Open AccessAmbroxol influences voriconazole resistance of C andida parapsilosis biofilm
Author(s) -
Pulcrano Giovanna,
Panellis Dimitrios,
Domenico Giovanni,
Rossano Fabio,
Catania Maria Rosaria
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
fems yeast research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.991
H-Index - 92
eISSN - 1567-1364
pISSN - 1567-1356
DOI - 10.1111/j.1567-1364.2012.00792.x
Subject(s) - biofilm , voriconazole , ambroxol , microbiology and biotechnology , candida parapsilosis , biology , efflux , azole , candida albicans , hypha , antifungal , bacteria , biochemistry , genetics , anatomy
The ability to form biofilm on different surfaces is typical of most C andida species. Microscopic structure and genetic aspects of fungal biofilms have been the object of many studies because of very high resistance to antimycotic agents because of the scarce permeability of the external matrix and to the alterations in cell metabolism. In our study, 31 isolates of C andida parapsilosis , isolated from bloodstream infections, were tested for their ability to produce biofilm and were found to be good producers. The susceptibility to voriconazole, assayed by colorimetrical XTT assay, revealed a very elevated minimum inhibitory concentrations for sessile cells in comparison with planktonic ones. The addition of ambroxol, a mucolytic agent, increased the susceptibility of biofilm forming cells to voriconazole. Expression of the efflux pump genes CDR and MDR was analyzed in biofilms alone or treated with ambroxol, evidencing a role of ambroxol in the expression of genes involved in azole resistance mechanisms of C . parapsilosis biofilms. In conclusion, our data seem to encourage the use of different substances in combination with classical antimycotics, with the aim of finding a solution to the increasing problem of the resistance of biofilms formed on medical devices by nonalbicans C andida species.