A semisynthetic borrelidin analogue BN-3b exerts potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans through ROS-mediated oxidative damage

Sci Rep. 2020 Mar 19;10(1):5081. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-61681-0.

Abstract

In the process of investigating the antifungal structure-activity relationships (SAR) of borrelidin and discovering antifungal leads, a semisynthetic borrelidin analogue, BN-3b with antifungal activity against Candida albicans, was achieved. In this study, we found that oxidative damage induced by endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the antifungal activity of BN-3b. Further investigation indicated that BN-3b stimulated ROS accumulation, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and decreased reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio. Moreover, BN-3b decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP generation. Ultrastructure analysis revealed that BN-3b severely damaged the cell membrane of C. albicans. Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that virulence factors of C. albicans SAPs, PLB1, PLB2, HWP1, ALSs, and LIPs were all down-regulated after BN-3b exposure. We also found that BN-3b markedly inhibited the hyphal formation of C. albicans. In addition, in vivo studies revealed that BN-3b significantly prolonged survival and decreased fungal burden in mouse model of disseminated candidiasis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adenosine Triphosphate / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology*
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / metabolism*
  • Candida albicans / pathogenicity
  • Candida albicans / ultrastructure
  • Candidiasis / drug therapy*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Down-Regulation
  • Fatty Alcohols / pharmacology
  • Fatty Alcohols / therapeutic use
  • Glutathione / metabolism
  • Glutathione Disulfide / metabolism
  • Hyphae / drug effects
  • Invasive Fungal Infections / drug therapy*
  • Malondialdehyde / metabolism
  • Mice
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism*
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Virulence Factors / metabolism

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Fatty Alcohols
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Virulence Factors
  • Malondialdehyde
  • borrelidin
  • Adenosine Triphosphate
  • Glutathione
  • Glutathione Disulfide