Current Biology paper shows bacterial antibiotic switches the fungus

Researchers from Monash University and the University of Warwick have found that the bacterial antibiotic gladiolin can disarm Candida albicans, a leading cause of life-threatening fungal infections.

The study, published in Current Biology, is the latest result from the Monash Warwick Alliance Programme in Antimicrobial Resistance, a long-term collaboration between the two universities.

Scientists at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute led the work. They found gladiolin can switch Candida albicans from its invasive hyphae form back into its round yeast form.

That shift matters because hyphae let the fungus penetrate and damage human tissue. They also help Candida albicans form drug-resistant biofilms.

Lead author Professor Ana Traven said researchers discovered gladiolin can “switch off” this aggressive behaviour and push the fungus back into its less harmful yeast state.

Gladiolin changes Candida glucose use

First author Dr Manasa Bharathwaj, a research fellow at the Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute, found gladiolin changes the metabolism of Candida albicans. In the study, the pathogen consumed more glucose from its environment.

According to the researchers, glucose is important for invasive hyphae to grow. Gladiolin makes Candida albicans use up that glucose faster, which forces the fungus back into its less invasive yeast state.

The paper also showed gladiolin can dramatically boost the effectiveness of amphotericin B, one of the world’s most important antifungal medicines.

This research builds on a 2024 discovery led by Professor Traven, Professor Mibel Aguilar and Professor Greg Challis. Together, the 2024 work and the new study show that naturally occurring bacterial molecules such as gladiolin can tackle dangerous fungi in more than one way.

One route is to strengthen existing antifungal drugs such as amphotericin B. Another is to switch off a key disease-causing behaviour by stopping Candida albicans from staying in its invasive hyphae form.

Professor Traven said the findings offer a different way to control fungal infections. Instead of only trying to kill the fungus, researchers may also be able to disarm it.

Professor Traven and Professor Challis serve as co-Directors of the Monash Warwick Alliance Programme in Antimicrobial Resistance. The alliance brings together researchers from both institutions to tackle antimicrobial resistance.

Professor Challis said the finding helps identify new ways to tackle infections that are becoming harder to treat. The researchers said the results open new avenues for developing treatments for serious fungal disease.