Wicaltin, a New Protein Toxin Secreted by the Yeast Williopsis californica and Its Broad-Spectrum Antimycotic Potential

  • Theisen, Simone (Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universitat des Saarlandes) ;
  • Molkenau, Elisabeth (Institut fur Mikrobiologie und Weinforschung, Johannes Gutenberg-Universitat Mainz) ;
  • Schmitt, Manfred J. (Angewandte Molekularbiologie, Universitat des Saarlandes)
  • Published : 2000.08.01

Abstract

The yeast Williopsis californica was shown to secrete a unique broad-spectrum killer toxin (Wicaltin) with antifungal activity against 14 yeast genera, including yeast-like and mycelial forms of the human pathogens Candida albicans and Sporothrix schenkii. Agar diffusion bioassays indicated that its activity was more pronounced than the antifungal potential of frequently used antimycotics; 0.07 pmol Wicaltin showed the same toxicity as 0.2 pmol miconazole and 29 pmol clotrimazole. Since the toxin's primary target would appear to be the yeast cell wall, Wicaltin may be attractive in combatting clinically relevant yeast and fungal infections.

Keywords

References

  1. Mycoses v.37 In vitro susceptibility of 545 isolates of Candida spp. to four antifungal agents Arias, A.;M. P. Arevalo;A. Andreu;C. Rodriguez;A. Sierra
  2. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. v.9 Carrier effects on biological activity of amphotericin B Brajtburg, J.;J. Bolard
  3. Biochem. Soc.Tr. v.25 The yeast cell wall, a dynamic structure engaged in growth and morphogenesis Cabib, E.;T. Drgon;J. Drgonova;R. A. Ford;R. Kollar
  4. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother v.37 Correlation of in vitro fluconazole resistance of Candida isolates in relation to therapy and symptoms of individuals seropositive for human immunodeficiency virus type 1 Cameron, M. L.;W. A. Schell;S. Bruch;J. A Bartlett;H. A. Waskin;J. R. Perfect
  5. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. v.9 Epidemiology of nosocomial fungal infections Fridkin, S. K.;W. R. Jarvis
  6. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. v.6 Compounds active against cell walls of medically important fungi Hector, R. F.
  7. Microbiology v.141 Anti-Candida activity of a novel killer toxin from the yeast Williopsis mrakii Hodgson, V. J.;D. Button;G. M. Walker
  8. J. Biol. Chem. v.272 Characterization of Saccharomyces cerevisiae CYP61, sterol -desaturase, and inhibition by azole antifungal agents Kelly, S. L.;D. C. Lamb;B. C. Baldwin;A. J. Corran;D. E. Kelly
  9. J. Ferment. Bioeng v.80 Structural relationships among killer toxins secreted from the killer strains of the genus Williopsis Kimura, T.;N. Kitamoto;Y. Ohta;Y. Kito;Y. Iimura
  10. Biol. Pharm. Bull. v.18 Structure and activity of HYI killer toxin from Hansenula saturnus Komiyama, T.;T. Ohta;Y. Euruichi;Y. Phta;Y. Tsukada
  11. Biol. Pharm. Bull. v.21 Action properties of HYI killer toxin from Williopsis saturnus var. saturnus, and antibiotics, aculeacin A and papulacandin B Komiyama, T.;T. Shirai;T. Ohta;H. urakami;Y. Furuichi;Y. Ohta
  12. ASM News v.64 New antifungal drug targets: A vision for the future Kurtz, M. B.
  13. Clin. Microbiol. Rev. v.10 Yeast killer systems Magliani, W.;S. Conti;M. Gerloni;D. Bertolotti;L. Polonelli
  14. Agric. Biol. Chem. v.48 Production purification and characterization of HYI, an anti-yeast substance, produced by Hansenula saturnus Ohta, Y.;Y, tsukada;T. Sugimori
  15. J. Gen. Microbiol v.128 purification and characterization of extracellular and intracellular killer toxin of Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain 28 Pfeiffer, P.;F. Radler;M. A. pfaller
  16. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother v.39 Resistance of Candida species to fluconazole Rex, J. H.;M. G. Rinaldi;M. A. Pfaller
  17. Recent Res. Devel. Virol v.1 Killer viruses in Saccharomyces cerevisiae and their general importance in understanding eukaryotic cell biology Schmitt, M. J.;K. Eisfeld
  18. J. Virol v.71 Unique double-stranded RNAs responsible for the anti-Candida activity of the yeast Hanseniaspora uvarum Schmitt, M. J.;O. Poravou;K. Trenz;K. Rehfeldt
  19. J. Bacteriol v.170 Molecualr structure of the cell wall receptor for killer toxin K28 in Saccharomyces cerevisiae Schmitt, M. J.;F. Radler
  20. Mol. Microbiol v.5 Yeast dsRNA viruses: Replication and killer phenotypes Tipper, D. J.;M. J. Schmitt
  21. FEBS Lett v.197 Killer toxin from Hansenula mrakii selectively inhibits cell wall synthesis in a sensitive yeast Yamamoto, T.;T. Hiratani;H. Hirata;M. Imai;H. Yamaguchi