Human salivary histatin-5 exerts potent fungicidal activity against Cryptococcus neoformans.
Human salivary histatins (Hsns) have been known to be potent antifungal agents against Candida albicans for more than a decade. Here, we report that Hsns are also effective in killing another medically important opportunistic fungal pathogen, Cryptococcus neoformans, which has become a new threat among the immunocompromised patients, especially AIDS patients. In fact, the cidal activity of Hsn-5 against C. neoformans is as high as that against C. albicans.
Tsai
H
H
Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, 14214, USA.
Bobek
L A
LA
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003455:Cryptococcus neoformans / Q000187:drug effects*; D054808:Histatins; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000187:drug effects; D012463:Saliva; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000935:Antifungal Agents; C068075:HTN3 protein, human; D054808:Histatins; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012471:Salivary Proteins and Peptides