Potential Anti-Candida albicans Mechanism of Trichoderma Acid from Trichoderma spirale

Area of Science:

• Mycology
• Biochemistry
• Molecular Biology

Background:

• Growing drug resistance and side effects necessitate novel anti-Candida albicans compounds.
• Natural products represent a vital source for discovering new antifungal agents.
• Candida albicans remains a primary human fungal pathogen, causing significant infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and characterize new anti-Candida albicans compounds from natural sources.
• To elucidate the mechanism of action of trichoderma acid (TA) against Candida albicans.
• To investigate potential molecular targets of TA in Candida albicans.

Main Methods:

• Transcriptomic and iTRAQ-based proteomic analyses were employed to study TA-treated Candida albicans.
• Scanning electron microscopy and reactive oxygen species (ROS) detection assessed cellular damage.
• Western blot analysis verified key differentially expressed genes and proteins.

Main Results:

• TA disrupted mitochondrial membrane potential, endoplasmic reticulum, mitochondrial ribosomes, and cell walls in Candida albicans.
• TA treatment led to significant accumulation of ROS due to impaired superoxide dismutase activity, causing DNA damage and cell skeleton destruction.
• Up-regulation of RhoE (RND3), asparagine synthetase (ASNS), and glutathione S-transferase indicated apoptosis and toxin response.

Conclusions:

• Trichoderma acid (TA) exhibits strong anti-Candida albicans activity by inducing cellular damage and oxidative stress.
• Potential molecular targets of TA include RND3, ASNS, and superoxide dismutase 5.
• TA is a promising natural compound for developing new treatments against Candida albicans infections.