title: Phospholipid and sterol analysis of plasma membranes of azole-resistant Candida albicans strains.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Medizinische Klinik, Abteilung II, Labor Prof. Dr. med. H. Einsele, Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen, Otfried-Müller-Str. 10, Tübingen, Germany.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Löffler
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Einsele
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hebart
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schumacher
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hrastnik
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Daum
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000737:chemistry*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000032:analysis*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010743:Phospholipids; D015725:Fluconazole; D004875:Ergosterol