title: Comparison between allicin and fluconazole in Candida albicans biofilm inhibition and in suppression of HWP1 gene expression.
abstract: Candida albicans is an opportunistic human pathogen with the ability to differentiate and grow in filamentous forms and exist as biofilms. The biofilms are a barrier to treatment as they are often resistant to the antifungal drugs. In this study, we investigated the antifungal activity of allicin, an active compound of garlic on various isolates of C. albicans. The effect of allicin on biofilm production in C. albicans as compared to fluconazole, an antifungal drug, was investigated using the tetrazolium (XTT) reduction-dependent growth and crystal violet assays as well as scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Allicin-treated cells exhibited significant reduction in biofilm growth (p<0.05) compared to fluconazole-treated and also growth control cells. Moreover, observation by SEM of allicin and fluconazole-treated cells confirmed a dose-dependent membrane disruption and decreased production of organisms. Finally, the expression of selected genes involved in biofilm formation such as HWP1 was evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR and relative real time RT-PCR. Allicin was shown to down-regulate the expression of HWP1.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paramedical Sciences, Gachsaran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Gachsaran, Iran.
authors.forename: Alireza
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khodavandi
authors.forename: Nabil S
authors.initials: NS
authors.lastname: Harmal
authors.forename: Fahimeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alizadeh
authors.forename: Olivia J
authors.initials: OJ
authors.lastname: Scully
authors.forename: Shiran M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sidik
authors.forename: Fauziah
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Othman
authors.forename: Zamberi
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Sekawi
authors.forename: Kee Peng
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.forename: Pei Pei
authors.initials: PP
authors.lastname: Chong
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D004220:Disulfides; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D005737:Garlic / Q000737:chemistry; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013441:Sulfinic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004220:Disulfides; D005656:Fungal Proteins; C118102:HWP1 protein, Candida albicans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D013441:Sulfinic Acids; C006452:allicin; D015725:Fluconazole