Open AccessCandida albicans Adhesion to and Invasion and Damage of Vaginal Epithelial Cells: Stage-Specific Inhibition by Clotrimazole and Bifonazole
Author(s) -
Benjamin Wachtler,
Duncan Wilson,
Bernhard Hube
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.07
H-Index - 259
eISSN - 1070-6283
pISSN - 0066-4804
DOI - 10.1128/aac.00144-11
Subject(s) - bifonazole , clotrimazole , candida albicans , corpus albicans , microbiology and biotechnology , adhesion , vulvovaginal candidiasis , biology , azole , epithelium , chemistry , antifungal , genetics , organic chemistry
Clotrimazole and bifonazole are highly effective antifungal agents against mucosalCandida albicans infections. Here we examined the effects of low levels of clotrimazole and bifonazole on the ability ofC. albicans to adhere, invade, and damage vaginal epithelial cells. Although adhesion and invasion were not affected, damage was greatly reduced upon azole treatment. This clearly indicates that low levels of azoles influence specific activities ofC. albicans during distinct stages of vaginal epithelium infections.