Abstract
The antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) is a promising approach for the control of microbial and especially fungal infections such as mucosal mycosis. TMPyP [5,10,15, 20-tetrakis(1-methylpyridinium-4-yl)-porphyrin tetra p-toluenesulfonate] is an effective photosensitizer (PS) that is commonly used in aPDT. The aim of this study was to examine the localization of TMPyP in Candida albicans before and after irradiation with visible light to get information about the cellular mechanism of antifungal action of the photodynamic process using this PS. Immediately after incubation of C. albicans with TMPyP, fluorescence microscopy revealed an accumulation of the PS in the cell envelope. After irradiation with blue light the complete cell showed red fluorescence, which indicates, that aPDT is leading to a damage in the cell wall with following influx of PS into the cytosol. Incubation of C. albicans with Wheat Germ Agglutinin (WGA) could confirm the cell wall as primary binding site of TMPyP. The finding that the porphyrin accumulates in the fungal cell wall and does not enter the interior of the cell before irradiation makes it unlikely that resistances can emerge upon aPDT. The results of this study may help in further development and modification of PS in order to increase efficacy against fungal infections such as those caused by C. albicans.
Highlights
Candida albicans is known as the most common pathogenic fungus within the human body causing a variety of superficial and invasive fungal infections [1]
We could find a decrease in the viability of C. albicans without light exposure from 25 μM on
Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy is a promising approach in this field
Summary
Candida albicans is known as the most common pathogenic fungus within the human body causing a variety of superficial and invasive fungal infections [1]. This fungus can be found throughout the whole gastrointestinal tract from the oral cavity to the rectum [2]. C. albicans has a complex cell wall which protects the cell and plays an important role in the interaction between fungus and host [2]. The fungal cell wall consists of an outer and an inner layer. The inner layer of the cell wall contains chitin and β-1,3-glucan, whereas N- and O- linked mannose polymers, that are covalently bound to proteins, are components of the outer layer.
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