OBJECTIVETo investigate the effects of butyl alcohol extract of baitouweng decoction (BAEB) on the fungal cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), filamentation and biofilm formation of Candida tropicalis.

METHODGradual dilution method was used to determine the MIC. XTT assay was applied to determine the SMIC80. Time-Kill assay was employed to draw the Time-Kill curve. The water-hydrocarbon two-phase assay was used to measure the cell surface hydrophobicity. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was applied to observe the morphological changes of the biofilm. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was applied to determine the thickness of the biofilm. The quantification real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to detect expression changes of releated genes (UME6, ALST3 and NRG1). result: The MICs of BAEB against C. tropicalis strains are determined as 64-128 mg x L(-1). The SMIC80 s of BAEB against the biofilm of Candida tropicalis strains are determined as 256-512 mg x L(-1). Time-Kill curve results indicate that BAEB has a promise fungicidal effect at 256 and 512 mg x L(-1). SEM results shows that 512 mg x L(-1) BAEB can inhibit the formation of C. tropicalis biofilm on Silicone catheter, and the morphology of biofilm is also affected by BAEB. The thickness of C. tropicalis biofilm is reduced by BAEB according to CLSM results. Furthermore, qRT-PCR results indicate that expression of UME6 and ALST3 are significantly down-regulated by BAEB 256,512 mg x L(-1), and NRG1 is not affected by BAEB.

CONCLUSIONBAEB inhibits effectively the CSH, filamentation and biofilm formation of VVC strains of C. tropicalis.

Antifungal Agents ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Biofilms ; drug effects ; Candida tropicalis ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Candidiasis ; microbiology ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal ; drug effects ; Humans ; Virulence Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

Lipoprotein plays a role in the host defense against bacterial infection, and its serum level has been demonstrated to be an important prognosis factor of survival. We have previously demonstrated that LDL directly inactivates the hemolytic activity of Vibrio vulnificus cytolysin (VVC) in vitro. The object of this study was therefore to examine whether the LDL-mediated inactivation of VVC leads to protection against lethal infection of V. vulnificus in vivo, using wild and VVC-deficient V. vulnificus strains. Unexpectedly, we found that LDL protects mouse lethality induced by VVC-deficient as well as wild V. vulnificus strain. We also demonstrated that LDL blocks V. vulnificus LPS-induced lethality in mice. These results suggest that LDL preferentially act on endotoxin rather than exotoxin in the protection against V. vulnificus-induced mice lethality.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Female ; Humans ; Lipopolysaccharides/*antagonists & inhibitors ; Lipoproteins, LDL/*pharmacology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Perforin/antagonists & inhibitors/genetics ; Vibrio Infections/prevention & control ; Vibrio vulnificus/*drug effects/genetics/*pathogenicity ; Virulence/drug effects/genetics/physiology

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of cis-2-dodecenoic acid (BDSF) in the treatment and prevention of vaginal candidiasis in vivo. METHODS: The activities of different concentrations of BDSF against the virulence factors of Candida albicans (C. albicans) were determined in vitro. An experimental mouse model of Candida vaginitis was treated with 250 μmol/L BDSF. Treatment efficiency was evaluated in accordance with vaginal fungal burden and inflammation symptoms. RESULTS: In vitro experiments indicated that BDSF attenuated the adhesion and damage of C. albicans to epithelial cells by decreasing phospholipase secretion and blocking filament formation. Treatment with 30 μmol/L BDSF reduced the adhesion and damage of C. albicans to epithelial cells by 36.9% and 42.3%, respectively. Treatment with 200 μmol/L BDSF completely inhibited phospholipase activity. In vivo mouse experiments demonstrated that BDSF could effectively eliminate vaginal infection and relieve inflammatory symptoms. Four days of treatment with 250 μmol/L BDSF reduced vaginal fungal loads by 6-fold and depressed inflammation. Moreover, BDSF treatment decreased the expression levels of the inflammatory chemokine-associated genes MCP-1 and IGFBP3 by 2.5- and 2-fold, respectively. CONCLUSION BDSF is a novel alternative drug that can efficiently control vaginal candidiasis by inhibiting the virulence factors of C. albicans.
Animals ; Candida albicans ; drug effects ; metabolism ; pathogenicity ; physiology ; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal ; drug therapy ; genetics ; immunology ; microbiology ; Chemokine CCL2 ; genetics ; immunology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Fatty Acids, Monounsaturated ; administration & dosage ; Female ; Fungal Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Humans ; Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Protein 3 ; genetics ; immunology ; Mice ; Virulence ; drug effects ; Virulence Factors ; genetics ; metabolism

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of andrographolide (AG) on quroum sensing (QS) and relevant virulence genes of Candida albicans.

METHODGas-chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was applied to detect the changes in the content of farnesol and tyrosol in C. albicans intervened by AG. The real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) was adopted to inspect the expressions of relevant virulence genes such as CHK1, PBS2 and HOG1 regulated by QS.

RESULTAt 2 h after the growth of C. albican, the farnesol and tyrosol secretions reduced, without notable change after intervention with AG. The secretions were highest at 12 h and decreased at 24 h. After the intervention with different concentrations of AG, the farnesol content reduces, whereas tyrosol increased, indicating a dose-dependence, particularly with 1 000 mg x L(-1) AG. qRT-PCR revealed that 1 000 mg x L(-1) AG could down-regulate CHK1 by 2.375, 3.330 and 4.043 times and PBS2 by 2.010, 4.210 and 4.760 times, with no significant change in HOG1.

CONCLUSIONAG could inhibit the farnesol secretion, promote the tyrosol secretion and down-regulate QS-related virulence genes CHK1 and PBS2 expressions.

Candida albicans ; drug effects ; genetics ; physiology ; Diterpenes ; pharmacology ; Farnesol ; analysis ; metabolism ; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry ; Genes, Fungal ; Phenylethyl Alcohol ; analogs & derivatives ; analysis ; metabolism ; Quorum Sensing ; drug effects ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virulence ; genetics