title: Fungistatic effects of optical brightener 220 against Trichophyton tonsurans, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Dermatophytes are one of the main causes of dermal infections. Moreover, there are some opportunistic fungi such as Aspergillus fumigatus (mycelial form) and Candida albicans (yeasty form) that in immunosuppressed patients can cause cutaneous disease.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The possible effect of optical brightener 220 (OB-220) on the growth of fungi has been evaluated in this study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Isolates were grown on agar plates containing OB-220 in concentration between 0.06 and 11.68 mg ml(-1). MICs of OB-220, ketoconazole and fluconazole were obtained by the agar dilution method. Hyphae and yeasts grown with OB-220 were compared with controls by fluorescence and transmission electron microscopy. The cell cytotoxicity of OB-220 was also assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MIC(90) of OB-220 was obtained: 1.17-1.46 mg ml(-1) for A. fumigatus, 0.58-1.17 mg ml(-1) for C. albicans and 0.29 mg ml(-1) for Trichophyton tonsurans. Electron microscopy revealed a thickening and blurred contours of the cell wall by OB-220. OB-220 in concentrations up to 11.68 mg ml(-1) posed no mammalian cell toxicity.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OB-220 suppresses the growth of fungi by interfering with the formation of normal chitin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mycology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran. gsadeghi@pasteur.ac.ir
authors.forename: Golnar
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sadeghi
authors.forename: Ali Asghar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khaksar
authors.forename: Shahindokht
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassiri Jahromi
authors.forename: Aref
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Amirkhani
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Eslamifar
authors.forename: Soheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ajdary
authors.forename: Farzad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Katiraee
authors.forename: Jaleh
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Taeb
authors.forename: Farnoosh Asghari
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Paskiabi
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sayyah
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001232:Aspergillus fumigatus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003470:Culture Media; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014249:Trichophyton / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D013267:Stilbenes; D015725:Fluconazole; D007654:Ketoconazole