Expression analysis of SIR2 and SAPs1-4 gene expression in Candida albicans treated with allicin compared tofluconazole
- Author:
Alireza Khodavandi
;
Fahimeh Alizadeh
;
Nabil S Harmal
;
Shiran M Sidik,
;
Fauziah Othman
;
Zamberi Sekawi
;
Pei Pei Chong,
- Publication Type:Journal Article
- From:Tropical Biomedicine
2011;28(3):589-598
- CountryMalaysia
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
One of the main factors for virulence of fungus such as Candida albicans is the
ability to change its morphology from yeast to hyphae. Allicin, one of the volatile sulfur-oil
compounds from freshly crushed garlic, has a variety of antifungal activities. In this study,
the effect of allicin on growth and hyphae production in C. albicans as compared to fluconazole,
an antifungal drug was investigated using survival time in vitro and microscopic image at
different time intervals. Additionally, the expression of selected genes involved in hyphae
formation and development such as SIR2 and SAP1-4 was evaluated by semi-quantitative RTPCR
and relative real time RT-PCR. Allicin was shown to down-regulate the expression of
SIR2 (5.54 fold), similar to fluconazole (3.48 fold) at 2x MIC concentrations. Interestingly,
allicin had no effect on SAPs1-4 expression, whereas fluconazole was able to suppress SAP4
expression. Our findings showed that allicin was effective in suppressing hyphae development
of C. albicans to an extent that is sometimes equal or more than fluconazole. Moreover, allicin
and fluconazole seemed to share a common anti-Candida mechanism through inhibition of
SIR2 gene, while fluconazole appeared to also exert its fungistatic effect through another
pathway that involved SAP4 suppression.
- Full text:W020150615406617006044.pdf
