title: Antifungal effects of synthetic human β-defensin 3-C15 peptide.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this ex vivo study was to compare the antifungal activity of a synthetic peptide consisting of 15 amino acids at the C-terminus of human β-defensin 3 (HBD3-C15) with calcium hydroxide (CH) and Nystatin (Nys) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilm.
  
  
  METHODS
  C. albicans were grown on cover glass bottom dishes or human dentin disks for 48 hr, and then treated with HBD3-C15 (0, 12.5, 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 µg/mL), CH (100 µg/mL), and Nys (20 µg/mL) for 7 days at 37℃. On cover glass, live and dead cells in the biomass were measured by the FilmTracer Biofilm viability assay, and observed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). On dentin, normal, diminished and ruptured cells were observed by field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The results were subjected to a two-tailed t-test, a one way analysis variance and a post hoc test at a significance level of p = 0.05.
  
  
  RESULTS
  C. albicans survival on dentin was inhibited by HBD3-C15 in a dose-dependent manner. There were fewer aggregations of C. albicans in the groups of Nys and HBD3-C15 (≥ 100 µg/mL). CLSM showed C. albicans survival was reduced by HBD3-C15 in a dose dependent manner. Nys and HBD3-C15 (≥ 100 µg/mL) showed significant fungicidal activity compared to CH group (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Synthetic HBD3-C15 peptide (≥ 100 µg/mL) and Nys exhibited significantly higher antifungal activity than CH against C. albicans by inhibiting cell survival and biofilm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang-Min
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-6310-8161
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, DRI and BK21 Plus Program, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Ki-Bum
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, Siena College, Loudonville, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Jong-Won
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Kum
authors.affiliation: Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Hiran
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6484-5932
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Perinpanayagam
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gu
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yeon-Jee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3931-7668
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Yoo
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok Woo
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4461-3274
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Microbiology and Immunology, DRI and BK21 Plus Program, Seoul National University School of Dentistry, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Jun
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Shon
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Woocheol
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Ho
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-2594-2283
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Division of Endodontology, Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Connecticut Health Center, School of Dental Medicine, Farmington, CT, USA.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Department of Conservative Dentistry, Seoul National University Dental Hospital, Seoul National University School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kee-Yeon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3032-3498
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kum
keywords: Antifungal activity; C. albicans; Confocal laser scanning microscopy; Dentin disk; Human β-defensin-3 peptide; LIVE/DEAD Biofilm viability assay