Effect of azoles on the secretion of a Candida albicans metallopeptidase.
Azole antifungals act by inhibiting the activity of a lanosterol demethylase involved in the generation of the ergosterol of the cellular membrane of fungi. These drugs could also have action on other yeast components, like secreted aspartyl proteases. We demonstrate in this study that the in vitro secretion of a metallopeptidase could be modified during the growth of Candida albicans with subinhibitory concentrations of some azoles. Eight isolates of this yeast have been cultivated in presence of MIC, MIC/2 and MIC/4 of voriconazole, fluconazole and itraconazole. The presence of voriconazole and fluconazole decreased the secretion of the metallopeptidase in the culture medium, whereas itraconazole increased this secretion for three isolates. This study points to the fact that some antifungals, given in prophylaxis, could act in an unfavourable way on some potential factors of pathogenicity.
Unité de recherche en biologie parasitaire et fongique, Laboratoire de parasitologie et mycologie médicales, CHU La Milètrie, Poitiers, France. parasitologie@univ-poitiers.fr
Christine
C
Imbert
Sabrina
S
Imbert-Bouyer
Catherine
C
Kauffmann-Lacroix
Gyslaine
G
Daniault
Marie-Hélène
MH
Rodier
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001393:Azoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D045726:Metalloproteases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D001393:Azoles; D045726:Metalloproteases