title: Polyunsaturated fatty acids cause apoptosis in C. albicans and C. dubliniensis biofilms.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) have antifungal properties, but the mode by which they induce their action is not always clear. The aim of the study was to investigate apoptosis as a mode of action of antifungal PUFAs (stearidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid and docosapentaenoic acid) which are inhibitory towards biofilm formation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Candida biofilms were grown in the absence or presence of 1mM PUFAs (linoleic acid, stearidonic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosapentaenoic acid) for 48h at 37°C. The effect of these PUFAs on the membrane fatty acid profile and unsaturation index, oxidative stress, mitochondrial transmembrane potential and apoptosis was evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When biofilms of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were exposed to certain PUFAs there was an increase in unsaturation index of the cellular membranes and accumulation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). This resulted in apoptosis, evidenced by reduced mitochondrial membrane potential and nuclear condensation and fragmentation. The most effective PUFA was stearidonic acid.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The resultant cell death of both C. albicans and C. dubliniensis is due to apoptosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Due to the increase in drug resistance, alternative antifungal drugs are needed. A group of natural antifungal compounds is PUFAs. However, understanding their mechanisms of action is important for further use and development of these compounds as antifungal drugs. This paper provides insight into a possible mode of action of antifungal PUFAs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, P. O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9300, South Africa. thibanev@ufs.ac.za
authors.forename: Vuyisile S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Thibane
authors.forename: Ruan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ells
authors.forename: Arno
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hugo
authors.forename: Jacobus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Albertyn
authors.forename: Walter J Janse
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: van Rensburg
authors.forename: Pieter W J
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Van Wyk
authors.forename: Johan L F
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Kock
authors.forename: Carolina H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Pohl
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D053938:DNA Fragmentation / Q000187:drug effects; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000494:pharmacology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000187:drug effects; D053078:Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial / Q000187:drug effects; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated; D010743:Phospholipids; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species