A Survey of the Effect of Camphor on INT۱ and EFG۱ Gene Expressions of Candida albicans at Three Treatment Times (۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours) via Real-time PCR

Objective: Candida albicans (C. albicans) is an opportunistic yeast that can lead to pathogenesis in immunocompromised individuals and under suitable conditions. Medicinal plants ingredients such as camphor can reduce the expressions of genes involved in virulence of the fungi through their antifungal properties. The products of INT۱ and EFG۱ are implicated in inducing filamentous growth and adhesion of C. albicans to the host tissues. Both of these characteristics are very important in its virulence. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the effects of camphor on INT۱ and EFG۱ expressions at three time points of treatment (۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours) via real-time PCR. Methods: We prepared serial dilutions of camphor (۱, ۲, ۴, ۸, ۱۶, ۳۲, ۶۴, ۱۲۸, ۲۵۶, and ۵۱۲ mg/ml) and co-cultured them with ۱.۵×۱۰۳ cells/ml of a C. albicans ATCC ۱۰۲۳۱ suspension for ۴۸ hours at ۳۵۰C. Next, we determined the MIC۵۰/۹۰ and MFC. C. albicans cells were treated with the MIC۵۰ concentration of camphor for ۲۴, ۴۸, and ۷۲ hours. RNA from C. albicans was extractedbefore and after treatment, back translated into cDNA, and analyzed with real-time PCR. Results:MIC۵۰, MIC۹۰ and MFC of camphor were determined at ۱۶ mg/ml, ۳۲ mg/ml and ۶۴ mg/ml, respectively. Evaluation of gene expression changes in yeast showed that camphor reduced the INT۱ gene expression about ۸۷% at ۲۴ hours, ۹۷% at ۴۸ hours, and ۸۶% at ۷۲ hours after treatment compared to the untreated sample. EFG۱ expression reduced about ۵۸% at ۲۴ hours, ۹۳% at ۴۸ hours, and ۴۹% at ۷۲ hours after treatment with camphor. Conclusion: In recent years, advancements have been seen in herbalism due to the increased drug resistance and adverse effects of chemical drugs. These plants may efficiently act as antifungal agents. The results of this study have shown that the use of camphor can significantly reduce the expression of virulence genes INT۱ and EFG۱ in C. albicans.

کلیدواژه ها:

Candida albicans ، Camphor ، Virulence factors ، کاندیدا آلبیکنس ، کامفور ، عوامل بیماریزا