title: Inhibitory effect of verapamil on Candida albicans hyphal development, adhesion and gastrointestinal colonization.
abstract: Candida albicans morphogenesis and gastrointestinal colonization are closely associated with the pathogenicity of this pathogen. This study investigated the in vitro and in vivo effect of verapamil, a calcium channel blocker, on these processes. Exposure to ≥ 10 μg mL(-1) verapamil led to a significant decrease of C. albicans hyphal cells. The ability to adhere to a polystyrene surface and buccal epithelial cells was inhibited by exposure to ≥ 20 μg mL(-1) verapamil. Detection of the Hwp1-green fluorescent protein fusion protein showed that verapamil inhibited expression and transport of Hwp1, indicating its activity against both the regulation network of morphogenesis-associated proteins and the secretory pathway in C. albicans. Moreover, treatment with verapamil at 10 mg (kg day)(-1) led to a remarkable decrease in gastrointestinal-colonizing fungal cells. This study revealed the inhibitory effect of verapamil on C. albicans hyphal development, adhesion and gastrointestinal colonization, which is relevant to decreased expression and abnormal transport of the proteins required for morphogenesis. Therefore, verapamil may be taken into account when choosing an antifungal therapy against C. albicans colonization and infection.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology and Technology, Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Nankai University, Tianjin, China.
authors.forename: Qilin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Xiaohui
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Ding
authors.forename: Bing
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Chang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jiwei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mao
authors.forename: Biao
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Laijun
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Xing
authors.forename: Mingchun
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Li
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D041981:Gastrointestinal Tract / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D025301:Hyphae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014700:Verapamil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C118102:HWP1 protein, Candida albicans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D011137:Polystyrenes; D014700:Verapamil
keywords: Candida albicans; calcium channel; gastrointestinal colonization; morphogenesis; verapamil