Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogen causes fungal infections. This opportunistic pathogen can form biofilms comprised of yeast, hyphae and pseudo hyphal elements, and the hyphal form C. albicans considered as probable virulence factor. We investigated the antibiofilm activities of 13 quinones and anthraquinones related compounds against C. albicans biofilms by using crystal violet and 2,3-bis (2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfo-phenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assays to assess inhibitions of biofilm growth. Morphological changes in biofilms and biofilm thicknesses were determined by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively. It was found alizarin (1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone) and chrysazin (1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone) suppressed C. albicans biofilm formation. Interestingly, alizarin and chrysazin at only 2 μg/ml effectively inhibited hyphal formation and prolonged the survival of C. albicans infected Caenorhabditis elegans, thus showing a distinct antivirulent potential. A structural activity relationship study of alizarin and 6 other anthraquinones showed the presence of a hydroxyl group at C-1 position which is important for antibiofilm and antifilamentation activities. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that alizarin downregulated the expression of several hypha-specific and biofilm related genes (ALS3, ECE1, ECE2, and RBT1). Furthermore, unlike the commercial antifungal drug fluconazole, no acute toxic effect was observed when uninfected nematodes were exposed to alizarin at concentrations up to 1 mg/ml. The results of this study indicate alizarin suppresses the virulence of C. albicans in vivo which suggests alizarin may be considered as a potential candidate for further investigations to develop antifungal agent against fungal pathogen in vivo.

Candida albicans is one of the most common fungal pathogens, and causes systemic and invasive infections in humans. C. albicans biofilms are composed of yeast and hyphal and pseudohyphal elements, and the transition of yeast to the hyphal stage could be a virulence factor. In this study, diverse essential oils were initially investigated for anti-biofilm activity against C. albicans strains, and cascarilla bark oil and helichrysum oil and their components α-longipinene (a major constituent of both) and linalool were found to markedly inhibit biofilm formation without affecting planktonic cell growth. Moreover, α-longipinene and linalool were found to synergistically reduce biofilm formation. Notably, treatments with cascarilla bark oil, helichrysum oil, α-longipinene, or linalool clearly inhibited hyphal formation, and this appeared to be largely responsible for their anti-biofilm effect. Furthermore, the two essential oils, α-longipinene and linalool, reduced C. albicans virulence in Caenorhabditis elegans.

Candida albicans can form biofilms composed of yeast, hyphal, and pseudohyphal elements, and C. albicans cells in the hyphal stage could be a virulence factor. The present study describes the chemical composition, antibiofilm, and antihyphal activities of cedar leaf essential oil (CLEO), which was found to possess remarkable antibiofilm activity against C. albicans but not to affect its planktonic cell growth. Nineteen components were identified in CLEO by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and phenolics were the main constituents. Of these, camphor, fenchone, fenchyl alcohol, α-thujone, and borneol significantly reduced C. albicans biofilm formation. Notably, treatments with CLEO, camphor, or fenchyl alcohol at 0.01% clearly inhibited hyphal formation, and this inhibition appeared to be largely responsible for their antibiofilm effects. Transcriptomic analyses indicated that camphor and fenchyl alcohol downregulated some hypha-specific and biofilm related genes (ECE1, ECE2, RBT1, and EED1). Furthermore, camphor and fenchyl alcohol reduced C. albicans virulence in a Caenorhabditis elegans nematode model. These results demonstrate CLEO, camphor, and fenchyl alcohol might be useful for controlling C. albicans infections.

SummaryCertain pathogenic bacteria and yeast form biofilms on biotic and abiotic surfaces including medical devices and implants. Hence, the development of antibiofilm coating materials becomes relevant. The virulence of those colonizing pathogens can be reduced by inhibiting biofilm formation rather than killing pathogens using excessive amounts of antimicrobials, which is touted as one of the main reasons for the development of drug resistance. Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen, and the transition of yeast cells to hyphal cells is believed to be a crucial virulence factor. Previous studies have shown that indole and its derivatives possess antivirulence properties against various bacterial pathogens. In this study, we used various indole derivatives to investigate biofilm‐inhibiting activity against C. albicans. Our study revealed that 7‐benzyloxyindole, 4‐fluoroindole and 5‐iodoindole effectively inhibited biofilm formation compared to the antifungal agent fluconazole. Particularly, 7‐benzyloxyindole at 0.02 mM (4.5 μg ml−1) significantly reduced C. albicans biofilm formation, but had no effect on planktonic cells, and this finding was confirmed by a 2,3‐bis‐(2‐methoxy‐4‐nitro‐5‐sulfophenyl)‐2H‐tetrazolium‐5‐carboxanilide (XTT) assay and three‐dimensional confocal laser scanning microscopy. Scanning electron microscopy analyses revealed that 7‐benzyloxyindole effectively inhibited hyphal formation, which explains biofilm inhibition. Transcriptomic analysis showed that 7‐benzyloxyindole downregulated the expressions of several hypha/biofilm‐related genes (ALS3,ECE1,HWP1 and RBT1). A C. albicans‐infected Caenorhabditis elegans model system was used to confirm the antivirulence efficacy of 7‐benzyloxyindole.

Abstract:Onion bulbing is an important agricultural trait affecting economic value and is regulated by flowering-related genes. FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)-like gene function is crucial for the initiation of flowering in various plant species and also in asexual reproduction in tuber plants. By employing various computational analysis using RNA-Seq data, we identified eight FT-like genes (AcFT) encoding PEBP (phosphatidylethanolamine-binding protein) domains in Allium cepa. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses of FT-like proteins revealed six proteins that were identical to previously reported AcFT1-6 proteins, as well as one (AcFT7) with a highly conserved region shared with AcFT6 and another (comp106231) with low similarity to MFT protein, but containing a PEBP domain. Homology modelling of AcFT7 proteins showed similar structures and conservation of amino acids crucial for function in AtFT (Arabidopsis) and Hd3a (rice), with variation in the C-terminal region. Further, we analyzed AcFT expression patterns in different transitional stages, as well as under SD (short-day), LD (long-day), and drought treatment in two contrasting genotypic lines EM (early maturation, 36101) and LM (late maturation, 36122). The FT transcript levels were greatly affected by various environmental factors such as photoperiod, temperature and drought. Our results suggest that AcFT7 is a member of the FT-like genes in Allium cepa and may be involved in regulation of onion bulbing, similar to other FT genes. In addition, AcFT4 and AcFT7 could be involved in establishing the difference in timing of bulb maturity between the two contrasting onion lines.