title: Anti-inflammatory drugs selectively target sporangium development in Mucor.
abstract: It is known that acetylsalicylic acid, an anti-inflammatory and anti-mitochondrial drug, targets structure development and functions of yeasts depending on elevated levels of mitochondrial activity. Using antibody probes, we previously reported that sporangia of Mucor circinelloides also contain increased mitochondrial activity, yielding high levels of 3-hydroxyoxylipins. This was, however, not found in Mortierella alpina (subgenus Mortierella). In this study we report that acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) also targets sporangium development of Mucor circinelloides selectively, while hyphae with lower levels of mitochondrial activity are more resistant. Similar results were obtained when the anti-inflammatory compounds benzoic acid, ibuprofen, indomethacin, and salicylic acid were tested. The anti-inflammatory drugs exerted similar effects on this dimorphic fungus as found under oxygen-limited conditions. Interestingly, sporangium development of Mortierella alpina was found not to be selectively targeted by these drugs. Mortierella alpina, which could not exhibit dimorphic growth under oxygen-limited conditions, was also more sensitive to the anti-inflammatory drugs when compared with Mucor circinelloides. These results prompt further research to assess the applicability of these antimitochondrial antifungals to protect plants and animals against Mucor infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein 9301, South Africa.
authors.forename: Ntsoaki J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Leeuw
authors.forename: Chantel W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Swart
authors.forename: Desmond M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Ncango
authors.forename: Wilmarie M
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Kriel
authors.forename: Carolina H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pohl
authors.forename: Pieter W J
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: van Wyk
authors.forename: Johan L F
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019817:Benzoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects*; D020094:Mortierella / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development; D009089:Mucor / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D009091:Mucormycosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010935:Plant Diseases / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D020156:Salicylic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D019817:Benzoic Acid; D020156:Salicylic Acid; D001241:Aspirin; D007052:Ibuprofen; D007213:Indomethacin