Cited by 18Antifungal resistance and susceptibilityFungal and yeast genetics researchFungal Plant Pathogen Control

Genotypic, proteomic, and phenotypic approaches to decipher the response to caspofungin and calcineurin inhibitors in clinical isolates of echinocandin-resistant Candida glabrata

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Ceballos-Garzon, Andres, Monteoliva, Lucia, Gil, Concha, Alvarez-Moreno, Carlos, Vega-Vela, Nelson E, Engelthaler, David M, Bowers, Jolene, Le Pape, Patrice +1 more·2022·Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy

Abstract

Background: Echinocandin resistance represents a great concern, as these drugs are recommended as first-line therapy for invasive candidiasis. Echinocandin resistance is conferred by mutations in FKS genes. Nevertheless, pathways are crucial for enabling tolerance, evolution, and maintenance of resistance. Therefore, understanding the biological processes and proteins involved in the response to caspofungin may provide clues indicating new therapeutic targets. Objectives: We determined the resistance mechanism and assessed the proteome response to caspofungin exposure. We then evaluated the phenotypic impact of calcineurin inhibition by FK506 and cephalosporine A (CsA) on caspofungin-resistant Candida glabrata isolates. Methods: Twenty-five genes associated with caspofungin resistance were analysed by NGS, followed by studies of the quantitative proteomic response to caspofungin exposure. Then, susceptibility testing of caspofungin in presence of FK506 and CsA was performed. The effects of calcineurin inhibitor/caspofungin combinations on heat stress (40°C), oxidative stress (0.2 and 0.4 mM menadione) and on biofilm formation (polyurethane catheter) were analysed. Finally, a Galleria mellonella model using blastospores (1 × 109 cfu/mL) was developed to evaluate the impact of the combinations on larval survival. Results: F659-del was found in the FKS2 gene of resistant strains. Proteomics data showed some up-regulated proteins are involved in cell-wall biosynthesis, response to stress and pathogenesis, some of them being members of calmodulin–calcineurin pathway. Therefore, the impact of calmodulin inhibition was explored. Calmodulin inhibition restored caspofungin susceptibility, decreased capacity to respond to stress conditions, and reduced biofilm formation and in vivo pathogenicity. Conclusions: Our findings confirm that calmodulin-calcineurin-Crz1 could provide a relevant target in life-threatening invasive candidiasis.

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Authors
Ceballos-Garzon, A., Monteoliva, L., Gil, C., Alvarez-Moreno, C., Vega-Vela, N. E., Engelthaler, D. M., Bowers, J., Le Pape, P., & Parra-Giraldo, C. M.
Affiliations
  • Unidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, D.C., Colombia
  • Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid (ES)
  • Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Bogotá, Colombia
  • Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (CO)
  • Translational Genomics Research Institute (US)
  • Department of Parasitology and Medical Mycology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Nantes, Nantes Atlantique Universities, Nantes, France
Venue
Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy
Published
2021-12-10
Volume
77
Issue
3
Pages
585-597
ISSN
  • 0305-7453 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2091
OpenAlex
W4200334417
Cited by
18
References
84
Citations by year
2026: 3 · 2025: 3 · 2024: 4 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1
FWCI
0.95
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • HAL (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Funders
  • Ministerio de Ciencia, Tecnología e Innovación
  • Universidad Complutense de Madrid
  • Campus France
  • Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (ID20291)
  • Instituto de Salud Carlos III
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Antifungal resistance and susceptibility
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Fungal and yeast genetics research
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics › Fungal Plant Pathogen Control
Keywords
Candida glabrata, echinocandin resistance, caspofungin, calcineurin inhibitors, FK506, biofilm formation, oxidative stress response, heat stress, invasive candidiasis, Galleria mellonella model, antifungal drug targets
MeSH terms
Caspofungin, Antifungal Agents, Fungal Proteins, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Drug Resistance, Fungal, Proteomics, Candida glabrata, Echinocandins, Candidiasis, Invasive, Calcineurin Inhibitors

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