title: Aliphatic fatty acids and esters: inhibition of growth and exoenzyme production of Candida, and their cytotoxicity in vitro: anti-Candida effect and cytotoxicity of fatty acids and esters.
abstract: The secretion of extracellular phospholipases and proteinases of Candida has been described as a relevant virulence factor in human infections. Aliphatic fatty acids have antimicrobial properties, but the mechanism by which they affect the virulence factors of microorganisms, such as Candida, is still unclear, and there are a few reports about their toxicity. The current study investigated the in vitro antifungal activity, exoenzyme production and cytotoxicity of some aliphatic fatty acids and their ester derivatives against the Candida species. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentrations of aliphatic medium-chain fatty acids, methyl and ethyl esters were performed using the CLSI M27-A3 method and the cytotoxicity assay was performed according to ISO 10993-5. The influence of these compounds in the inhibition of the production of hydrolytic enzymes, phospholipases and proteinases by Candida was also investigated. Data analysis was performed using the one-way ANOVA method (p≤0.05). In relation to the MIC against Candida species, the fatty acid with the best result was Lauric acid, although its ester derivatives showed no activity. The inhibition of phospholipase production was more significant than the inhibition of proteinase production by Candida. Tested fatty acids revealed more than 80% cell viability in their MIC concentrations. Additionally, a cell viability of 100% was reported at concentrations of anti-enzymatic effect. Therefore, the potential use of these fatty acids could be the basis for more antimicrobial tests.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry and Bioprospection, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) - Gonçalves Chaves, 457/702, 96015-560 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana L S
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) - Gonçalves Chaves, 457/503, 96015-560 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Adriana F
authors.initials: AF
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry and Bioprospection, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) - Gonçalves Chaves, 457/702, 96015-560 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pedro H A
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Center for Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Bruna S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Pacheco
authors.affiliation: Center for Chemical, Pharmaceutical and Food Sciences, Federal University of Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Cláudio M P
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Postgraduate Program in Biochemistry and Bioprospection, Federal University of Pelotas (UFPel) - Gonçalves Chaves, 457/702, 96015-560 Pelotas, RS, Brazil. Electronic address: rafael.lund@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Rafael G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Lund
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000201:enzymology*; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002470:Cell Survival; D004952:Esters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004952:Esters; D005227:Fatty Acids; D037521:Virulence Factors; D015725:Fluconazole; D010740:Phospholipases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: Antifungal agents; Candida; Cytotoxicity; Exoenzyme production; Fatty acids; In vitro assays