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Berberine disrupts the high-affinity iron transport system to reverse the fluconazole-resistance in Candida albicans.

Microbial pathogenesis
March 1, 2025
Daifan Yue et al. (8 authors)
Journal ArticleHuman StudyMolecular Study
Study Details

Study Goal

The researchers aimed to determine Berberine's inhibitory effects on drug-resistant fungi, particularly Candida albicans, and its mechanism of action involving iron acquisition disruption.

Results Summary

Berberine inhibited azole-resistance gene expression, reduced cell adhesion, disrupted biofilm formation, and impaired fungal iron acquisition, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction and fungal death. The study identified Ftr1 as a key target in this process.

Population

In vitro study on drug-resistant Candida albicans (no human or animal subjects mentioned).

Effective Dosage

Not specified

Duration

Not specified

Interactions

None mentioned

Extracted Claims (10)
InterventionDirectionEndpointPopulationDosageImpactClaim #
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
expression of azole-resistance genes
drug-resistant fungi
-
inhibiting
#1
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
cell adhesion
drug-resistant fungi
-
reducing
#2
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
biofilm formation
drug-resistant fungi
-
disrupting
#3
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
iron acquisition pathway
drug-resistant fungi
-
disruption
#4
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
intracellular ferrous ion content
drug-resistant fungi
-
reduction
#5
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
iron reductase activity
drug-resistant fungi
-
weakening
#6
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
coding gene of the high-affinity iron reduction system
drug-resistant fungi
-
overall downregulation
#7
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
fungal growth
drug-resistant fungi
-
growth defect
#8
iron deficiency within the cell
decrease
biological function of mitochondria
fungal cells
-
impaired
#9
Berberine (BBR)
decrease
fungal death
drug-resistant fungi
-
leading to
#10
Abstract

Invasive fungal infection is usually caused by Candida albicans infection, which has a high incidence rate and mortality in critically ill patients. New drugs are needed to combat this pathogen since the limited treatment options currently available and increasing resistance to existing drugs. Berberine (BBR) is an active compound in Coptis chinensis, Phellodendron chinense and Radix berberidis, which is clinically used to treat inflammatory bowel disease, but its inhibitory effect on drug-resistant fungi has not been clarified. In this study, based on the evidence of BBR inhibiting the expression of azole-resistance genes, reducing cell adhesion and disrupting biofilm formation, transcriptome analysis revealed that the disruption of iron acquisition pathway may be the core link in BBR inhibiting drug-resistant fungi. Combined with the subsequent experimental results, including the reduction of intracellular ferrous ion content, the weakening of iron reductase activity and the overall downregulation of the coding gene of the high-affinity iron reduction system, it is speculated that the fungal growth defect under BBR treatment is the result of the interruption of the high-affinity iron acquisition pathway. Ftr1 plays a central role in the drug targeting of this transport system. Meanwhile, due to the iron deficiency within the cell, the biological function of mitochondria is impaired, ultimately leading to fungal death. This study not only reflects the application value of BBR in the clinical treatment of fungal infections, but also provides a potential strategy to address the current drug-resistance dilemma.

Medical Subject Headings (MeSH)
BerberineFluconazoleDrug Resistance, FungalDrug InteractionsCandida albicansGene Expression Regulation, FungalAntifungal AgentsMitochondriaMicrobial ViabilityMicrobial Sensitivity TestsIronBiofilmsStress, PhysiologicalIon Pumps
Study Links
Quality Scores
SafetyNot Assessed
Efficacy85/10
Quality78/10
Research Impact Scores
APT Score0.05
Weight Score1.28
Normalized Score0.70
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