In vitro candidacidal activity of a synthetic killer decapeptide (KP) against Candida albicans cells adhered to resin acrylic discs.
BACKGROUND
Oral Candida spp., and C. albicans in particular, are considered as important aetiological agents in the pathogenesis of denture-induced stomatitis. Several studies have reported that C. albicans is able to easily adhere to different medical devices, such as vascular and urinary catheters or acrylic denture surfaces, and that adhesion is a fundamental step in the initial pathogenic process of colonization and further possible infection. Recently, a synthetic decapeptide (KP) derived from the sequence of a single-chain recombinant anti-idiotypic antibody, acting as a functional internal image of a microbicidal, broad spectrum yeast killer toxin, has been reported to kill in vitro C. albicans cells and to exert a therapeutic activity against experimental mucosal and systemic candidiasis.


METHODS
The aim of this study was to evaluate, through a CFU assay, the candidacidal activity of KP on sanded acrylic resin discs, previously colonized by C. albicans cells.


CONCLUSIONS
At 100 microg/ml KP showed over 90% of killing activity on C. albicans cells adhered to resin discs, when compared with a scramble peptide used as control. The results of this study suggest a potential effect of KP on C. albicans cells adhered on the surface of resin materials, such as prosthetic dentures.
Manfredi
M
M
Sezione di Odontostomatologia, Dipartimento di Scienze-Otorino-Odonto-Oftalmologiche e Cervico-Facciali, Università di Parma, Parma, Italy. maddalena.manfredi@unipr.it
Merigo
E
E
Salati
A
A
Conti
S
S
Savi
A
A
Polonelli
L
L
Bonanini
M
M
Vescovi
P
P
D000180:Acrylic Resins / Q000737:chemistry*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry*; D006801:Humans; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins
D000180:Acrylic Resins; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003764:Dental Materials; C524619:KP killer peptide; D055646:Killer Factors, Yeast; D009842:Oligopeptides; D011994:Recombinant Proteins