HIV-1 anti-retroviral drug effect on the C. albicans hyphal growth rate by a Bio-Cell Tracer system

Abstract

Declining incidence of oropharyngeal candidosis and opportunistic infections over recent years can be attributed to the use of highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Infection with C. albicans generally involves adherence and colonization of superficial tissues. During this process, budding yeasts are able to transform to hyphae and penetrate into the deep tissue. Using the biocell tracer system, C. albicans hyphal growth was dynamically observed at the cellular level. Ritonavir was effective in the inhibition of hyphal growth with growth rate of 0.8 μm/min. This study showed the in vitro effect of HIV anti-retroviral drug on the growth rate of the C. albicans hyphae.

Antimicrobial properties of sclerotiorin, isocHromophilone VI and pencolide, metabolites from a Brazilian cerrado isolate of Penicillium sclerotiorum van Beyma

“…This result is quite interesting due to the increasing problems faced by patients bearing C. albicans recurrent infections. This yeast is also the main causative agent of a frequent oropharyngeal candidiasis in immune deficient patients (17) and it is pretty difficult to find substances active against C. albicans bearing selective toxicity, due the resemblance between mammalian and fungal cells. The existence of a Japanese patent on the use of extracts rich in sclerotiorin in food preparations (10) points out that the use of this substance to combat human fungal infections may not cause toxic collateral effects.…”

Bacillomycin D and its combination with amphotericin B: promising antifungal compounds with powerful antibiofilm activity and wound-healing potency

“…The latter represents an important virulent factor promoting biofilm formation (De Melo et al . ; Worley et al . ).…”

“…Interestingly, C. albicans biofilm has the ability to strongly adhere to host tissues or to inert surfaces of medical devices (Ramage and PharmD ; De Melo et al . ). Furthermore, this micro‐organism can secrete extracellular proteases and other hydrolytic enzymes allowing the invasion of the pathogen into mucosal tissues (Bernardo et al .…”

“…This occurs upon its switch from the unicellular yeast form (blastospore) to the filamentous phenotype (hyphae and pseudohyphae) (Vale-Silva et al 2007;Ariyachet et al 2013;Raines et al 2013). The latter represents an important virulent factor promoting biofilm formation (De Melo et al 2006;Worley et al 2009). Interestingly, C. albicans biofilm has the ability to strongly adhere to host tissues or to inert sur-Sessile cells growing in biofilm communities have also shown increasing resistance to conventional antifungal agents like azoles (Tsang et al 2012; Math e and Dijck 2013; Wisplinghoff et al 2014).…”

Antiretroviral drugs saquinavir and ritonavir reduce inhibitory concentration values of itraconazole against Histoplasma capsulatum strains in vitro

“… 17 It has also been observed from in vitro and in vivo studies that protease inhibitors reduce the pathogenicity and growth of C. albicans probably because these drugs act directly on the production of the enzyme aspartyl-proteinases, which is secreted by this organism in the processes of invasion and colonization of host tissues. 18 , 19 , 20 Additionally, it has been shown that ritonavir inhibits the in vitro hyphal growth rate of C. albicans , 21 ritonavir and saquinavir inhibit the adherence of C. albicans to endothelial cells, 22 and saquinavir, ritonavir, and indinavir attenuate the in vitro adherence of C. albicans to acrylic substances, which is a common component of oral appliances. 23 …”