title: Impact of brief and sequential exposure to nystatin on the germ tube formation and cell surface hydrophobicity of oral Candida albicans isolates from human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the impact of brief and sequential exposure to nystatin on the germ tube formation and cell surface hydrophobicity of oral isolates of Candida albicans obtained from patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).
  
  
  METHODS
  After determining the minimum inhibitory concentration of nystatin, 10 oral isolates of C. albicans from 10 different HIV-infected patients were briefly (1 h) and sequentially (10 days) exposed to subtherapeutic concentrations of nystatin. Following a subsequent drug removal, the germ tube formation and cell surface hydrophobicity of these isolates were determined via a germ tube induction assay and an aqueous hydrocarbon assay, respectively. The data obtained from these assays for the control (unexposed to nystatin) and nystatin-exposed isolates were analyzed using Student's t tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean percentage reduction in the germ tube formation and cell surface hydrophobicity of the nystatin-exposed isolates compared to the controls was 30.12 ± 1.99 (p < 0.001) and 29.65 ± 2.33 (p < 0.001), respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These data elucidate the possible pharmacodynamic mechanisms by which nystatin might operate in vivo in the modulation of candidal virulence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Bioclinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Kuwait University, Safat, Kuwait.
authors.forename: Arjuna N B
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Ellepola
authors.forename: Lakshman P
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Samaranayake
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009761:Nystatin
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009761:Nystatin