title: In vitro activity of caspofungin against Candida albicans biofilms.
abstract: Most manifestations of candidiasis are associated with biofilm formation on biological or inanimate surfaces. Candida albicans biofilms are recalcitrant to treatment with conventional antifungal therapies. Here we report on the activity of caspofungin, a new semisynthetic echinocandin, against C. albicans biofilms. Caspofungin displayed potent in vitro activity against sessile C. albicans cells within biofilms, with MICs at which 50% of the sessile cells were inhibited well within the drug's therapeutic range. Scanning electron microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy were used to visualize the effects of caspofungin on preformed C. albicans biofilms, and the results indicated that caspofungin affected the cellular morphology and the metabolic status of cells within the biofilms. The coating of biomaterials with caspofungin had an inhibitory effect on subsequent biofilm development by C. albicans. Together these findings indicate that caspofungin displays potent activity against C. albicans biofilms in vitro and merits further investigation for the treatment of biofilm-associated infections.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas 78245, USA.
authors.forename: Stefano P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Bachmann
authors.forename: Kacy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: VandeWalle
authors.forename: Gordon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramage
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Patterson
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Wickes
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Graybill
authors.forename: José L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: López-Ribot
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D000077336:Caspofungin; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010455:Peptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D000077336:Caspofungin