Abstract
Candida lusitaniae is an opportunistic yeast pathogen, which can readily develop resistance to antifungal compounds and result in a complex long-term treatment. The efficient treatment is difficult since structure and metabolic properties of the fungal cells are similar to those of eukaryotic host. One of the potential methods to improve the inhibition rate or the cell permeability to inhibitors is the application of electroporation. In this work we investigated the dynamics of the growth inhibition and membrane permeabilization of C. lusitaniae by utilizing the various pulse shape and duration electric field pulses. Our results indicated that single electroporation procedure using 8 kV/cm electric field may result in up to 51 ± 5% inhibition rate. Also it has been experimentally shown that the electroporation pulse shape may influence the inhibitory effect; however, the amplitude of the electric field and the pulse energy remain the most important parameters for definition of the treatment outcome. The dynamics of the cell membrane permeabilization in the 2–8 kV/cm electric field were overviewed.
Highlights
The Candida species are commensal yeasts in healthy humans and are considered the causative agent of opportunistic fungal infections [1, 2]
In clinical specimens C. albicans is the most pathogenic and commonly encountered yeast; recent reports indicate a trend towards an increasing prevalence of infections caused by nonalbicans Candida species [5, 6]
In our previous works we have shown that application of monopolar electric field pulses results in growth inhibition of C. albicans and has a potential as a synergistic less toxic method for treatment of this pathogen [25]
Summary
The Candida species are commensal yeasts in healthy humans and are considered the causative agent of opportunistic fungal infections [1, 2]. In clinical specimens C. albicans is the most pathogenic and commonly encountered yeast; recent reports indicate a trend towards an increasing prevalence of infections caused by nonalbicans Candida species [5, 6]. A limited number of antifungals such as amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole are available. Other antifungal agents such as posaconazole, ravuconazole, caspofungin, and micafungin show promising results [2, 12, 13]. The research of the side effects of azole derivatives is required and the significance of the inhibitory effect should be analyzed taking into account the negative effects
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