Transcriptome changes initiated by carbon starvation in Aspergillus nidulans.

Carbon starvation is a common stress for micro-organisms both in nature and in industry. The carbon starvation stress response (CSSR) involves the regulation of several important processes including programmed cell death and reproduction of fungi, secondary metabolite production and extracellular hydrolase formation. To gain insight into the physiological events of CSSR, DNA microarray analyses supplemented with real-time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) experiments on 99 selected genes were performed.

Synthesis and structure-activity relationship study of monotesone-A, an antifungal component of Monotes engleri.

The synthesis of (+/-)-monotesone-A, an antifungal component of Monotes engleri, as well as its four structural analogues were accomplished starting from the corresponding MOM-protected phloracetophenone and benzaldehyde derivatives. Antifungal activities of the five flavanone derivatives were studied against Candida albicans (14053 and ATCC 10231), Candida inconspicua, Candida dubliniensis and Candida krusei.

[Synthesis and antifungal activity of naturally occurring O- and C-prenylated flavanones].

Flavonoids is one of the most important groups of naturally occurring O-heterocycles possessing a wide range of biological activity. O- and C-prenylated flavanones as members of flavonoids also show remarkable biological activity such as antibacterial, antiviral, anti-tumor, antifungal, anti-HIV and enzyme inhibition activity. O- and C-prenylated flavanones possessing remarkable biological activity are representatives of this family of natural products.

High-dose methylprednisolone influences the physiology and virulence of Candida albicans ambiguously and enhances the candidacidal activity of the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B and the superoxide-generating agent menadione.

Although exposure of Candida albicans cells to high-dose (4 mM) methylprednisolone stimulated microbial growth, germination rate in serum and phospholipase release, it also promoted the recognition of C. albicans cells by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Pretreatment of C.

Lovastatin possesses a fungistatic effect against Candida albicans, but does not trigger apoptosis in this opportunistic human pathogen.

Lovastatin inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in a fungistatic way. Although it triggers apoptosis in a great variety of eukaryotic cells, including many tumour cell lines, lovastatin failed to provoke apoptotic events in this human pathogen. The fungistatic behaviour of this statin might arise from its negative influence on membrane fluidity.

[Study of the effects of alkali metals on some virulence characteristics of Candida albicans].

The effects of the alkali metals sodium, potassium and lithium on the growth and on certain virulence factors (adhesion, cell-surface hydrophobicity and the germinating ability) of Candida albicans were investigated. It can be concluded that high concentrations of alkali metals possessed an inhibitory effect on the growth of the Candida cells and preincubation in the presence of alkali metals had a negative effect on all the virulence factors studied. It is worth emphasizing that the changes induced during the preincubation persisted even when the high concentrations of the alkali metals were removed from the cell suspension.