Mei Gao1, Hui Wang, LiJuan Zhu. 1. Department of Gynecology, the First People's Hospital of Shangqiu, Shangqiu City, Henan Province, China.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common gynecological disease. Candida albicans is believed to be mainly implicated in VVC occurrence, the biofilm of which is one of the virulence factors responsible for resistance to traditional antifungal agents especially to fluconazole (FCZ). Quercetin (QCT) is a dietary flavonoid and has been demonstrated to be antifungal against C. albicans biofilm. METHODS: 17 C. albicans isolates including 15 clinical ones isolated from VVC patients were employed to investigate the effects of QCT and/or FCZ on the inhibition of C. albicans biofilm. RESULTS: We observed that 64 µg/mL QCT and/or 128 µg/mL FCZ could (i) be synergistic against 10 FCZ-resistant planktonic and 17 biofilm cells of C. albicans, (ii) inhibit fungal adherence, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), flocculation, yeast-to-hypha transition, metabolism, thickness and dispersion of biofilms; (iii) down-regulate the expressions of ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, SUN41, UME6 and ECE1 and up-regulate the expressions of PDE2, NRG1 and HSP90, and we also found that (iv) the fungal burden was reduced in vaginal mucosa and the symptoms were alleviated in a murine VVC model after the treatments of 5 mg/kg QCT and/or 20 mg/kg FCZ. CONCLUSION: Together with these results, it could be demonstrated that QCT could be a favorable antifungal agent and a promising synergist with FCZ in the clinical management of VVC caused by C. albicans biofilm.
BACKGROUND:Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common gynecological disease. Candida albicans is believed to be mainly implicated in VVC occurrence, the biofilm of which is one of the virulence factors responsible for resistance to traditional antifungal agents especially to fluconazole (FCZ). Quercetin (QCT) is a dietary flavonoid and has been demonstrated to be antifungal against C. albicans biofilm. METHODS: 17 C. albicans isolates including 15 clinical ones isolated from VVC patients were employed to investigate the effects of QCT and/or FCZ on the inhibition of C. albicans biofilm. RESULTS: We observed that 64 µg/mL QCT and/or 128 µg/mL FCZ could (i) be synergistic against 10 FCZ-resistant planktonic and 17 biofilm cells of C. albicans, (ii) inhibit fungal adherence, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), flocculation, yeast-to-hypha transition, metabolism, thickness and dispersion of biofilms; (iii) down-regulate the expressions of ALS1, ALS3, HWP1, SUN41, UME6 and ECE1 and up-regulate the expressions of PDE2, NRG1 and HSP90, and we also found that (iv) the fungal burden was reduced in vaginal mucosa and the symptoms were alleviated in a murine VVC model after the treatments of 5 mg/kg QCT and/or 20 mg/kg FCZ. CONCLUSION: Together with these results, it could be demonstrated that QCT could be a favorable antifungal agent and a promising synergist with FCZ in the clinical management of VVC caused by C. albicans biofilm.
Authors: Khristina G Judan Cruz; Eleonor D Alfonso; Somar Israel D Fernando; Kozo Watanabe Journal: Front Microbiol Date: 2021-05-24 Impact factor: 5.640
Authors: Patrick Van Dijck; Jelmer Sjollema; Bruno P Cammue; Katrien Lagrou; Judith Berman; Christophe d'Enfert; David R Andes; Maiken C Arendrup; Axel A Brakhage; Richard Calderone; Emilia Cantón; Tom Coenye; Paul Cos; Leah E Cowen; Mira Edgerton; Ana Espinel-Ingroff; Scott G Filler; Mahmoud Ghannoum; Neil A R Gow; Hubertus Haas; Mary Ann Jabra-Rizk; Elizabeth M Johnson; Shawn R Lockhart; Jose L Lopez-Ribot; Johan Maertens; Carol A Munro; Jeniel E Nett; Clarissa J Nobile; Michael A Pfaller; Gordon Ramage; Dominique Sanglard; Maurizio Sanguinetti; Isabel Spriet; Paul E Verweij; Adilia Warris; Joost Wauters; Michael R Yeaman; Sebastian A J Zaat; Karin Thevissen Journal: Microb Cell Date: 2018-06-14