Secreted aspartyl proteinases (Saps) from Candida albicans are encoded by a multigene family with at least nine members (SAP1 to SAP9) and are considered putative virulence factors important for the pathogenicity of this human pathogen. The role of Sap isoenzymes in the virulence of C. albicans has not yet been clearly established, and therefore, using recent progress in the genetics of this ye...

Bradykinin-related peptides, universal mediators of inflammation collectively referred to as the kinins, are often produced in excessive amounts during microbial infections. We have recently shown that the yeast Candida albicans, the major fungal pathogen to humans, can exploit two mechanisms to enhance kinin levels at the sites of candidial infection, one depending on adsorption and activation...

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of exogenous farnesol in yeast-to-hyphae morphogenesis, and Saps (2, 4, 5 and 6) mRNA expressions by a Candida strain that does not produce endogenous farnesol. C. albicans was cultured in the absence and presence of farnesol at various concentrations (10, 100, and 300 µM), in proteinase induction medium, and then used to determine yeast-to- hyp...

Sulfate-based alginate polysaccharide (SAP) is a novelty marine prebiotic. To investigate the beneficial effects of SAP in Pacific white shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei) fed low-fishmeal diets, six diets (whole fishmeal group: FM; replacement with cottonseed protein concentrate and supplementary groups: SAP0, SAP1, SAP2, SAP3, SAP4) were formulated for 56 days. The results showed that SAP2 SAP3 gr...

Abstract Background Globally, millions of people suffer from repeated fungal infections affecting the skin, keratinized tissues, and mucosal membranes. Approximately 1.7 million cases result in death with an elevated incidence rate among immunocompromised that may later severe infections. Among causative agents, Candida albicans are most prevalent fungi inducing subcutaneous to invasive candidi...

The study aimed to screen and isolate strains of freshwater aquatic gliding bacteria, and to investigate their antibacterial activity against seven common pathogenic bacteria. Submerged specimens were collected and isolated for aquatic gliding bacteria using four different isolation media (DW, MA, SAP2, and Vy/2). Gliding bacteria identification was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phy...

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is an important human commensal and opportunistic fungal pathogen. Secreted aspartyl proteinases (Saps) are a major virulence trait of C. albicans, and among these proteases Sap2 has the highest expression levels. It is possible that antibodies against Sap2 could provide an antifungal effect. In this study, two phages displaying anti-rSap2 single chain variable fr...

The widespread occurrence of vaginal candidiasis and the development of resistance against anti-fungal agents has stimulated interest in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of our work was to characterize, in an animal model of vaginal candidiasis, the mechanisms that play a role in the induction of mucosal immunity against C. albicans and the interaction between innate and ...

The secretion of aspartic proteases (Saps) has long been recognized as a virulence-associated trait of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. In this study, we report that different recombinant Saps, including Sap1, Sap2, Sap3, and Sap6, have differing abilities to induce secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by human monocytes. In particular Sap1, Sap2, and Sap6 significantly induced interleu...

The yeast Candida albicans possesses a gene family that encodes secreted aspartic proteases (Saps), which are important for the virulence of this human fungal pathogen. Inhibitors of the Saps could therefore be used as novel antimycotic agents for the treatment of C. albicans infections. In the present study, we established a bioassay which allows testing of the activity of potential protease i...