Effect of Micafungin (FK463) on Candida albicans adherence to epithelial cells.
BACKGROUND
Adherence is considered a major virulence trait of Candida albicans. FK463 is a new investigational intravenous antifungal of the 'candin family' with potent in vitro and in vivo activity against Candida spp.


OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of Micafungin (FK463) on Candida adherence to epithelial cells of azole-sensitive and azole-resistant C. albicans isolates.


METHODS
An in vitro assay using microtest plate technology and fluorescence measurement was developed to compare the adherence of C. albicans SC5314 and of paired C. albicans isolates to epithelial cells in the presence and in the absence of FK463.


RESULTS
FK463 showed a marked inhibitory effect on the adherence of C. albicans SC5314. The addition of FK463 reduced the adherence of C. albicans SC5314 to 90% of the value of control without drug. A dose-dependent adherence inhibition was observed with FK463 in the range of 10-0.015 microg ml(-1). The comparison of paired C. albicans isolates, either a fluconazole-susceptible and a fluconazole-resistant isolate of one patient, revealed no significant difference in the adherence behavior between azole-susceptible and azole-resistant.


CONCLUSIONS
Micafungin (FK463) has the capacity to reduce adherence of C. albicans azole-susceptible and azole-resistant strains to epithelial cells.
Department of Bacteriology, Göttingen, Germany. mborg@gwdg.de
Margarete
M
Borg-von Zepelin
Karen
K
Zaschke
Uwe
U
Gross
Michel
M
Monod
Frank-Michael C
FM
Müller
D001393:Azoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D002450:Cell Communication / Q000187:drug effects*; D004351:Drug Resistance; D054714:Echinocandins; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000077551:Micafungin; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001393:Azoles; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008074:Lipoproteins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D000077551:Micafungin