Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i>
With the prevalence of systemic fungal infections caused by <i>Candida albicans</i> and non-<i>albicans</i> species and their resistance to classical antifungals, there is an urgent need to explore alternatives. Herein, we evaluate the impact of the monoterpene carvacrol, a m...
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| Format: | Article |
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MDPI AG
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Microorganisms |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2915 |
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| author | Eliz Acuna Easter Ndlovu Ali Molaeitabari Zinnat Shahina Tanya Elizabeth Susan Dahms |
| author_facet | Eliz Acuna Easter Ndlovu Ali Molaeitabari Zinnat Shahina Tanya Elizabeth Susan Dahms |
| author_sort | Eliz Acuna |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | With the prevalence of systemic fungal infections caused by <i>Candida albicans</i> and non-<i>albicans</i> species and their resistance to classical antifungals, there is an urgent need to explore alternatives. Herein, we evaluate the impact of the monoterpene carvacrol, a major component of oregano and thyme oils, on clinical and laboratory strains of <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i>. Carvacrol induces a wide range of antifungal effects, including the inhibition of growth and hyphal and biofilm formation. Using biochemical and microscopic approaches, we elucidate carvacrol-induced hyphal inhibition. The significantly reduced survival rates following exposure to carvacrol were accompanied by dose-dependent vacuolar acidification, disrupted membrane integrity, and aberrant morphology. Germ tube assays, used to elucidate the relationship between vacuolar dysfunction and hyphal inhibition, showed that carvacrol significantly reduced hyphal formation, which was accompanied by a defective <i>C. albicans</i> morphology. Thus, we show a link between vacuolar acidification/disrupted vacuole membrane integrity and compromised candidal morphology/morphogenesis, demonstrating that carvacrol exerts its anti-hyphal activity by altering vacuole integrity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:31:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a33e82397c494e9e952056a77d464851 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2607 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:31:08Z |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microorganisms |
| spelling | doaj.art-a33e82397c494e9e952056a77d4648512023-12-22T14:26:03ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072023-12-011112291510.3390/microorganisms11122915Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i>Eliz Acuna0Easter Ndlovu1Ali Molaeitabari2Zinnat Shahina3Tanya Elizabeth Susan Dahms4Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 1P4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 1P4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 1P4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 1P4, CanadaDepartment of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Regina, Regina, SK S4S 1P4, CanadaWith the prevalence of systemic fungal infections caused by <i>Candida albicans</i> and non-<i>albicans</i> species and their resistance to classical antifungals, there is an urgent need to explore alternatives. Herein, we evaluate the impact of the monoterpene carvacrol, a major component of oregano and thyme oils, on clinical and laboratory strains of <i>C. albicans</i> and <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i>. Carvacrol induces a wide range of antifungal effects, including the inhibition of growth and hyphal and biofilm formation. Using biochemical and microscopic approaches, we elucidate carvacrol-induced hyphal inhibition. The significantly reduced survival rates following exposure to carvacrol were accompanied by dose-dependent vacuolar acidification, disrupted membrane integrity, and aberrant morphology. Germ tube assays, used to elucidate the relationship between vacuolar dysfunction and hyphal inhibition, showed that carvacrol significantly reduced hyphal formation, which was accompanied by a defective <i>C. albicans</i> morphology. Thus, we show a link between vacuolar acidification/disrupted vacuole membrane integrity and compromised candidal morphology/morphogenesis, demonstrating that carvacrol exerts its anti-hyphal activity by altering vacuole integrity.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2915carvacrolhyphaepHmembrane integritymorphogenesisvacuole |
| spellingShingle | Eliz Acuna Easter Ndlovu Ali Molaeitabari Zinnat Shahina Tanya Elizabeth Susan Dahms Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> Microorganisms carvacrol hyphae pH membrane integrity morphogenesis vacuole |
| title | Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_full | Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_fullStr | Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_short | Carvacrol-Induced Vacuole Dysfunction and Morphological Consequences in <i>Nakaseomyces glabratus</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i> |
| title_sort | carvacrol induced vacuole dysfunction and morphological consequences in i nakaseomyces glabratus i and i candida albicans i |
| topic | carvacrol hyphae pH membrane integrity morphogenesis vacuole |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/11/12/2915 |
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