title: Expression analysis of SIR2 and SAPs1-4 gene expression in Candida albicans treated with allicin compared to fluconazole.
abstract: One of the main factors for virulence of fungus such as Candida albicans is the   ability to change its morphology from yeast to hyphae. Allicin, one of the volatile sulfur-oil   compounds from freshly crushed garlic, has a variety of antifungal activities. In this study,   the effect of allicin on growth and hyphae production in C. albicans as compared to fluconazole,   an antifungal drug was investigated using survival time in vitro and microscopic image at   different time intervals. Additionally, the expression of selected genes involved in hyphae   formation and development such as SIR2 and SAP1-4 was evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR   and relative real time RT-PCR. Allicin was shown to down-regulate the expression of   SIR2 (5.54 fold), similar to fluconazole (3.48 fold) at 2x MIC concentrations. Interestingly,   allicin had no effect on SAPs1-4 expression, whereas fluconazole was able to suppress SAP4   expression. Our findings showed that allicin was effective in suppressing hyphae development   of C. albicans to an extent that is sometimes equal or more than fluconazole. Moreover, allicin   and fluconazole seemed to share a common anti-Candida mechanism through inhibition of   SIR2 gene, while fluconazole appeared to also exert its fungistatic effect through another   pathway that involved SAP4 suppression.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paramedical Sciences, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khodavandi
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Nabil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Harmal
authors.forename: Shiran M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sidik
authors.forename: Fauziah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.forename: Zamberi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sekawi
authors.forename: Pei Pei
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D004220:Disulfides; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D025301:Hyphae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D008853:Microscopy; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin; D015725:Fluconazole