TY - JOUR
T1 - Suppression of the pathogenicity of candida albicans by the quorum-sensing molecules farnesol and tryptophol
AU - Singkum, Pantira
AU - Muangkaew, Watcharamat
AU - Suwanmanee, San
AU - Pumeesat, Potjaman
AU - Wongsuk, Thanwa
AU - Luplertlop, Natthanej
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Applied Microbiology, Molecular and Cellular Biosciences Research Foundation.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - This study examines the ability of the quorum-sensing molecules (QSMs) farnesol and tryptophol to induce programmed cell death of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, to alter the expression of apoptosis-related genes, and to reduce the pathogenicity and virulence of C. albicans in Galleria mellonella. Our results showed that both farnesol and tryptophol inhibited C. albicans germ tube formation. In the QSM-treated group, the expression levels of the apoptosis genes increased, whereas the expression level of the anti-apoptosis gene decreased. Further, pretreatment of C. albicans with tryptophol or farnesol prior to G. mellonella larval infection significantly enhanced host survival compared with larvae infected with untreated C. albicans. Thus, farnesol and tryptophol may trigger apoptosis of C. albicans in vitro and reduce the virulence of C. albicans in vivo. Although further study is needed to identify the precise mechanisms underlying the antifungal properties of farnesol and tryptophol, these results suggest that QSMs may be effective agents for controlling fungal infection.
AB - This study examines the ability of the quorum-sensing molecules (QSMs) farnesol and tryptophol to induce programmed cell death of the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, to alter the expression of apoptosis-related genes, and to reduce the pathogenicity and virulence of C. albicans in Galleria mellonella. Our results showed that both farnesol and tryptophol inhibited C. albicans germ tube formation. In the QSM-treated group, the expression levels of the apoptosis genes increased, whereas the expression level of the anti-apoptosis gene decreased. Further, pretreatment of C. albicans with tryptophol or farnesol prior to G. mellonella larval infection significantly enhanced host survival compared with larvae infected with untreated C. albicans. Thus, farnesol and tryptophol may trigger apoptosis of C. albicans in vitro and reduce the virulence of C. albicans in vivo. Although further study is needed to identify the precise mechanisms underlying the antifungal properties of farnesol and tryptophol, these results suggest that QSMs may be effective agents for controlling fungal infection.
KW - Candida albicans
KW - Galleria mellonella
KW - Germ tube
KW - Quorum-sensing molecules
KW - Tryptophol
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85078614512&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.2323/jgam.2018.12.002
DO - 10.2323/jgam.2018.12.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 31217414
AN - SCOPUS:85078614512
SN - 0022-1260
VL - 65
SP - 277
EP - 283
JO - Journal of General and Applied Microbiology
JF - Journal of General and Applied Microbiology
IS - 6
ER -