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Antifungal activity of biogenic tellurium nanoparticles against C andida albicans and its effects on squalene monooxygenase gene expression
Author(s) -
Zare Bijan,
Sepehrizadeh Zargham,
Faramarzi Mohammad Ali,
SoltanyRezaeeRad Mohammad,
Rezaie Sassan,
Shahverdi Ahmad Reza
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
biotechnology and applied biochemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.468
H-Index - 70
eISSN - 1470-8744
pISSN - 0885-4513
DOI - 10.1002/bab.1180
Subject(s) - squalene monooxygenase , squalene , candida albicans , monooxygenase , ergosterol , enzyme , biochemistry , chemistry , gene expression , corpus albicans , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , gene , yeast , cytochrome p450 , biosynthesis
In this study, we evaluated the antifungal activity of biogenic tellurium nanoparticles ( T e NP s) against C andida albicans ( ATCC 14053). In addition, the effect of these biogenic NP s on squalene monooxygenase activity and the squalene monooxygenase gene ( ERG 1 ) expression level was evaluated. Squalene monooxygenase is an important enzyme involved in the synthesis of ergosterol, cholesterol, and phytosterols. Because of the importance of the noted compound, the squalene monooxygenase gene could be considered a good antifungal target. Results showed that biogenic T e NP s had antifungal effect against C . albicans . The minimal fungicidal concentration–minimal inhibitory concentration ratios of the biogenic T e NP s revealed that these NP s exhibited fungicidal effects against the test strain. The results of an enzyme assay using quantitative high‐performance liquid chromatography showed squalene accumulation in C . albicans cells because of enzyme inhibition. Real‐time PCR analysis showed an increase in the expression of the ERG 1 gene in C . albicans cells, which were treated with T e NP s (0.2 mg/mL). It is conclution that T e NP s can inhibit the squalene monooxygenase enzyme, and, as a result, this inhibition phenomenon can cause an increase in the expression level of the ERG 1 gene. This is the first report of the anti‐ C andida effect of biogenic T e NP s and its possible mechanisms.