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Updated: Oct 9, 2025
An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
Inhibition of morphological transition and hyphae extension in Candida spp. by occidiofungin
Rabina Kumpakha1, Donna M Gordon1
1Department of Biological Sciences, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA.
Aims:
To assess the efficacy of the antifungal, occidiofungin, against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis morphological transformation.
Methods And Results:
Susceptibility assays and morphological data were used to demonstrate that occidiofungin effectively targets C. albicans and C. tropicalis undergoing morphological transformation. Susceptibility assays found that cell sensitivity to occidiofungin varied with the media conditions used for morphological switching. Microscopy data showed that occidiofungin inhibited hyphae formation when added at the time of morphological induction and hyphal extension when added within the first hour following hyphae induction. Immunoblot analysis demonstrated that occidiofungin addition prevented activation of Cek1p MAPK signalling.
Conclusions:
The data indicated that the antimicrobial compound, occidiofungin, effectively targets hyphae elongation in Candida spp. and suggests the biological target of occidiofungin is necessary for the morphological changes associated with yeast-to-hyphae switching.
Significance And Impact Of The Study:
Findings from this study demonstrated that occidiofungin effectively targets the invasive growth of dimorphic Candida which suggests this compound may also inhibit the heterogenous population of cells present in a clinical setting. This presents occidiofungin as a promising candidate for the treatment of Candida associated infections.
Insights
The antifungal occidiofungin effectively inhibits the hyphae formation and elongation of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis. This compound shows promise for treating Candida infections by targeting invasive growth.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Antimicrobial Research
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Candida species are opportunistic fungal pathogens.
- Morphological transformation is crucial for Candida virulence.
- Developing new antifungal agents is critical.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the antifungal occidiofungin's efficacy against Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis morphological transformation.
- To investigate occidiofungin's mechanism of action.
Main Methods:
- Susceptibility assays were performed.
- Microscopy was used to observe hyphae formation.
- Immunoblot analysis assessed Cek1p MAPK signaling.
Main Results:
- Occidiofungin effectively targets morphological transformation in C. albicans and C. tropicalis.
- Inhibition of hyphae formation and elongation was observed.
- Occidiofungin prevented Cek1p MAPK signaling pathway activation.
Conclusions:
- Occidiofungin targets hyphae elongation in Candida species.
- The compound's biological target is essential for yeast-to-hyphae switching.
- Occidiofungin is a potential therapeutic candidate for Candida infections.
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