Anti-inflammatory drugs selectively target sporangium development in Mucor

Abstract

It is known that acetylsalicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory and anti-mitochondrial drug, targets structure development and functions of yeasts depending on elevated levels of mitochondrial activity. Using antibody probes, we previously reported that sporangia of Mucor circinelloides also contain increased mitochondrial activity, yielding high levels of 3-hydroxyoxylipins. This was, however, not found in Mortierella alpina (subgenus Mortierella). In this study we report that acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) also targets sporangium development of Mucor circinelloides selectively, while hyphae with lower levels of mitochondrial activity are more resistant. Similar results were obtained when the anti-inflammatory compounds benzoic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and salicylic acid were tested. The anti-inflammatory drugs exerted similar effects on this dimorphic fungus as found under oxygen-limited conditions. Interestingly, sporangium development of Mortierella alpina was found not to be selectively targeted by these drugs. Mortierella alpina, which could not exhibit dimorphic growth under oxygen-limited conditions, was also more sensitive to the anti-inflammatory drugs when compared with Mucor circinelloides. These results prompt further research to assess the applicability of these antimitochondrial antifungals to protect plants and animals against Mucor infections.

Beyond plant defense: insights on the potential of salicylic and methylsalicylic acid to contain growth of the phytopathogen Botrytis cinerea

“…In good agreement with previous studies showing that SA (Prithiviraj et al, 1997 ; Amborabé et al, 2002 ; Cory and Cory, 2005 ; Meyer et al, 2006 ; Wu et al, 2008 ; Qi et al, 2012 ; Zhou et al, 2012 ; Panahirad et al, 2014 ), ASA (Alem and Douglas, 2004 ; Stepanović et al, 2004 ; Leeuw et al, 2007 , 2009 ; Moret et al, 2007 ; Sebolai et al, 2008 ; Trofa et al, 2009 ; Swart et al, 2011 ; Zhou et al, 2012 ) or MeSA (Schadler and George, 2006 ) can directly impede growth in several fungal species, the present study documents that of the four compounds analyzed (ASA, MeSA, SA, SSA) three of them (SA, ASA, and MeSA) showed fungistatic activity toward Botrytis . That SSA was not active in blocking Botrytis growth also agrees with the absence of reports reporting a fungistatic activity for this molecule.…”

“…In addition the fact that SA (Prithiviraj et al, 1997 ; Amborabé et al, 2002 ; Cory and Cory, 2005 ; Meyer et al, 2006 ; Wu et al, 2008 ; Qi et al, 2012 ; Zhou et al, 2012 ; Panahirad et al, 2014 ), acetylsalicylic acid (ASA; 2-acetoxybenzoic acid) (Alem and Douglas, 2004 ; Stepanović et al, 2004 ; Leeuw et al, 2007 , 2009 ; Moret et al, 2007 ; Sebolai et al, 2008 ; Trofa et al, 2009 ; Swart et al, 2011 ; Zhou et al, 2012 ) or MeSA (Schadler and George, 2006 ) can directly impede fungal growth has been repeatedly reported but the mechanisms of this direct attack process are unknown.…”

The influence of mitochondrial inhibitors on the life cycle of Phytophthora

“…Similar results have been obtained with various other fungi and fungi-like organisms where the fruiting structures (i.e. sexual phase, phialide-conidia complex and sporangia) showed increased mitochondria populations (Leeuw et al, 2009;Ncango et al, 2010).…”

“…They obtained positive results for fruiting structures (sporangia and phialide-conidia structures) for various non-yeast fungi and fungi-like organisms including Aspergillus, Mucor and Rhizopus. Consequently they decided to expand the hypothesis (Leeuw et al, 2009;Ncango et al, 2010).…”

Mucormicosis pulmonar asociada a SARS- CoV-2

“…Recientemente, se introdujeron dos ensayos de PCR en tiempo real, de los cuales uno se desarrolló internamente y otro está disponible como un kit comercial (Mucorgenius™ de Pathonostics, Países Bajos), para el diagnóstico de la mucormicosis (Leeuw et al, 2009).…”