title: Synthetic antimicrobial β-peptide in dual-treatment with fluconazole or ketoconazole enhances the in vitro inhibition of planktonic and biofilm Candida albicans.
abstract: Fungal infections are a pressing concern for human health worldwide, particularly for immunocompromised individuals. Current challenges such as the elevated toxicity of common antifungal drugs and the emerging resistance towards these could be overcome by multidrug therapy. Natural antimicrobial peptides, AMPs, in combination with other antifungal agents are a promising avenue to address the prevailing challenges. However, they possess limited biostability and susceptibility to proteases, which has significantly hampered their development as antifungal therapies. β-peptides are synthetic materials designed to mimic AMPs while allowing high tunability and increased biostability. In this work, we report for the first time the inhibition achieved in Candida albicans when treated with a mixture of a β-peptide model and fluconazole or ketoconazole. This combination treatment enhanced the biological activity of these azoles in planktonic and biofilm Candida, and also in a fluconazole-resistant strain. Furthermore, the in vitro cytotoxicity of the dual treatment was evaluated towards the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, a widely used model derived from liver tissue, which is primarily affected by azoles. Analyses based on the LA-based method and the mass-action law principle, using a microtiter checkerboard approach, revealed synergism of the combination treatment in the inhibition of planktonic C. albicans. The dual treatment proved to be fungicidal at 48 and 72 h. Interestingly, it was also found that the viability of HepG2 was not significantly affected by the dual treatments. Finally, a remarkable enhancement in the inhibition of the highly azole-resistant biofilms and fluconazole resistant C. albicans strain was obtained.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Camilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mora-Navarro
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Caraballo-León
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Madeline
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Torres-Lugo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, 00680, Puerto Rico.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Bermúdez
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000187:drug effects; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D056945:Hep G2 Cells; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007654:Ketoconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010933:Plankton / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D023181:Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; D015725:Fluconazole; D007654:Ketoconazole
keywords: Candida; HepG2; biofilm; candidiasis; checkerboard; combinatorial treatment; fluconazole; ketoconazole; synergism; β-peptides