title: Use of photodynamic therapy and chitosan for inactivacion of Candida albicans in a murine model.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The wide use of topical and systemic antifungal agents as the conventional treatment for oral candidiasis has caused Candida albicans to develop resistance to these agents. The aims of this study were to evaluate the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) and chitosan on buccal candidiasis and study the possible enhancive effect of chitosan on the photosensitizer methylene blue.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five DBA/2 immunosuppressed mice were orally inoculated with a suspension of Candida albicans. The animals were randomized into seven groups (n = 5 per group): Group 1 (control); Group 2 (nystatin); Group 3 (PDT); Group 4 (chitosan 1.5 mg/ml); Group 5 (chitosan 3 mg/ml); Group 6 (PDT + chitosan 1.5 mg/ml); and Group 7 (PDT + chitosan 3 mg/ml). The Candida albicans count was evaluated on days 3, 5, 7, and 11 after inoculation. At last, macroscopic and microscopic analyses of the tongue dorsa were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On day 7 after inoculation, the control group showed a greater number of Candida albicans (5.25 ± 0.41 log10 CFU/ml), with significant differences compared to all other groups (P ≤ 0.05). On day 11 after inoculation, animals treated with PDT showed lower CFU/ml count. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 showed fewer microscopic candidiasis lesions than Groups 1 and 7.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  PDT has an antifungal effect, even greater than nystatin. Chitosan has a powerful fungicide effect but did not possess any enhancive effect on methylene blue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Surgery, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Camacho-Alonso
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Fabio
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Martínez-Beneyto
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Yolanda
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Gallego M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Carmen
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Cuello
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Francisco
authors.affiliation: Department of Histology and Pathological Anatomy, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Buendía
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Antonio Julián
authors.affiliation: Department of Preventive and Community Dentistry, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Pérez-Lajarin
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Leonor
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Health, University of Murcia, Murcia, Spain.
authors.forename: Salinas
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jesús
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D048271:Chitosan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004848:Epithelium / Q000187:drug effects / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D008811:Mice, Inbred DBA; D009092:Mucous Membrane / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D009761:Nystatin / Q000494:pharmacology; D010778:Photochemotherapy / Q000379:methods*; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011897:Random Allocation
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D017319:Photosensitizing Agents; D009761:Nystatin; D048271:Chitosan; D008751:Methylene Blue
keywords: Candida albicans; chitosan; murine model; oral candidiasis; photodynamic therapy