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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans
Published on: January 13, 2023
Antimicrobial peptide AMP-17 exerts anti-Candida albicans effects through ROS-mediated apoptosis and necrosis
Huiling Ma1,2, Longbing Yang1, Zhuqing Tian1
1The Key and Characteristic Laboratory of Modern Pathogen Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, China.
Abstract:
There is a need for new anti-Candida albicans (C. albicans) drugs owing to the emergence of drug resistance in recent years. AMP-17, an antimicrobial peptide from Musca domestica (M. domestica), is known to be an effective inhibitor of many fungal pathogens, including C. albicans. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanism underlying the anti-C. albicans effects of AMP-17 using flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, fluorescent probes, fluorescence microplate reader, and confocal laser microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy showed that, following AMP-17 treatment, the shape of C. albicans cells became irregular, and vacuoles could be seen in the cytoplasm. Furthermore, AMP-17 treatment resulted in an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and changes in the cell cycle, leading to the apoptosis and necrosis, which ultimately contributed to the death of C. albicans cells.
Insights
The antimicrobial peptide AMP-17 effectively combats Candida albicans by disrupting cell structure and inducing apoptosis. This study elucidates the mechanism of action for this potential new antifungal drug.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Emerging drug resistance in Candida albicans necessitates novel antifungal agents.
- Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) show promise as therapeutic compounds against fungal infections.
- AMP-17, derived from Musca domestica, is a known inhibitor of fungal pathogens.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the mechanism of action of AMP-17 against Candida albicans.
- To understand how AMP-17 exerts its anti-fungal effects at a cellular level.
Main Methods:
- Flow cytometry
- Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)
- Fluorescent probes
- Fluorescence microplate reader
- Confocal laser microscopy
Main Results:
- TEM revealed morphological changes in C. albicans cells, including irregular shapes and cytoplasmic vacuoles after AMP-17 treatment.
- AMP-17 significantly increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels.
- Treatment led to mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) depolarization and cell cycle alterations.
- Apoptosis and necrosis were observed, culminating in C. albicans cell death.
Conclusions:
- AMP-17 induces cell death in Candida albicans through multiple mechanisms, including ROS generation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and induction of apoptosis/necrosis.
- The findings support AMP-17 as a potential therapeutic candidate for treating C. albicans infections, particularly those resistant to existing drugs.
