the possibility of targeting CO2-activated processes and propose 2-deoxyglucose as a drug that may be repurposed to prevent C. albicans biofilm formation on medical airway management implants. We thus characterise the mechanisms by which CO2 promotes C. albicans biofilm formation and suggest new approaches for future preventative strategies.

Carbonic anhydrase activators: Activation of the beta-carbonic anhydrase from the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata with amines and amino acids.

The protein encoded by the NCE103 gene of Candida glabrata, a beta-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) designated as CgCA, was investigated for its activation with amines and amino acids. CgCA was weakly activated by amino acids such as l-/d-His, l-Phe, l-DOPA, and l-Trp and by histamine or dopamine (K(A)s of 21.2-37microM) but more effectively activated by d-Phe, d-DOPA, d-Trp as well as serotonin, pyridyl-alkylamines, aminoethyl-piperazine/morpholine (K(A)s of 10.1-16.7microM). The best activators were l-/d-Tyr, with activation constants of 7.1-9.5microM. This study may bring a better understanding of the catalytic/activation mechanisms of beta-CAs from pathogenic fungi.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. The beta-carbonic anhydrases from the fungal pathogens Cryptococcus neoformans and Candida albicans are strongly inhibited by substituted-phenyl-1H-indole-5-sulfonamides.

A series of 2-(hydrazinocarbonyl)-3-substituted-phenyl-1H-indole-5-sulfonamides and 1-({[5-(aminosulfonyl)-3-phenyl-1H-indol-2-yl]carbonyl}amino)-2,4,6 trimethylpyridinium perchlorates possessing various 2-, 3- or 4-substituted phenyl groups with methyl-, halogeno- and methoxy-functionalities, as well as the perfluorophenyl moiety, have been evaluated as inhibitors of the beta-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) from the pathogenic fungi Cryptococcus neoformans (Can2) and Candida albicans (CaNce103). Both enzymes were potently inhibited by these sulfonamides, K(I)s in the range of 4.4-118 nM against Can2, and of 5.1-128 against CaNce103, respectively. Minor structural changes in the 3-substituted phenyl moiety contribute significantly to the inhibitory activity. Some of the investigated sulfonamides showed promising selectivity ratios for inhibiting Can2 over the host, human enzymes CA I and II.

Carbonic anhydrase activators: activation of the beta-carbonic anhydrases from the pathogenic fungi Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans with amines and amino acids.

The proteins encoded by the Nce103 genes of Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are catalytically active beta-carbonic anhydrases (CAs, EC 4.2.1.1) playing various roles in the life cycle of these fungal pathogens, such as CO(2) sensing, regulation of capsule biosynthesis, filamentation, and adaptation of the organism to various pH and CO(2) conditions in various niches where the fungi grow. Here, we report the first activation study of these two enzymes, CaNce103 and Can2, respectively, with amines and amino acids. The C. albicans enzyme, CaNce103 was activated by amino acids such as L-/D-His, L-D-Trp, L-Tyr with K(A)s in the range of 19.5-46 microM. More effective activators were some amines such as histamine, dopamine, 2-aminoethyl-piperazine, and L-adrenaline (K(A)s of 13.2-18.5 microM). The best CaNce103 activators were L- and D-Dopa, with K(A)s of 0.96-2.5 microM. The C. neoformans enzyme, Can2, showed much lower propensity to be activated by all these amino acids and amines, which had activation constants in the range of 28.7-47.2 microM. The best Can2 activator was L-Trp. This study may help to better understand the catalytic/activation mechanisms of the beta-CAs and eventually to design CA activity modulators of such widespread enzymes in pathogenic fungi.

Quorum sensing and fungal-bacterial interactions in Candida albicans: a communicative network regulating microbial coexistence and virulence.

Microorganisms have evolved a complex signature of communication termed quorum sensing (QS), which is based on the exchange and sensing of low molecular- weight signal compounds. The ability to communicate within the microbial population gives the advantage to coordinate a groups behaviour leading to a higher fitness in the environment. The polymorphic fungus Candida albicans is an opportunistic human pathogen able to regulate virulence traits through the production of at least two QS signal molecules: farnesol and tyrosol. The ability to adopt multiple morphotypes and form biofilms on infected surfaces are the most important pathogenic characteristics regulated by QS and are of clinical relevance. In fact, traditional antimicrobial approaches are often ineffective towards these characteristics. Moreover, the intimate association between C. albicans and other pathogens, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, increases the complexity of the infection system. This review outlines the current knowledge on fungal QS and fungal-bacterial interactions emphasizing on C. albicans. Further investigations need to concentrate on the molecular mechanisms and the genetic regulation of these phenomena in order to identify putative novel therapeutic options.

Promoter regulation in Candida albicans and related species.

Regulation of gene expression has been studied extensively in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Some, but by far not all, of the findings are also applicable to Candida albicans, an important ascomycete fungal pathogen of humans. Areas of research in C. albicans include the influence of key signal transduction cascades on morphology, and the response to host-generated influences, such as host immune effector cells, blood, pH or elevated carbon dioxide. The resistance to antifungal agents and response to stress are also well researched. Conditional gene expression and reporter genes adapted to the codon usage of C. albicans are now widely used in C. albicans. Here we present a comprehensive overview of the current techniques used to investigate regulation mechanisms for promoters in C. albicans and other Candida species. In addition, we discuss reporter genes used for the study of gene expression.

Molecular networks in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans.

Candida albicans is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans. Its success as a commensal and pathogen extends from its ability to switch between both yeast and hyphal growth forms. Therefore, extensive research on this fungus has also focused on the identification and understanding of the regulatory networks behind this morphological switch. Here we review established signaling pathways, including the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascades and the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase A signaling pathway. In addition, we focus on new developments in the rapidly growing area of fungal environmental sensing, but importantly also highlight exciting new developments in the expanding field of molecular networks involved in fungal-fungal and fungal-bacterial interkingdom communication.

Carbonic anhydrase inhibitors. Inhibition of the beta-class enzyme from the pathogenic yeast Candida glabrata with anions.

A beta-carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1), the protein encoded by the NCE103 gene of Candida glabrata which also present in Candida albicans and Saccharomycescerevisiae, was cloned, purified, characterized kinetically and investigated for its inhibition by a series simple, inorganic anions such as halogenides, pseudohalogenides, bicarbonate, carbonate, nitrate, nitrite, hydrogen sulfide, bisulfite, perchlorate, sulfate and some isosteric species. The enzyme showed significant CO(2) hydrase activity, with a k(cat) of 3.8 x 10(5)s(-1) and k(cat)/K(M) of 4.8 x 10(7)M(-1)s(-1). The Cà glabrata CA (CgCA) was moderately inhibited by metal poisons (cyanide, azide, cyanate, thiocyanate, K(I)s of 0.60-1.12 mM) but strongly inhibited by bicarbonate, nitrate, nitrite and phenylarsonic acid (K(I)s of 86-98 microM). The other anions investigated showed inhibition constants in the low millimolar range, with the exception of bromide and iodide (K(I)s of 27-42 mM).

A thiabendazole sulfonamide shows potent inhibitory activity against mammalian and nematode alpha-carbonic anhydrases.

A sulfonamide derivative of the antihelmintic drug thiabendazole was prepared and investigated for inhibition of the zinc enzyme carbonic anhydrase CA (EC 4.2.1.1). Mammalian isoforms CA I-XIV and the nematode enzyme of Caenorhabditis elegans CAH-4b were included in this study. Thiabendazole-5-sulfonamide was a very effective inhibitor of CAH-4b and CA IX (K(I)s of 6.4-9.5nm) and also inhibited effectively isozymes CA I, II, IV-VII, and XII, with K(I)s in the range of 17.8-73.2nM. The high resolution X-ray crystal structure of its adduct with isozyme II evidenced the structural elements responsible for this potent inhibitory activity.