title: Treatment with some anti-inflammatory drugs reduces germ tube formation in Candida albicans strains.
abstract: Candida albicans is an opportunistic dimorphic fungus that inhabits various host mucosal sites. It can cause both superficial and serious systemic disease. Conversion from the yeast to the hyphal form has been associated with increased virulence and mucosal invasiveness. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of sodium diclofenac and aspirin on germs tube formation of different Candida albicans strains. Prostaglandins may play an important role in fungal colonization. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are inhibitors of the cyclooxygenase isoenzymes. These drugs specifically block the biosynthesis of mammalian prostaglandins by inhibiting one or both of cyclooxygenase isoenzymes. In tests for germ tube formation sodium diclofenac reduced the filamentation to the 12.5%- 5.1%. In the presence of aspirin the filamentation was reduced up to 85-45% depending on the tested strain. Our results suggest that cyclooxygenase-depending synthesis of fungal prostaglandins is important for morphogenesis and fungal virulence. Inhibitors of cyclooxygenase isoensymes (aspirin and diclofenac) are effective in decreasing germ tube formation of Candida albicans.
authors.affiliation: Preclinical Department Faculty of Medicine Titu Maiorescu University Bucharest Romania Preclinical Department, Faculty of Medicine, Titu Maiorescu University, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rusu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology Faculty of Pharmacy University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila Bucharest Romania Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Carol Davila, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Radu-Popescu
authors.affiliation: Center for Research, Training & Consulting in Microbiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology University of Bucharest Romania Center for Research, Training & Consulting in Microbiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Diana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pelinescu
authors.affiliation: Center for Research, Training & Consulting in Microbiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology University of Bucharest Romania Center for Research, Training & Consulting in Microbiology, Genetics and Biotechnology, Faculty of Biology, University of Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: Tatiana
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vassu
mesh_terms: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001241:Aspirin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000494:pharmacology; D025301:Hyphae / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004008:Diclofenac; D001241:Aspirin
keywords: Candida; aspirin; diclofenac; germ tube