title: [Antifungal activity of melanin in clinical isolates of Candida spp].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Melanocytes are cells located in epidermis and mucous membranes that synthesize melanin and cytokines. It is known that melanin has antimicrobial activity and that melanocytes are melanized in presence of microbial molecules.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To study the antifungal activity of melanin on Candida spp.
  
  
  METHODS
  The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) to melanin was determined in 4 Candida ATCC strains (C. albicans SC5314, C. parapsilosis 22019, C. glabrata 2001, C. krusei 6258) and 56 clinical isolates of Candida spp. (33 C. albicans, 12 C. glabrata, 3 C. famata, 3 C. krusei, 3 C. parapsilosis, 2 C. tropicalis) using a broth microdilution method. In addition, the antifungal activity of melanocytes and mice melanoma cells was tested against C. albicans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Melanin inhibited the tested isolates, including the susceptible dose-dependent and fluconazole-resistant strains; MIC range and MIC50 were 0.09-50 μg/mL and 6.25 μg/mL, respectively. Pigmented cells lysates inhibited C. albicans.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Melanin is able to inhibit clinical isolates of Candida spp. Melanization could be an important protective mechanism of melanocytes.
authors.forename: Marisol
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuentes
authors.forename: Romané
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hernández
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gordillo
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Amaro
authors.forename: Mary A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Falconer
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alburquenque
authors.forename: Cecilia V
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Tapia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008543:Melanins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008544:Melanocytes / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism; D008546:Melanoma, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D051379:Mice; D012880:Skin Pigmentation
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D008543:Melanins; D015725:Fluconazole