Berberine inhibits Candida albicans growth by disrupting mitochondrial function through the reduction of iron absorption

Abstract

Abstract Aims This study aimed to investigate whether berberine (BBR) can inhibit the iron reduction mechanism of Candida albicans, lowering the iron uptake of the yeast and perhaps having antimicrobial effects. Methods and results We determined that BBR may cause extensive transcriptional remodeling in C. albicans and that iron permease Ftr1 played a crucial role in this process through eukaryotic transcriptome sequencing. Mechanistic research showed that BBR might selectively inhibit the iron reduction pathway to lower the uptake of exogenous iron ions, inhibiting C. albicans from growing and metabolizing. Subsequent research revealed that BBR caused significant mitochondrial dysfunction, which triggered the process of mitochondrial autophagy. Moreover, we discovered that C. albicans redox homeostasis, susceptibility to antifungal drugs, and hyphal growth are all impacted by the suppression of this mechanism by BBR. Conclusions The iron reduction mechanism in C. albicans is disrupted by BBR, which disrupts mitochondrial function and inhibits fungal growth. These findings highlight the potential promise of BBR in antifungal applications.