title: Triclosan Demonstrates Synergic Effect with Amphotericin B and Fluconazole and Induces Apoptosis-Like Cell Death in Cryptococcus neoformans.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungus that causes fatal meningoencephalitis especially in AIDS patients. There is an increasing need for discovery of new anti-cryptococcal drugs due to emergence of resistance cases in recent years. In this study, we aim to elucidate the antifungal effect of triclosan against C. neoformans.
  
  
  METHODS
  Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of triclosan in different C. neoformans strains was first examined. The in vitro interactions between triclosan and two standard anti-fungal drugs (amphotericin B and fluconazole) were further evaluated by microdilution checkerboard assay. Mechanism of triclosan fungicidal activity was then investigated by viewing the cell morphology under transmission electron microscope.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reported that triclosan potently inhibited the growth of C. neoformans. A combination of triclosan with amphotericin B or with fluconazole enhanced their fungicidal effects. Triclosan-treated C. neoformans displayed characteristics such as nuclear chromatin condensation, extensive intracellular vacuolation and mitochondrial swelling, indicating that triclosan triggered apoptosis-like cell death.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, our report suggests triclosan as an independent drug or synergent for C. neoformans treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Elaheh
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Movahed
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Grace Min Yi
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Komathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Munusamy
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Tee Cian
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Yeow
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Sun Tee
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Tay
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, Tropical Infectious Disease Research and Education Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Won Fen
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Chung Yeng
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Looi
keywords: Cryptococcus neoformans; amphotericin B; antifungal effect; apoptosis; fluconazole; synergy; triclosan