title: Amphotericin B-copper(II) complex as a potential agent with higher antifungal activity against Candida albicans.
abstract: Amphotericin B (AmB) is a polyene antibiotic produced by Streptomyces nodosus used for more than 50 years in the treatment of acute systemic fungal infections. It exhibits a broad spectrum of activity against fungal and protozoan pathogens with relatively rare resistance. The aim of this study was to prepare and evaluate the utility of the AmB-Cu(2+) complex as a potential compound with a high fungicidal activity at lower concentrations, compared with conventional AmB. It was hypothesized that insertion of copper ions into fungal cell membranes, together with the AmB-Cu(2+) complex bypassing the natural homeostatic mechanisms of this element, may contribute to the increased fungicidal activity of AmB. The analysis of results indicates the increased antifungal activity of the AmB-Cu(2+) complex against Candida albicans in comparison with the pure AmB and Fungizone. Additionally, it was stated that the increased antifungal activity of the AmB-Cu(2+) complex is not the sum of the toxic effects of AmB and Cu(2+) ions, but is a result of the unique structure of this compound.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cell Biology, Institute of Biology and Biochemistry, Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, 20-033 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chudzik
authors.forename: Izabela B
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Tracz
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Czernel
authors.forename: Marta J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Fiołka
authors.forename: Grzegorz
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Borsuk
authors.forename: Mariusz
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gagoś
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects*; D003300:Copper / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003300:Copper; D000666:Amphotericin B
keywords: Amphotericin B; Amphotericin B copper(II) complex; Antifungal activity; Candida albicans