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Anna Krasowska, Jakub Suchodolski and Marcin Lukaszewicz
University of Wroclaw, Poland
ScientificTracks Abstracts: J Microbio and Biotech Rept
Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast-like fungus that causes exo- and endogenous infections. C. albicans strains exhibit multidrugresistance to commonly used antifungal agents which correlate with overexpression of Cdr and Mdr efflux pumps located in the plasma membrane. Growing resistance of pathogenic C. albicans strains to many classes of antifungal drugs has stimulated efforts to find new agents to combat more invasive infections. A selected number of probiotic organisms, Saccharomyces boulardii among them, have also been tested as potential biotherapeutic agents. S. boulardii is a yeast strain that has been shown to have applications in the prevention and treatment of intestinal infections caused by microbial pathogens. We have similarly shown that S. boulardii secretes capric acid (C10:0), which is most effective in inhibiting essential virulence factors of C. albicans, especially morphological transition, partial adhesion, as well as biofilm formation. Our latest research on the mechanism of action of capric acid and its influence on the C. albicans cells clearly show its interaction with the plasma membrane. Capric acid decreases fluidity, while increasing the potential of the plasma membrane. For these reasons, we have probably not observed antifungal activity of amphotericin B in the presence of capric acid. The antagonism between capric acid and amphotericin B is a strong indication for physicians to not use both compounds simultaneously in the treatment of candidiasis.
Anna Krasowska is an assistant professor at the Department of Biotransformation, University of Wroclaw, Poland. She is currently involved in the isolation and characterization of biosurfactants produced by arctic microorganisms. She has also examined the activity of lipases and proteases released into the environment by microorganisms isolated from different environments. Her research interests lie in multidrug resistance of pathogenic microorganisms like Saccharomyces cerevisiae, yeast and Candida albicans.
E-mail: anna.krasowska@uwr.edu.pl
