Caspofungin modulates in vitro adherence of Candida albicans to plastic coated with extracellular matrix proteins.
OBJECTIVE
Some manifestations of candidiasis are associated with the formation of biofilms on inert or biological surfaces and the intrinsic resistance of Candida albicans biofilms to the most commonly used antifungal agents has been demonstrated. In this study, we report on the influence of the growth of C. albicans in medium containing a sub-inhibitory concentration (MIC/2) of caspofungin, on subsequent fungal adherence to plastic coated with extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins.


METHODS
Eleven strains of C. albicans were studied: six strains were susceptible to fluconazole in vitro and five strains were resistant to this antifungal agent.


RESULTS
Caspofungin induced a decrease in the adherence of all the tested strains that were susceptible to fluconazole but induced a decrease in the adherence of only 60% of the fluconazole-resistant strains.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated the anti-adherent activity of caspofungin but indicated a reduced effect in the case of in vitro fluconazole resistance. These results indicated a possible relationship between the efficiency of caspofungin to inhibit the first step of the development of C. albicans biofilm and the resistance of C. albicans to fluconazole in vitro.
Soustre
Jérôme
J
Laboratoire de Parasitologie et Mycologie Médicales, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire La Milétrie, BP 577, 86021 Poitiers Cedex, France.
Rodier
Marie-Hélène
MH
Imbert-Bouyer
Sabrina
S
Daniault
Gyslaine
G
Imbert
Christine
C
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D000077336:Caspofungin; D026141:Drug Resistance, Multiple, Fungal; D054714:Echinocandins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D020007:Implants, Experimental; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010969:Plastics; D011137:Polystyrenes
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D054714:Echinocandins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D010455:Peptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010969:Plastics; D011137:Polystyrenes; D015725:Fluconazole; D000077336:Caspofungin