Regulation of oxidative stress enzymes in Candida auris by Dermaseptin: potential implications for antifungal drug discovery

The emergence of Candida auris poses a significant global health threat due to its high mortality rates and multidrug resistance. The development of new antifungal drugs is essential to effectively combat this pathogen. Antimicrobial peptides, such as Dermaseptin, have demonstrated potent anti-Candida activity. This study aimed to investigate the antifungal activity of Dermaseptin against C. auris isolates and its ability to induce oxidative stress and apoptosis. The results revealed the robust anti-Candida activity of Dermaseptin, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 15.62 μg mL⁻¹ and a minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) of 31.25 μg mL⁻¹. Spectrophotometric analysis demonstrated that Dermaseptin induced significant oxidative stress, as evidenced by the notable differences in the activity of primary antioxidant enzymes and lipid peroxidation (LPO) levels between the treated and untreated control groups. Moreover, Dermaseptin influenced the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes, as confirmed by reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Additionally, Dermaseptin induced apoptosis in C. auris in a dose-dependent manner. This study highlights the potential of Dermaseptin to inhibit and potentially eradicate C. auris by increasing oxidative stress levels. The low MICs and fungicidal properties of Dermaseptin against C. auris isolates suggest its potential as a candidate for the development of a novel antifungal agent.