title: Diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)2 inhibits biofilm formation by Candida albicans, increasing both ROS production and membrane permeability.
abstract: METHODS
  The opportunistic fungal Candida albicans can produce superficial and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. An essential stage to both colonization and virulence by C. albicans is the transition from budding yeast form to filamentous form, producing biofilms.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this work, we studied the effect of the organochalcogenide compound (PhSe)2 on both cell growth and biofilm formation by C. albicans.
  
  
  RESULTS
  (PhSe)2 inhibited both growth and biofilm formation by C. albicans. The inhibitory effects of (PhSe)2 depended on the cell density and (PhSe)2 concentration. We have also observed that (PhSe)2 stimulated ROS production (67%) and increased cell membrane permeability (2.94-fold) in C. albicans. In addition, (PhSe)2 caused a marked decrease in proteinase activity (6.8-fold) in relation to non-treated group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  (PhSe)2 decreased both cell growth and biofilm development, decreasing the release of extracellular proteinases, which is an important facet of C. albicans pathogenicity. The toxicity of (PhSe)2 towards C. albicans can be associated with an increase in ROS production, which can increase cell permeability. The permanent damage to the cell membranes can culminate in cell death.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento - IP&D, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba - UNIVAP, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, CEP 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Isabela Bueno
authors.initials: IB
authors.lastname: Rosseti
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Química, Centro de Ciências Naturais e Exatas, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: João Batista Teixeira
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento - IP&D, Universidade do Vale do Paraíba - UNIVAP, Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911, CEP 12244-000, São José dos Campos, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: mscosta@univap.br.
authors.forename: Maricilia Silva
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Costa
mesh_terms: D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000201:enzymology / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D016566:Organoselenium Compounds; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C061132:diphenyldiselenide; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases
keywords: (PhSe)(2); Biofilm formation; Candida albicans; Organochalcogenides; oxidative stress