Open AccessPhospholipid and sterol analysis of plasma membranes of azole‐resistant Candida albicans strains
Author(s) -
Löffler Jürgen,
Einsele Hermann,
Hebart Holger,
Schumacher Ulrike,
Hrastnik Claudia,
Daum Günther
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09040.x
Subject(s) - sterol , ergosterol , phospholipid , phosphatidylethanolamine , azole , phosphatidylcholine , candida albicans , fluconazole , membrane , chemistry , biochemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , cholesterol , antifungal
The phospholipid and sterol composition of the plasma membranes of five fluconazole‐resistant clinical Candida albicans isolates was compared to that of three fluconazole‐sensitive ones. The three azole‐sensitive strains tested and four of the five resistant strains did not exhibit any major difference in their phospholipid and sterol composition. The remaining strain (R5) showed a decreased amount of ergosterol and a lower phosphatidylcholine:phosphatidylethanolamine ratio in the plasma membrane. These changes in the plasma membrane lipid and sterol composition may be responsible for an altered uptake of drugs and thus for a reduced intracellular accumulation of fluconazole thereby providing a mechanism for azole resistance.