Next generation sequencing facilitates quantitative analysis of transcriptional profiling of Candida albicans wild type treated or not with SP1

Fungi have developed a variety of mechanisms to resist antifungals for survival. Uncovering their resistance mechanisms will aid in development of alternative therapeutics for fungal infections. In our study, a time-lapse microscopic imaging method was used to screen a molecule library and SP1 was identified as a short-time antifungal agent and exhibited biphasic killing pattern. Investigation of the underlying mechanism for the biphasic killing pattern and short-time activity of SP1 may expand the utility of this important class of spirobisnaphthalenes and uncover a new drug-resistant mechanism in fungi. mRNA profiles of SP1 treated Candida albicans SC5314, untreated Candida albicans SC5314 were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using illumina NovaSeq 6000. The sequence reads that passed quality filters were analyzed at the transcript isoform level. qRT-PCR validation was performed using SYBR Green assay. The RNA-seq and qPCR results revealed an upregulation of heat shock response related genes including HSP90, SSA1 and osmotic and oxidative stress related genes including HOG1 and PBS2 and CAP1. Some common transporters encoding genes were also accordingly altered in SP1 treated group. mRNA profiles of SP1 treated Candida albicans SC5314,untreated Candida albicans SC5314 were generated by deep sequencing, in triplicate, using illumina NovaSeq 6000.