title: Assessment of the effect of amphotericin B on the vitality of Candida albicans.
abstract: The processes involved in cell death are complex, and individual techniques measure specific fractions of the total population. The interaction of Candida albicans with amphotericin B was measured with fluorescent probes with different cellular affinities. These were used to provide qualitative and quantitative information of physiological parameters which contribute to fungal cell viability. SYBR Green I and 5,(6)-carboxyfluorescein were used to assess membrane integrity, and bis-(1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid)trimethine oxonol and 3,3-dihexyloxacarbocyanine iodide were used to evaluate alterations in membrane potential. The fluorescent indicators were compared with replication competency, the conventional indicator of viability. By using these tools, the evaluation of the response of C. albicans to amphotericin B time-kill curves delineated four categories which may represent a continuum between alive and dead. The data showed that replication competency (CFU per milliliter) as determined by conventional antifungal susceptibility techniques provided only an estimate of inhibition. Interpretation of fluorescent staining characteristics indicated that C. albicans cells which were replication incompetent after exposure to greater than 0.5 microgram of amphotericin B per ml still maintained degrees of physiological function.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Alberta, Walter MacKenzie Centre, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J2, Canada.
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Rennie
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Talbot
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001463:Barbiturates; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002232:Carbocyanines; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D003959:Diamines; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007555:Isoxazoles; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines
chemical_list: C035005:3,3'-dihexadecylindocarbocyanine; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001463:Barbiturates; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D002232:Carbocyanines; D003959:Diamines; D005452:Fluoresceins; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D007555:Isoxazoles; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011804:Quinolines; C052795:bis(1,3-dibutylbarbiturate)trimethine oxonol; C098022:SYBR Green I; C024098:6-carboxyfluorescein; D000666:Amphotericin B