Padina Minor Extract Confers Resistance against Candida Albicans Infection: Evaluation in a Zebrafish Model

Area of Science:

• Marine Biology
• Immunology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Padina minor, a seaweed abundant in polysaccharides, has diverse applications including food, feed, fertilizers, and antibacterial agents.
• Candida albicans is a significant opportunistic fungal pathogen causing infections in various hosts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the efficacy of Padina minor extract in preventing and treating Candida albicans infections in zebrafish.
• To evaluate the effects of Padina minor extract on zebrafish growth, survival, and immune function.

Main Methods:

• Zebrafish were fed diets supplemented with 1%, 5%, or 10% Padina minor extract, alongside a control group.
• The effective therapeutic concentration was determined using lethal concentration (LC50) analysis.
• Immune responses, including the expression of inflammatory genes (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10), were analyzed in C. albicans-infected zebrafish.

Main Results:

• The 1% Padina minor extract group exhibited the best growth rate, with no significant differences in survival rates across groups.
• Feeding with 1% Padina minor extract downregulated key inflammatory genes: tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and IL-10.
• The extract demonstrated effectiveness in preventing and treating C. albicans infections.

Conclusions:

• Padina minor extract shows preliminary therapeutic potential against Candida albicans infections in zebrafish.
• The extract's anti-inflammatory properties contribute to its efficacy by modulating key immune gene expression.