Characterization of a lipopeptide-resistant strain of Candida albicans

Can J Microbiol. 1997 Feb;43(2):122-8. doi: 10.1139/m97-016.

Abstract

Lipopeptides are antifungal agents that inhibit cell wall beta-(1,3)-glucan biosynthesis in fungal organisms. A mutant resistant to lipopeptides was generated by UV mutagenesis and characterized. The Candida albicans mutant (LP3-1) was stable and showed resistance specificity to a broad range of lipopeptides and certain glycolipid inhibitors. Other antifungal agents with diverse modes of action had a normal minimum inhibitory concentration profile for LP3-1 compared with the wild-type strain (CCH 442). In the in vitro beta-(1,3)-glucan synthase assay, both the lipopeptides and papulacandin-related agents had considerably higher 50% inhibitory concentration values in the LP3-1 strain than in the wild-type strain. In reconstitution assays, the resistance factor was associated with the integral membrane pellet rather than the peripheral GTP-binding protein. The LP3-1 strain had a membrane lipid profile similar to that of the parent strain and was virulent in a murine model of systemic candidiasis. Taken together, these results indicate that the resistance factor is associated with the integral membrane component of beta-(1,3)-glucan synthase. Lipopeptides are common antifungal agents encountered during screening of natural products. The LP3-1 strain was resistant to natural product extracts known to contain various lipopeptides. Thus, LP3-1 can be used in a dereplication assay.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Biological Assay
  • Candida albicans / drug effects*
  • Candida albicans / genetics*
  • Candida albicans / metabolism
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
  • Glucosyltransferases / genetics*
  • Glucosyltransferases / metabolism
  • Lipids / analysis
  • Lipoproteins / pharmacology*
  • Mice
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microsomes / enzymology
  • Mutagenesis
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Ultraviolet Rays

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • Lipids
  • Lipoproteins
  • Glucosyltransferases
  • glucan synthase