Journal
FUNGAL BIOLOGY
Volume 119, Issue 2-3, Pages 154-169Publisher
ELSEVIER SCI LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.funbio.2014.12.003
Keywords
Candida spp.; Fusarium proliferatum; Mammalian cell lines; Membrane permeabilization; Nutrient limitation; ROS
Categories
Funding
- Spanish Ministries of Economy and Competitiveness [AGL 2011-29297/AGR, BFU 2010-16548]
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Chitosan permeabilizes plasma membrane and kills sensitive filamentous fungi and yeast. Membrane fluidity and cell energy determine chitosan sensitivity in fungi. A five-fold reduction of both glucose (main carbon (C) source) and nitrogen (N) increased 2-fold Neurospora crassa sensitivity to chitosan. We linked this increase with production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and plasma membrane permeabilization. Releasing N. crassa from nutrient limitation reduced chitosan antifungal activity in spite of high ROS intracellular levels. With lactate instead of glucose, C and N limitation increased N. crassa sensitivity to chitosan further (4-fold) than what glucose did. Nutrient limitation also increased sensitivity of filamentous fungi and yeast human pathogens to chitosan. For Fusarium proliferatum, lowering 100-fold C and N content in the growth medium, increased 16-fold chitosan sensitivity. Similar results were found for Candida spp. (including fluconazole resistant strains) and Cryptococcus spp. Severe C and N limitation increased chitosan antifungal activity for all pathogens tested. Chitosan at 100 mu g ml(-1) was lethal for most fungal human pathogens tested but non-toxic to HEK293 and COS7 mammalian cell lines. Besides, chitosan increased 90% survival of Galleria mellonella larvae infected with C. albicans. These results are of paramount for developing chitosan as antifungal. (C) 2014 The British Mycological Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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