Copper Nanoparticles Reduce Expression of Key Virulence Genes in Vaginal Candida albicans Infection: Implications for Novel Antifungal Therapies

Introduction: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a prevalent and often recurrent condition affecting an estimated ۷۵% of women worldwide. Candida albicans is a primary fungal pathogen responsible for a significant proportion of VVC cases. This cross-sectional study investigated the expression levels of two critical virulence genes, ALS۱ and HWP۱, in C. albicans isolates from women diagnosed with VVC. Moreover, we examined the effect of copper nanoparticles on the expression of these genes, exploring their potential as a novel antifungal therapy for VVC treatment. Methods: This study recruited ۳۰ patients diagnosed with VVC from Razi Hospital, Iran. We employed polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to confirm the presence of the ALS۱ and HWP۱ genes in C. albicans isolates. Subsequently, we extracted RNA from the isolates and assessed the effect of copper nanoparticles on the expression of ALS۱ and HWP۱ genes using quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Results: Of the ۳۰ C. albicans clinical isolates analyzed, ۱۷ (۵۶.۷%) harbored both HWP۱ and ALS۱ virulence genes. Copper nanoparticles significantly downregulated the expression of these genes. Notably, treatment with ۸.۸ μg/mL copper nanoparticles resulted in a significant reduction of HWP۱ gene expression, while ۳.۲۳ μg/mL copper nanoparticles led to a significant decrease in ALS۱ gene expression. Conclusion: This study identified the presence of ALS۱ and HWP۱ virulence genes in C. albicans isolates from women with VVC and demonstrated the potential of copper nanoparticles to downregulate their expression. These findings offer promising insights into the development of novel antifungal therapies for VVC treatment. However, further investigations with larger, more diverse cohorts and comprehensive analyses are necessary to fully understand the effects of copper nanoparticles on C. albicans gene expression and their potential clinical applications for VVC management.

کلیدواژه ها:

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) ، Candida albicans ، Copper nanoparticles ، ALS۱ ، HWP۱ ، Downregulation ، Antifungal therapy