candida albicans

Oral candidiasis is the most common infection of oral mucosa caused by Candida albicans. A common predisposing factor for candidiasis is immune system suppression in specific diseases such as AIDS and various cancers. This study aimed to analyze the effect of Kefir probiotic products on the count of C. Albicans in the saliva of chemotherapy patients.

In this single-blinded clinical trial, 50 patients were selected who have signed informed consent forms. Patients aged 20-60 years with colon or breast cancer who received the same chemotherapy regimen were included and those with a history of radiation therapy, underlying diseases, using antibiotics, anti-fungal and GCSF medicines were excluded. Matched patients in test and control groups received 100 ccs Kefir probiotic and mineral water, respectively at a specific daily time for five weeks. Blood and saliva samples were collected in five steps. Data were analyzed using SPSS Version 21 and the significance level was set at p< 0.05.

In saliva samples, the count of C. Albicans in the test group dropped significantly (p<0.05), while there were no significant differences between test and control groups in blood samples (p>0.05). Comparing the follow-up sessions, in the test groups, WBC and Neutrophil, and in the control groups, WBC count and hematocrit showed significant differences (p< 0.05).

Based on the results, using probiotic products daily over a short-term period drops the count of oral C. Albicans. Therefore, Kefir probiotic products can be used as an additional treatment for chemotherapy patients.

 Herbal extracts have gained attention for their potential benefits in promoting oral health and preventing dental caries and periodontal diseases. This study evaluated the antimicrobial effects and cytotoxicity of ethanolic extracts of Salvia officinalis and Juglans regia, both individually and in combination, against Streptococcus mutans, Lactobacillus casei, and Candida albicans, microorganisms associated with oral diseases.

 In this in vitro study, the hydroalcoholic (ethanolic) extracts of J. regia and S. officinalis were prepared using the maceration method. To determine the antimicrobial effectiveness, the zone of inhibition in the disk agar diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) were assessed for each extract, separately and in combination. The extracts’ cytotoxicity was investigated at their effective doses using the MTT (methyl thiazole tetrazolium) assay.

 Compared to the negative control, ethanolic extracts of S. officinalis and J. regia exhibited a significant inhibitory effect (P<0.001) on S. mutans and L. casei. Salvia officinalis extract exhibited antimicrobial activities, as evidenced by the MIC values of 237.5 µg/mL for S. mutans, 118.7 µg/mL for Lactobacillus casei, and 31.25 mg/mL for C. albicans. The ethanolic extract of Juglans regia exhibited MIC values of 29.6 µg/mL for S. mutans, 475 µg/mL for L. casei, and 15.62 mg/mL for C. albicans, respectively. MTT assay results showed that the extracts had no cytotoxic effects at the MIC on the L929 cell line; however, pure chlorhexidine was toxic at 0.2% concentration.

 The study results revealed that the ethanolic extracts of S. officinalis and J. regia and their combined application showed antimicrobial activity against pathogenic microorganisms pertinent to oral health. In addition, cytotoxicity evaluations indicated that these extracts are non-toxic to the L929 cell line at effective concentrations.

The azole antifungals are the most frequent class used to treat Candida infections. It is essential to elucidate the potential of natural compounds as an alternative in eliminating Candida albicans (C. albicans). Therefore, in the present study, the antagonistic effect of Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxins on azole antifungal resistance in C. albicans species was investigated.

In this study, 28 C. albicans species with azole antifungal resistance were obtained from patients at Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital. The effect of toxins, such as phenazine, pyocyanin, pyoverdine, and fluorescein, was examined on C. albicans species. The antifungal activity of these toxins against C. albicans spp. was determined using methods such as minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC90), radial diffusion assay (RDA), and detection of reactive oxygen species (ROS).

The prevalence of C. albicans strains in urinary catheters, surgical wounds, respiratory tracts, blood, and standard strains was 46.3%, 21.4%, 25%, 7.14%, and 3.57%, respectively. The MIC values were reported as 32 µg/ml for phenazine, and 128 µg/ml for pyoverdine, pyocyanin, and fluorescein. The results showed that phenazine exhibited higher inhibitory effects against C. albicans isolated from clinical samples compared to the other toxins. After exposure to phenazines (20 µg/ml), 65-70% of yeast cells of C. albicans spp. showed rhodamine 123 fluorescence, indicating high intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production.

The antifungal effect of different toxins in C. albicans spp. may be due to ROS-mediated apoptotic death. The results suggest that phenazine has high potential in controlling C. albicans. This natural compounds are a potential alternative for eliminating this yeast.

The rising prevalence of antibiotic resistance and biofilm-associated infections poses significant challenges in clinical settings. This study investigates the antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties of oleuropein, a compound derived from olive leaves, against Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus.

This study was conducted on Candida albicans (fluconazole-resistant/susceptible) and Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-resistant/susceptible). The antifungal, antibacterial, anti-adhesion, and cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) effects of oleuropein were evaluated. The impact of oleuropein on germ tube formation (GTF) in C. albicans was assessed. Finally, the toxicity of oleuropein was evaluated in zebrafish embryos.

Oleuropein exhibited MIC values of 10 mg/ml for C. albicans and 5 mg/ml for S. aureus. It significantly (P< 0.05) reduced the adhesion of both microorganisms in a dose-dependent manner, with inhibition percentages of 78.43% and 75.91% for C. albicans and S. aureus, respectively. Additionally, oleuropein reduced the CSH of C. albicans, indicating its potential to interfere with adhesion mechanisms. In addition, oleuropein exhibited inhibition of GTF in C. albicans.

Oleuropein demonstrates significant antimicrobial and anti-adhesive properties against C. albicans and S. aureus, indicating its potential as a therapeutic agent for preventing biofilm-related infections. However, careful dosage management is crucial due to its observed toxicity at higher concentrations.

This study evaluate the antifungal effects of duloxetine as monotherapy and in combination with fluconazole on fluconazole-resistant C. albicans.
In this in vitro study, a suspension of fluconazole-resistant C. albicans clinical isolates from oral candidiasis was prepared using the CLSI M37-A3 method. Fluconazole (3 mg/mL) and duloxetine (160 µg/mL) stock solutions were serially diluted 9 times (0.625-160 µg/mL for duloxetine and 0.5-128 µg/mL for fluconazole). Their antifungal activity against C. albicans were evaluated by the microdilution method through broth media. The minimum inhibitory concentration of duloxetine, fluconazole, and their combination was also determined.
Fluconazole-resistant C. albicans was only sensitive to 32, 64, and 128 µg/mL fluconazole and 160, 80, and 40 µg/mL duloxetine as monotherapy. It was also sensitive to 80 and 160 µg/mL duloxetine combined with all 9 dilutions of fluconazole, but 40 µg/mL duloxetine was only effective in combination with 16 to 128 µg/mL fluconazole. Fluconazole-resistant C. albicans was sensitive to 10 and 20 µg/mL duloxetine combined with 32, 64, and 128 µg/mL fluconazole. It was also sensitive to 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, and 5 µg/mL duloxetine combined with 64 and 128 µg/mL fluconazole. The MIC of duloxetine was 40 µg/mL as monotherapy and 16 µg/mL combined with fluconazole.
Duloxetine had antifungal effects and the combination of duloxetine with fluconazole had synergistic effects on inhibited fluconazole -resistant C. albicans

Candida albicans is currently recognised as an opportunistic pathogen that can cause many invasive infections. Resistance mechanisms and fungal virulence factors play an important role in the effectiveness of treatment. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between fluconazole resistance, proteinase activity and ERG11 (sterol 14-demethylase)- SAP2 (secreted aspartic protease 2) gene expression levels in C.albicans strains.

Candida albicans strains isolated from patient samples sent to Medical Microbiology laboratory of Düzce University from various clinics were included in the study. Fluconazole susceptibilities of the isolates were determined by broth microdilution method. The increase in fluconazole MIC values at 48 hours and proteinase activities of the isolates were analysed. ERG11 and SAP2 gene expression levels were measured by real time qPCR.

Fluconazole resistance rate was found to be 3.14% in 127 C. albicans strains. A moderate positive correlation was found between ERG11 and SAP2 values (p=0.029, r:0.655, p<0.001). There was no correlation between SAP2/ERG11 expression levels and fluconazole resistance. Proteinase positivity was detected in 81.1%, of 127 strains and no statistically significant correlation was found between proteinase activities and SAP2/ERG11 expression levels. While there was a statistically significant relationship between ERG11 expression levels and 48th hour MIC elevation, there was no statistically significant relationship between SAP2 levels and 48th hour MIC elevation.

In addition to the moderate positive correlation between ERG11 and SAP2 values, a significant correlation was found between ERG11 expression and fluconazole tolerance.

Dorema species are well-known antifungal medicinal plants. Dorema kopetdaghense (Apiaceae family) is a rarely investigated plant endemic to Iran. The present study aimed to assess the antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, and cytotoxic activities of root extracts of different plants.

The methanolic crude extract (MeOH) and its sub-fractions, including petroleum ether (PE), dichloromethane (DCM), ethyl acetate (EtOAc), and nbutanol (n-BuOH) were prepared.

Results from the antifungal and antibacterial activities of fractions indicated remarkable antifungal effects against Candida albicans with minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum bactericidal concentration values of 10 µg/mL; however, no cytotoxicity was observed in the case of selected cancer cells. Moreover, methanolic soluble fractions showed good antiradical effects evaluated via DPPH and β-carotene bleaching tests possessing half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 20.11 and 41.32 µg/mL, respectively, though it was less effective than positive controls ascorbic acid (8.47 and 31.71 µg/mL, respectively) and butylated hydroxytoluene (IC50: 10.29 and 33.55 µg/mL, respectively).

It can be concluded that strong antifungal and antioxidant activities without notable cytotoxicity, suggest the potential safety of the plant to be used as a natural antifungal remedy as well as a preservative in the food industry.

Candidiasis is a prevalent fungal infection caused by various species of Candida, especially, C. albicans. The emergence of resistance to azole medications, which are frequently prescribed for the treatment of Candida infections, presents a significant challenge in the management of these infections.

The present mini-review summarizes findings from a comprehensive search of articles published between 1999 and 2024, retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and Web of Science. Studies were selected using specific keywords based on relevance to UPC2 gene functions, azole resistance mechanisms, and C. albicans biology.

The UPC2 gene has become crucial in regulating drug resistance in C. albicans. This gene encodes a zinc (II)-Cys (6) transcription factor involved in the biosynthesis of sterols and contributes to resistance against azole antifungal drugs. When exposed to azoles, UPC2 in C. albicans enhances the expression of ergosterol biosynthesis genes, such as ERG2 and ERG11. Increased expression of ERG11 leads to reduced susceptibility to azoles by boosting the production of 14α-lanosterol demethylase, the primary target of these antifungal agents. Furthermore, UPC2 regulates sterol uptake under anaerobic conditions and manages other adaptations to environmental changes, all of which contribute to azole resistance.

Gaining insight into how the UPC2 gene contributes to azole resistance is essential for the development of effective strategies in the antifungal drug development process.

Microorganism colonization, namely Candida albicans (C. albicans), on silicone facial prostheses, with subsequent dermatitis and prosthesis material degradation, is another problem added to the list for maxillofacial defect patients who have already suffered a lot of physical and psychological pain during their injury and treatment journey. This study aimed to investigate the most effective percentage of thymol powder for retarding Candida albicans adhesion and colonization on the thymol-modified silicone specimens.

Study specimens were made from room-temperature vulcanized VerSilTal (VST-50) maxillofacial silicone, which is impregnated with thymol powder in percentages of 0.75 wt.% and 1 wt.%, depending on the pilot study outcomes. Forty silicone specimens were fabricated for the main study and then dispensed among four groups: group A (the negative control with no additive), groups B and C (0.75 and 1 wt.% thymol additive, respectively), and group D (the positive control with 1.4 wt.% nystatin additive). Candida adherence testing estimated the antifungal properties of thymol-modified maxillofacial silicone specimens through microscopic counting of adherent C. albicans cells on the silicone specimens’ surface. ANOVA and post-hoc multiple comparison tests were used to compare groups (significance level at P < 0.05).

Statistically, group B exhibited the maximum significant reduction in candida adherence mean value of 52.211 yeast cells/mm2 (P = 0.000), compared to the rest of the study groups, including the positive and the negative controls.

The outcomes revealed that thymol powder could be a powerful antifungal agent when impregnated with maxillofacial silicone to produce material with inherent sanitation against C. albicans fungi.

The success of endodontic treatments can be significantly impaired by persistent microbial pathogens, especially Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) and Candida albicans (C. albicans). The aim of this study was to investigate how the incorporation of chitosan nanoparticles (CsNPs) and arginine (Arg) can enhance the antimicrobial and antibiofilm efficacy of AH Plus, a widely used epoxy resin-based root canal sealer. The CsNPs were synthesized by ionotropic gelation and assessed for their size, morphology, chemical structure, and cytotoxicity. The antimicrobial effectiveness of the modified sealers was evaluated against E. faecalis and C. albicans by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration, minimum bactericidal concentration, minimum fungicidal concentration, and agar diffusion method. Additionally, antibiofilm activity was assessed using a microtiter plate assay. Characterization of the CsNPs revealed an average size of 144 ± 12.8 nm by scanning electron microscopy and 182.4 nm by dynamic light scattering with a zeta capacitance of +49.2 mV. CsNPs maintained more than 68% cell viability at 625 μg/mL after 24 and 48 hours. Adding CsNPs and Arg significantly enhanced the impact of AH Plus sealer on antimicrobial and antibiofilm, especially at elevated additive concentrations. This study suggests that AH Plus sealers containing CsNPs and Arg may offer a promising approach to enhance endodontic treatment outcomes by efficiently combating resistant root canal infections.

Candida albicans as pathogenic fungi cause conditions like oral candidiasis and dental caries. The critical role of biofilms in the pathogenicity of C. albicans necessitates the exploration of conditions that promote their growth and development. Our study aimed to delineate the optimal conditions conducive to the proliferation and biofilm production of C. albicans on prevalent dental materials.

To approximate oral cavity conditions, culture media were enhanced with various glucose concentrations to assess the growth and biofilm-forming capability of the fungus through growth curve analysis and crystal violet assays.

The findings suggest that YPG medium augmented with 4% glucose presents as an optimal environment for C. albicans growth. Biofilm formation was most effectively promoted in RPMI medium supplemented with the same concentration of glucose. Composite resin was identified as the substrate most susceptible to biofilm development by C. albicans under these conditions.

This investigation highlights the necessity of accounting for microbial activity and material characteristics in the prevention and management of dental biofilm formation. Our research advances the understanding of in vitro cultivation of C. albicans, simulating the oral milieu more accurately and contributing to enhanced oral health management for individuals utilizing temporary dental fixtures.

Candida albicans is naturally present in the normal human flora. This microorganism changes into an opportunistic fungus due to imbalances in microbiome composition, especially in an impaired immune system condition. The few available antifungal classes, severe toxicity, side effects, high cost, and the emergence of drug resistance are some of the limitations that physicians have in prescribing antifungal drugs.

The current research aims to study the antifungal potential of the main compounds of Cuminum cyminum L. in inhibiting secreted aspartyl proteinase of C. albicans compared to fluconazole.

In silico techniques were employed in this study. The main biochemicals of C. cyminum were obtained and optimized. 2D and 3D structures of chemical compounds were retrieved from the ChemSpider database and HyperChem software respectively. Auto Dock Vina and Discovery Studio 2024 Client were done to detect the potent inhibitor against the enzyme's active site. Finally, the physicochemical and toxicity properties of inhibitors were obtained.

The results of Auto Dock Vina indicated that Apigenin-7-O- glucoside has 80 percent similarity with fluconazole in the potential inhibition and exhibited a high free binding energy (ΔGbind: -10.48 kcal/mol). 13 amino acid residues involved in the interaction between best ligand and receptor that are Thr221, Asp32, Asp218, Asp86, Gly34, Ile123, Tyr84, Gly85, Ile30, Ser35, Ala119, Ile216, and Lys193.

The present study affirmed that Apigenin-7-O- glucoside in C. cyminum could be a promising inhibitor against secreted aspartyl proteinase. However, there is still a need for clinical future investigations to support these findings.

Candida species are a leading cause of fungal infections worldwide. Candidiasis, the disease caused by Candida , represents a significant public health concern globally. Candida albicans is the most common causative agent, responsible for 50 - 90% of invasive candidiasis cases. Candida albicans employs various virulence factors to adhere to, invade host tissues, and cause disease.

This study aimed to detect and compare the virulence factors of C. albicans , including hydrophobicity, biofilm formation, ergosterol content, and secretory enzymes, in clinical and environmental samples.

A total of 105 clinical and 165 environmental samples suspected of containing C. albicans were collected from Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. The isolates were evaluated for five potential virulence factors: Ergosterol content, cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), biofilm formation, protease activity, and phospholipase activity.

Sixty C. albicans isolates were identified, consisting of 30 clinical and 30 environmental isolates. Biofilm production was observed in 100% of clinical isolates and 80% of environmental isolates (P < 0.001). Protease activity was detected in 66.6% of clinical isolates and 76.7% of environmental isolates (P = 0.008). Phospholipase activity was present in 60% of clinical isolates and 76.7% of environmental isolates (P = 0.262). Clinical isolates exhibited higher CSH (66.4 ± 9.8) compared to environmental isolates (47.7 ± 17.0) (P < 0.001). The ergosterol content was 1.2 ± 0.5 in clinical isolates and 1.1 ± 0.3 in environmental isolates.

Biofilm formation was a consistent characteristic of clinical isolates, while phospholipase and protease activity were more prevalent in environmental C. albicans isolates. The results suggest possible cross-contamination between patients and the environment, as the virulence factors of clinical and environmental isolates were similar.

Fluconazole (FLC) is one of the best widely used antifungal medications for Candidiasis, which is one of the most prevalent fungal illnesses affecting women. FLC is fungistatic rather than fungicidal; hence, medication in the presence of this antifungal allows acquired resistance to develop, can be traced to the overuse of these treatments in a highly linked global population recently. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first study assessed the synergistic activity of FLC in combination with quercetin (QRT) against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans responsible for VVC in vivo and vitro.

This study was conducted in Basrah city, Iraq, between 10th August and 20th November 2023, and involved 100 vaginal swabs collected from women, who were suffering from past vaginitis and its symptoms or not, taken with sterile cotton swabs and 24-hour media exchanges. For the diagnosis, swab samples were collected, packaged, and sent to the microbiology laboratories for culturing on various media.

The distribution between past vaginitis and symptoms of infections (discharge, smell, and redness) were significant with p-values (0.02, 0.01, and 0.02, respectively), while it was not significantly itching, with p-value (0.2). Out of the (100) specimens collected in this study, (75%) had grown on the media, only (50) of those specimens had Candida albicans growth, and only 30 (60%) of them had fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans and these isolates considered as the study population. The combination of FLC with QRT was partially synergic, with FICI=1.

These findings indicate QRT may be encouraging antifungal agents in combination with FLC in managing C. albicans infections.

 Vaginal candidiasis is one of the most important fungal diseases in humans. Butternut squash (B. squash) has antifungal effects. This study investigated the effect of alcoholic extracts of B. squash on Candida albicans (C. albicans).

 In this laboratory experiment, B. squash using convenient sampling was collected from Babol City, Iran, in 2019. Determining the sensitivity of C. albicans to alcoholic extracts was tested using the disk, well, and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC) methods and through determining the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs). Gas chromatography (GC) was used to determine the effective substances of the chemical compounds of B. squash extract. SPSS software, two-way analysis of variance, multiple comparisons, and independent samples t-test were used for data analysis.

 Around the disk with 70 g/ml of ethanol extract (10 mm) and methanol (11 mm), and the wells with 110 mg/ml of methanol extract (17 mm), the average growth halo was greater. The size of the non-growth halo and the increasing trend of halo diameter between different alcoholic groups increased with increasing extract concentrations, but this increase was not significant (P < 0.05). In all 3 extracts, MIC was observed in 5-9 tubes and MFC in 3-9. The highest chemical composition was related to 5-hydroxymethylfurfural with 83.62%.

 Based on the results of this study, B. squash alcoholic extracts effectively inhibit C. albicans and can be used as a promising tool to control or treat fungal diseases.

Candida albicans is the primary pathogen responsible for oral candidiasis. The emerging resistance of fungi to antifungal agents has led to the development of new fungicidal treatments.

This study aimed to analyze the effects of 660, 810, and 940 nm laser wavelengths on nystatin-resistant C. albicans .

In this in vitro study, a standard strain of C. albicans and eight nystatin-resistant isolates were irradiated with 660, 810, and 940 nm diode lasers for 40 and 80 seconds (s) and compared with nystatin. Colony numbers and nystatin susceptibility were evaluated using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC).

All laser wavelengths significantly decreased the colony count of the standard strain of C. albicans , with 40s of 810 nm laser irradiation causing the maximum reduction in colony count (P810 nm < 0.001). Similarly, all laser wavelengths significantly reduced the colony count of nystatin-resistant isolates, and they were more effective than nystatin (unlike with the standard strain) (P < 0.05). The 810 nm laser irradiation for 40s demonstrated the greatest effect on MIC among the laser groups.

The 810 nm laser for 40s was the most effective in reducing the colony count of nystatin-resistant C. albicans , and it eliminated resistance in all clinical isolates.