title: Evaluation of baicalein, chitosan and usnic acid effect on Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei biofilm using a Cellavista device.
abstract: Biofilms are often the cause of chronic human infections and contaminate industrial or medical equipment. The traditional approach has been to use increasing concentrations of antibiotics, but microorganisms rapidly develop multiresistance to them. Therefore, we investigated the use of natural substances as an alternative solution. The quantification of the biofilms based on the colonized areas was measured using a Cellavista automatic microscope equipped with image analysis software. Using the Cellavista device brings new possibilities for qualification and quantification of sessile cells. In our study, this feature was documented by exploring the antifungal/anti-biofilm activity of amphotericin B, baicalein, chitosan and usnic acid against yeast biofilm formation. The influence of these substances on the formation and eradication of opportunistic pathogenic yeasts Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei biofilms was studied in 96-well polystyrene microtiter plates. While amphotericin B was not very efficient, the use of baicalein and chitosan, even in minimum inhibitory concentrations, was found to rapidly decrease the colonized areas in the wells. The usnic acid did not display any significant antibiofilm properties even at concentration 300μgml(-1). Our results propose that Cellavista is a promising tool for the study of yeast biofilm formation and the effects of antimicrobial agents.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kvasnickova
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic. Electronic address: olga.schreiberova@vscht.cz.
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Matatkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cejkova
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Chemistry and Technology Prague, Technická 5, 166 28 Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Masak
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001572:Benzofurans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D002175:Candida / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044950:Flavanones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D001572:Benzofurans; D044950:Flavanones; C073339:usnic acid; C006680:baicalein; D000666:Amphotericin B; D048271:Chitosan
keywords: Baicalein; Biofilm; Candida krusei; Candida parapsilosis; Cellavista; Chitosan; Eradication; Inhibition