Vanillin targets cell wall integrity, vacuole homeostasis, biofilm formation and attenuates immune evasion in Candida auris

Hameed, Saif; KAUSHIK, ANKUSH; GHALAWAT, KOMAL; FATIMA, ZEESHAN

doi:10.22034/cmm.2025.345383.1639

Vanillin targets cell wall integrity, vacuole homeostasis, biofilm formation and attenuates immune evasion in Candida auris

Articles in Press

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

Saif Hameed ¹

ANKUSH KAUSHIK ²

KOMAL GHALAWAT ²

ZEESHAN FATIMA ²

¹ Amity University Haryana,

² Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University Haryana, Manesar, Gurugram-122413, India

10.22034/cmm.2025.345383.1639

Abstract

Background

Candida auris presents a serious global health threat over the past decade due to its intrinsic multidrug resistance and frequent misidentification with closely related Candida species. Alternative therapeutic strategies involving natural compounds are urgently needed.

Objective

To evaluate the antifungal efficacy of vanillin (Van), a food flavouring agent with known medicinal properties, against C. auris, and elucidate its underlying mechanisms of action.

Methods

Cell wall analysis assessed compositional changes in chitin, glucan, and mannan by calcofluor white, aniline blue and ConA-fluorescein conjugate staining respectively. Vacuole integrity was examined by vacuolar acidification and morphology through Quinacrine and FM4-64 staining respectively. Crystal violet staining and metabolic activity by MTT assay and biomass measurement were used to evaluate biofilm formation. THP-1 macrophage model was used to study immune evasion and macrophage-mediated killing while Caenorhabditis elegans model was used to test antifungal efficacy and survival outcomes.

Key words: Candida; cell wall; vacuole; biofilm; macrophage; C. elegans

Keywords

vanillin

natural compound, drug resistance

macrophage

C. elegans

Subjects