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Capric acid and caprylic acid are the dietary food components. They are found to inhibit the virulence factors like morphogenesis, adhesion, and biofilm formation in the human pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. Our study demonstrated that yeast-to-hyphal signal transduction pathways were affected by capric acid and caprylic acid. The expression profile of genes associated with serum-induced morphogenesis showed reduced expressions of Cdc35, Hwp1, Hst7, and Cph1 by the treatment with both the fatty acids. Cell elongation gene, Ece1, was surprisingly downregulated by 5208-fold by the treatment of caprylic acid. Nrg1 and Tup1, negative regulators of hyphal formation, were overexpressed in presence of capric or caprylic acid. Cell cycle studies revealed that capric and caprylic acids arrested cell cycle at G2/M and S phase. Targeting the virulence factors like yeast-to-hyphal transition is efficacious for treatment of opportunistic fungal infections. This research suggests that both capric and caprylic acid may be effective interventions for treating C. albicans yeast infections.

Dicyclomine is a human muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist used for the treatment of abdominal cramps. We are reporting here that dicyclomine can inhibit the in vitro growth and virulence factors of the human pathogen Candida albicans very effectively. Dicyclomine inhibited adhesion, early biofilm, mature biofilm, and planktonic growth. Yeast to hyphal form transition of C. albicans in various inducer media such as serum, proline, glucose, and N-acetylglucosamine was inhibited. Dicyclomine also could kill C. albicans cells within 15 min of exposure. Dicyclomine appears to inhibit the yeast to hyphal conversion by affecting signal transduction pathway. The expression of selected genes associated with yeast to hyphal form transition in serum in presence of dicyclomine was studied using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RtPCR). The RtPCR analysis showed that dicyclomine targets both cAMP pathway as well as MAPK cascade. Eight genes were upregulated. Out of these, three major upregulated genes were Bcy1, Tup1, and Mig1. Dicyclomine downregulated Ume6, Ece1, and Pde2 genes which are involved in cAMP signaling pathway and also downregulated the DNA binding protein gene, Rfg1. Dicyclomine significantly upregulated the master negative regulator of hyphal formation, Tup1. Based on this study we suggest that the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonist, dicyclomine could be repositioned as a potential anti-Candida albicans as well as anti-virulence agent.

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Candida albicans has ability to switch from yeast to hyphal form which is an important virulence factor. The objective of the research is to study the effect of Phenazine Methosulphate (PMS) on virulence factors and to study expression profile in yeast to hyphal form transition in C. albicans. Phenazine Methosulphate (PMS) acted as an inhibitor of yeast to hyphal form transition, adhesion and biofilm formation in C. albicans. RTPCR study demonstrated that PMS Modulate the expression of genes involved in Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 and Cek1-MAPK signal transduction pathways. Cell cycle of C. albicans was arrested at S phase on treatment of PMS. Hyphal suppressor genes like Tup1, Mig1 and Nrg1 were upregulated by PMS. Based on our data on expression of genes during yeast to hyphal form transition in presence and absence of PMS, we hypothesize that inhibition of hyphal formation may be due to the overexpression of negative regulators of hyphal growth. Targeting of hyphal specific genes involved in these pathways may be a promising strategy for anti-candida drug development.