Cell wall changes and proteome remodelling induced by Sida hermaphrodita seed extract in Candida albicans
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Immunobiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
- 2Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk and Medical University of Gdańsk
- 3Chair and Department of Medical Microbiology, Collegium Universum, Medical University of Lublin
- 4Department of Functional Anatomy and Cytobiology Institute of Biological Sciences, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University
- 5Faculty of Materials Science and Technical Physics, Institute of Materials Research and Quantum Engineering, Poznan University of Technology
- 6Department of Rheumatology and Connective Tissue Diseases, Medical University of Lublin
- 7Bruker Poland Sp. z o.o.
Abstract
Candida albicans is the leading etiological agent of both superficial and systemic candidiasis. Difficulties in the treatment of fungal infections result from the limited efficacy and high toxicity of the most commonly used antibiotics. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a protein extract from Sida hermaphrodita (Virginia mallow) seeds on cells of the clinical wild-type strain of C. albicans and to identify the cellular targets of this effect. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and LC–MS/MS Quantitative SWATH-MS were used to perform detailed analysis of changes occurring in cells after incubation with the seed extract at various concentrations (0.76–100 µg mL− 1). It was demonstrated that the extract at all concentrations significantly limited the growth of C. albicans cells and reduced their viability, causing cell death via necrosis (MIC50 was 25 µg mL− 1). After treatment with the extract, the cells were characterised by more intense and uneven fluorescence of individual cell wall layers: chitin and β-1,3-glucan. The SEM analysis revealed deformations in the cell shape and cells with numerous post-division scars located across the entire surface or at one of the poles. The flow cytometric analysis of the cell wall showed that the seed extract caused exposure of the β-1,3-glucan and chitin layers in the fungal cells, with a simultaneous reduction in mannans. These observations were confirmed by FTIR analyses, which revealed a decrease in the intensity of signals characteristic for cell wall polysaccharides, mannans, in the extract-treated cells. The AFM analysis showed changes in the nanomechanical properties of cells after treatment with extract at the highest concentration, i.e. an increase in elasticity, compared to control cells. The proteomic analyses revealed that the seed extract caused metabolic flexibility, reflected by the upregulation of mitochondrial and energy-associated proteins and the repression of ribosome-associated and biosynthetic proteins. Raman analysis provided information on the content of secondary protein structures in the extract. Immunoblotting using antibodies directed against lipid transfer protein and vicilins revealed proteins with molecular mass of 17, 63 kDa and 30, 35, 48, and 60 kDa, respectively. The extract is a promising material for the development of a new antifungal preparation with activity against C. albicans.
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BibTeX
@article{lewtak2026cell,
title = {{Cell wall changes and proteome remodelling induced by Sida hermaphrodita seed extract in Candida albicans}},
author = {Kinga Lewtak and Marta J. Fiołka and Paulina Czaplewska and Weronika Ścibek-Rejmontowska and Oskar Tkacz and Sylwia Mieszawska and Jerzy Wydrych and Tomasz Buchwald and Magdalena Dryglewska and Wojciech Kaźmierski},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
year = {2026},
month = jul,
doi = {10.1038/s41598-026-63147-1},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63147-1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Cell wall changes and proteome remodelling induced by Sida hermaphrodita seed extract in Candida albicans
AU - Kinga Lewtak
AU - Marta J. Fiołka
AU - Paulina Czaplewska
AU - Weronika Ścibek-Rejmontowska
AU - Oskar Tkacz
AU - Sylwia Mieszawska
AU - Jerzy Wydrych
AU - Tomasz Buchwald
AU - Magdalena Dryglewska
AU - Wojciech Kaźmierski
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/07/01
JO - Scientific Reports
DO - 10.1038/s41598-026-63147-1
UR - https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-026-63147-1
AB - Candida albicans is the leading etiological agent of both superficial and systemic candidiasis. Difficulties in the treatment of fungal infections result from the limited efficacy and high toxicity of the most commonly used antibiotics. The aim of this study was to analyse the effect of a protein extract from Sida hermaphrodita (Virginia mallow) seeds on cells of the clinical wild-type strain of C. albicans and to identify the cellular targets of this effect. Light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, flow cytometry, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and LC–MS/MS Quantitative SWATH-MS were used to perform detailed analysis of changes occurring in cells after incubation with the seed extract at various concentrations (0.76–100 µg mL− 1). It was demonstrated that the extract at all concentrations significantly limited the growth of C. albicans cells and reduced their viability, causing cell death via necrosis (MIC50 was 25 µg mL− 1). After treatment with the extract, the cells were characterised by more intense and uneven fluorescence of individual cell wall layers: chitin and β-1,3-glucan. The SEM analysis revealed deformations in the cell shape and cells with numerous post-division scars located across the entire surface or at one of the poles. The flow cytometric analysis of the cell wall showed that the seed extract caused exposure of the β-1,3-glucan and chitin layers in the fungal cells, with a simultaneous reduction in mannans. These observations were confirmed by FTIR analyses, which revealed a decrease in the intensity of signals characteristic for cell wall polysaccharides, mannans, in the extract-treated cells. The AFM analysis showed changes in the nanomechanical properties of cells after treatment with extract at the highest concentration, i.e. an increase in elasticity, compared to control cells. The proteomic analyses revealed that the seed extract caused metabolic flexibility, reflected by the upregulation of mitochondrial and energy-associated proteins and the repression of ribosome-associated and biosynthetic proteins. Raman analysis provided information on the content of secondary protein structures in the extract. Immunoblotting using antibodies directed against lipid transfer protein and vicilins revealed proteins with molecular mass of 17, 63 kDa and 30, 35, 48, and 60 kDa, respectively. The extract is a promising material for the development of a new antifungal preparation with activity against C. albicans.
SN - 2045-2322
ER -