Biomaterial Database

Synergistic mechanisms of retigeric acid B and azoles against Candida albicans. 2010

L M Sun, and A X Cheng, and X Z Wu, and H J Zhang, and H X Lou

School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, China.

OBJECTIVE To clarify the underlying synergistic antifungal mechanisms of retigeric acid B (RAB) in combination with azoles against Candida albicans. RESULTS Increased accumulation of rhodamine 123 in C. albicans was measured by both spectrophotometric method and flow cytometry. The inhibitory properties to the drug efflux of C. albicans were determined spectrophotometrically. The decreased cellular ergosterol synthesis was measured using its unique spectrophotometric absorbance profile, and the downregulation expression levels of CDR1 and ERG11 were detected by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Transmission electron microscopy investigation found the wrinkled cell membrane and the impaired cell wall. CONCLUSIONS RAB synergizes the antifungal effect of azoles against C. albicans by inhibiting efflux pump activity, targeting the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway and increasing the fluidity for the resulted ergosterol depletion. CONCLUSIONS Investigating the mechanism of the synergy between RAB and azoles against C. albicans will help us to uncover the antifungal roles of this lichen-derived triterpene acid and find its possible clinical applications in overcoming fungal resistance.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D002176	Candida albicans	A unicellular budding fungus which is the principal pathogenic species causing CANDIDIASIS (moniliasis).	Candida albicans var. stellatoidea,Candida stellatoidea,Dematium albicans,Monilia albicans,Myceloblastanon albicans,Mycotorula albicans,Parasaccharomyces albicans,Procandida albicans,Procandida stellatoidea,Saccharomyces albicans,Syringospora albicans
D002462	Cell Membrane	The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells.	Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004357	Drug Synergism	The action of a drug in promoting or enhancing the effectiveness of another drug.	Drug Potentiation,Drug Augmentation,Augmentation, Drug,Augmentations, Drug,Drug Augmentations,Drug Potentiations,Drug Synergisms,Potentiation, Drug,Potentiations, Drug,Synergism, Drug,Synergisms, Drug
D004875	Ergosterol	A steroid occurring in FUNGI. Irradiation with ULTRAVIOLET RAYS results in formation of ERGOCALCIFEROL (vitamin D2).	Lumisterol,Pro-Vitamin D2,Provitamin D 2,D2, Pro-Vitamin,Pro Vitamin D2
D005656	Fungal Proteins	Proteins found in any species of fungus.	Fungal Gene Products,Fungal Gene Proteins,Fungal Peptides,Gene Products, Fungal,Yeast Proteins,Gene Proteins, Fungal,Peptides, Fungal,Proteins, Fungal
D000890	Anti-Infective Agents	Substances that prevent infectious agents or organisms from spreading or kill infectious agents in order to prevent the spread of infection.	Anti-Infective Agent,Anti-Microbial Agent,Antimicrobial Agent,Microbicide,Microbicides,Anti-Microbial Agents,Antiinfective Agents,Antimicrobial Agents,Agent, Anti-Infective,Agent, Anti-Microbial,Agent, Antimicrobial,Agents, Anti-Infective,Agents, Anti-Microbial,Agents, Antiinfective,Agents, Antimicrobial,Anti Infective Agent,Anti Infective Agents,Anti Microbial Agent,Anti Microbial Agents
D001393	Azoles	Five membered rings containing a NITROGEN atom.	Azole
D014315	Triterpenes	A class of terpenes (the general formula C30H48) formed by the condensation of six isoprene units, equivalent to three terpene units.	Triterpene,Triterpenoid,Triterpenoids
D015966	Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal	Any of the processes by which nuclear, cytoplasmic, or intercellular factors influence the differential control of gene action in fungi.	Fungal Gene Expression Regulation,Regulation of Gene Expression, Fungal,Regulation, Gene Expression, Fungal
D020133	Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction	A variation of the PCR technique in which cDNA is made from RNA via reverse transcription. The resultant cDNA is then amplified using standard PCR protocols.	Polymerase Chain Reaction, Reverse Transcriptase,Reverse Transcriptase PCR,PCR, Reverse Transcriptase,Transcriptase PCR, Reverse