Open Access

Anti-candidal activity of a novel peptide derived from human chromogranin A and its mechanism of action against Candida krusei

  • Authors:
    • Rui‑Fang Li
    • Xiao‑Hui Yan
    • Yan‑Bo Lu
    • Ya‑Li Lu
    • Hui‑Ru Zhang
    • Shi‑Hua Chen
    • Shuai Liu
    • Zhi‑Fang Lu
  • View Affiliations

  • Published online on: September 7, 2015     https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2731
  • Pages: 1768-1776
  • Copyright: © Li et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of Creative Commons Attribution License.

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Abstract

Candida species (Candida spp.) are important fungal pathogens, which cause numerous clinical diseases associated with significant mortality and morbidity in healthcare settings. In our previous study, we identified a recombinant peptide, chromogranin A (CGA)‑N46, corresponding to the N‑terminal Pro31‑Gln76 sequence of human CGA, that exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans. The present study investigated the antifungal activity of CGA‑N46, and its underlying mechanism, against numerous Candida spp. CGA‑N46 inhibited the growth of all of the tested Candida spp., of which Candida krusei exhibited the greatest sensitivity. CGA‑N46 was able to disrupt the stability of the phospholipid monolayer without damaging the integrity and permeability of the outer membrane of C. krusei cells, and induced cytoplasm vacuolization and mitochondrial damage. In addition, treatment of C. krusei with CGA‑N46 was associated with decreased levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species, a reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential, and DNA synthesis inhibition. The results of the present study suggested that CGA‑N46 was able to pass through the cell membrane of Candida spp. by temporarily destabilizing the phospholipid membrane, which in turn led to mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibition of DNA synthesis. Therefore, CGA‑N46 may be considered a novel antifungal compound for the treatment of patients with C. krusei infections.
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November-2015
Volume 10 Issue 5

Print ISSN: 1792-0981
Online ISSN:1792-1015

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Spandidos Publications style
Li RF, Yan XH, Lu YB, Lu YL, Zhang HR, Chen SH, Liu S and Lu ZF: Anti-candidal activity of a novel peptide derived from human chromogranin A and its mechanism of action against Candida krusei. Exp Ther Med 10: 1768-1776, 2015.
APA
Li, R., Yan, X., Lu, Y., Lu, Y., Zhang, H., Chen, S. ... Lu, Z. (2015). Anti-candidal activity of a novel peptide derived from human chromogranin A and its mechanism of action against Candida krusei. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine, 10, 1768-1776. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2731
MLA
Li, R., Yan, X., Lu, Y., Lu, Y., Zhang, H., Chen, S., Liu, S., Lu, Z."Anti-candidal activity of a novel peptide derived from human chromogranin A and its mechanism of action against Candida krusei". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 10.5 (2015): 1768-1776.
Chicago
Li, R., Yan, X., Lu, Y., Lu, Y., Zhang, H., Chen, S., Liu, S., Lu, Z."Anti-candidal activity of a novel peptide derived from human chromogranin A and its mechanism of action against Candida krusei". Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 10, no. 5 (2015): 1768-1776. https://doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2731