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Updated: Dec 25, 2025
Rose Bengal-Mediated Photodynamic Therapy to Inhibit Candida albicans
Published on: March 24, 2022
A semisynthetic borrelidin analogue BN-3b exerts potent antifungal activity against Candida albicans through
Hao Su1, Caijuan Hu1, Bixuan Cao1
1Institute of Microbial Pharmaceuticals, College of Life and Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, P.R. China.
Abstract:
In the process of investigating the antifungal structure-activity relationships (SAR) of borrelidin and discovering antifungal leads, a semisynthetic borrelidin analogue, BN-3b with antifungal activity against Candida albicans, was achieved. In this study, we found that oxidative damage induced by endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) plays an important role in the antifungal activity of BN-3b. Further investigation indicated that BN-3b stimulated ROS accumulation, increased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and decreased reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) ratio. Moreover, BN-3b decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and ATP generation. Ultrastructure analysis revealed that BN-3b severely damaged the cell membrane of C. albicans. Quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed that virulence factors of C. albicans SAPs, PLB1, PLB2, HWP1, ALSs, and LIPs were all down-regulated after BN-3b exposure. We also found that BN-3b markedly inhibited the hyphal formation of C. albicans. In addition, in vivo studies revealed that BN-3b significantly prolonged survival and decreased fungal burden in mouse model of disseminated candidiasis.
