• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권1호
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• pp.37-45
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• 2022

The fungal cell wall and membrane are the principal targets of antifungals. Herein, we report that myricetin exerts antifungal activity against Candida albicans by damaging the cell wall integrity and notably enhancing the membrane permeability. In the presence of sorbitol, an osmotic protectant, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of myricetin against C. albicans increased from 20 to 40 and 80 ㎍/ml in 24 and 72 h, respectively, demonstrating that myricetin disturbs the cell wall integrity of C. albicans. Fluorescence microscopic images showed the presence of propidium iodide-stained C. albicans cells, indicating the myricetin-induced initial damage of the cell membrane. The effects of myricetin on the membrane permeability of C. albicans cells were assessed using crystal violet-uptake and intracellular material-leakage assays. The percentage uptakes of crystal violet for myricetin-treated C. albicans cells at 1×, 2×, and 4× the MIC of myricetin were 36.5, 60.6, and 79.4%, respectively, while those for DMSO-treated C. albicans cells were 28.2, 28.9, and 29.7%, respectively. Additionally, myricetin-treated C. albicans cells showed notable DNA and protein leakage, compared with the DMSO-treated controls. Furthermore, treatment of C. albicans cells with 1× the MIC of myricetin showed a 17.2 and 28.0% reduction in the binding of the lipophilic probes diphenylhexatriene and Nile red, respectively, indicating that myricetin alters the lipid components or order in the C. albicans cell membrane, leading to increased membrane permeability. Therefore, these data will provide insights into the pharmacological worth of myricetin as a prospective antifungal for treating C. albicans infections.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• 제13권2호
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• pp.100-106
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• 2021

PURPOSE. The purpose of this study is to compare the antibacterial activity of currently purchasable denture cleansers against Candida albicans. Materials and methods: This study used tablet-type denture cleansers, PolidentⓇ, CoolingdentⓇ and FittydentⓇ, along with liquid denture cleansers, HexamedineⓇ, ListerineⓇ and Apple vinegarⓇ. The antibacterial activities of denture cleansers were evaluated based on the number of C. albicans and concentrations of the denture cleansers. Results. In the 0.5 × 106 cfu/㎖ culture medium, the C. albicans' death rate of PolidentⓇ was significantly lower than those of FittydentⓇ, HexamedineⓇ, ListerineⓇ, and Apple vinegarⓇ(P<.05). In the 0.5 × 107 cfu/, the C. albicans' death rates of PolidentⓇ and CoolingdentⓇ were significantly lower than those of FittydentⓇ, HexamedineⓇ, ListerineⓇ and Apple vinegarⓇ(P<.05). The C. albicans' death rates of PolidentⓇ and CoolingdentⓇ were significantly decreased at 0.02 g and 0.01 g. The C. albicans' death rate of FittydentⓇ was significantly decreased at 0.005 g (P<.05). The C. albicans' death rate of HexamedineⓇ was significantly decreased at 1/16 dilution. The C. albicans' death rate of ListerineⓇ was decreased at 1/8 dilution, and the antibacterial activity of Apple vinegarⓇ was decreased at 1/4 dilution (P<.05). Conclusion. As the number of C. albicans increased, the antibacterial activities of the denture cleansers decrease. In the tablet-type denture cleanser, all denture cleansers showed 100% C. albicans' death rate when used at a dose of 1 tablet. One denture cleanser showed the same antibacterial effect with only 1/3 of a tablet. In the liquid type denture cleanser, the level of dilution required was different for each denture cleanser.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• 제38권2호
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• pp.105-108
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• 2000

Oligonucleotide primers amplifying a 344 bp fragment on the integrin-like protein alpha-INT1p gene (${\alpha}$INT1) of Candida albicans were synthesized for screenign of C. albicans from clinicalsamples by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR specifically amplified DNA from C. albicans and none from any other Candida, fungal, or human DNA in standard used here. The PCR assay showed that the primers (LH1 and LH2) were specific for 26 isolates of C. albicans from clinical smaples, whereas the positive fragment, 344 bp, was not amplified from 15 clinical isolates including 14 other medically important Candida species and an isolate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PCR was conducted on the urine samples of 20 patients and 4 samples were C. albicans positive. The detection limit of the PCR assay for C. albicans was shown to be approximately 10 cells/ml saline. The PCR system using 344 bp ${\alpha}$INT1 as a target is more specific and rapid than the conventional culture method, and the sensitive detection method is applicable to clinical diagnosis of C. albicans infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.181-189
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• 2018

Candida albicans is a major pathogenic fungus in humans, and meets at first the innate immune cells, such as macrophages, in its host. One important strategy of the host cell to kill C. albicans is to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) by the macrophages. In response to ROS produced by the macrophages, C. albicans operates its defense mechanisms against them by expressing its oxidative stress response genes. Although there have been many research studies explaining the specific transcription factors and the expression of the oxidative stress genes in C. albicans, the regulation of the oxidative stress genes by chromatin structure is little known. Epigenetic regulation by the chromatin structure is very important for the regulation of eukaryotic gene expression, including the chromatin structure dynamics by histone modifications. Among various histone modifications, histone acetylation is reported for its direct relationship to the regulation of gene expression. Recent studies reported that histone acetyltransferases regulate genes to respond to the oxidative stress in C. albicans. In this review, we introduce all histone acetyltransferases that C. albicans contains and some papers that explain how histone acetyltransferases participate in the oxidative stress response in C. albicans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.610-617
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• 2016

Candidiasis has posed a serious health risk to immunocompromised patients owing to the increase in resistant yeasts, and Candida albicans is the prominent pathogen of fungal infections. Therefore, there is a critical need for the discovery and characterization of novel antifungals to treat infections caused by C. albicans. In the present study, we report on the antifungal activity of the ethanol extract from Salvia miltiorrhiza against C. albicans and the possible mode of action against C. albicans. The increase in the membrane permeability was evidenced by changes in diphenylhexatriene binding and release of both 260-nm-absorbing intracellular materials and protein. In addition, inhibition of cell wall synthesis was demonstrated by the enhanced minimal inhibitory concentration in the presence of sorbitol and reduced (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase activity. The above evidence supports the notion that S. miltiorrhiza has antifungal activity against C. albicans by the synergistic activity of targeting the cell membrane and cell wall. These findings indicate that S. miltiorrhiza displays effective activity against C. albicans in vitro and merits further investigation to treat C. albicans-associated infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제30권12호
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• pp.1827-1834
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• 2020

Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen in humans. In our previous study, we reported that an ethanol extract from Aucklandia lappa weakens C. albicans cell wall by inhibiting synthesis or assembly of both (1,3)-β-D-glucan polymers and chitin. In the current study, we found that the extract is involved in permeabilization of C. albicans cell membranes. While uptake of ethidium bromide (EtBr) was 3.0% in control cells, it increased to 7.4% for 30 min in the presence of the A. lappa ethanol extract at its minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), 0.78 mg/ml, compared to uptake by heat-killed cells. Besides, leakage of DNA and proteins was observed in A. lappa-treated C. albicans cells. The increased uptake of EtBr and leakage of cellular materials suggest that A. lappa ethanol extract induced functional changes in C. albicans cell membranes. Incorporation of diphenylhexatriene (DPH) into membranes in the A. lappa-treated C. albicans cells at its MIC decreased to 84.8%, after 60 min of incubation, compared with that of the controls, indicate that there was a change in membrane dynamics. Moreover, the anticandidal effect of the A. lappa ethanol extract was enhanced at a growth temperature of 40℃ compared to that at 35℃. The above data suggest that the antifungal activity of the A. lappa ethanol extract against C. albicans is associated with synergistic action of membrane permeabilization due to changes in membrane dynamics and cell wall damage caused by reduced formation of (1,3)-β-D-glucan and chitin.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.126-134
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to propose an efficient treatment approach for infection with different candida species. Methods: Fifty-three patients who presented with a chief complaint of oral mucosal pain and exhibited positive candida culture findings were divided into two groups (Candida albicans and non-albicans). Pain, mucosal manifestations, salivary flow rates, durations of disease and treatment, and responses to treatment (nystatin and clonazepam) were investigated in both groups. Results: Patients in the C. albicans group exhibited more prominent clinical characteristics (erythematous lesions, tongue coatings, and hyperalgesia) than those in the non-albicans group. In total, 70% of patients in the non-albicans group showed no abnormalities in the oral mucosa. Patients in the C. albicans group showed increased resistance to nystatin treatment compared to those in the non-albicans group, especially with longer disease durations. The patients resistant to nystatin treatment showed positive responses to clonazepam. Conclusions: Patients with oral mucosal pain should be tested for the presence of Candida, even in the absence of mucosal abnormalities, especially those infected with non-albicans species. If no response to antifungal therapy is observed, treatment with clonazepam should be initiated, especially in patients infected with C. albicans.

• 치위생과학회지
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• 제14권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

본 연구는 저온 상압 플라즈마 장치를 이용하여 구강점막질환을 일으키는 C. albicans 균을 효과적으로 사멸하기 위해 시행하였다. 조직에 적합하게 처리될 수 있도록 저온 상압 플라즈마 장치를 고안하고, 먼저 agar plate에 C. albicans 균을 처리하여 플라즈마를 조사한 결과 agar plate표면에 C. albicans 균을 처리 후 저온 상압 플라즈마 장치를 적용한 결과 60초 처리시 1.2 cm, 180초 처리시 1.4 cm, 300초 처리시 1.7 cm의 박테리아 생장 억제 구간이 나타나는 것을 확인하였다. 또한, 조직에서의 구강병원균 사멸 효과를 확인하기 위해 HRM-2 마우스 조직에 C. albicans 균을 처리하여 저온 상압 플라즈마를 조사 시 마우스 조직 표면에 C. albicans 균을 오염시켜 저온 상압 플라즈마 처리 후 CFU 방법으로 측정한 결과 300초간 1회 처리시 2 log CFU/ml, 300초간 2회 처리시 3 log CFU/ml, 300초간 3 회 처리시 6 log CFU/ml의 균 수 감소 효과가 나타나는 것을 확인하였다(p<0.05). 따라서, 저온의 저온 상압 플라즈마 장치는 효과적으로 구강 병원균을 사멸시킬 수 있으며, 구강점막질환 치료 장비로서 사용될 수 있을 것으로 생각된다.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.465-472
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• 2019

Candida albicans는 기회감염을 유발하는 주요한 병원성 진균 중의 하나이다. 캔디다증 치료과정에서 항진균제에 대한 내성이 흔히 발견되는데, 그 이유는 Candida가 바이오필름을 형성할 수 있기 때문이다. 이전의 연구에서 우리는 단삼(Salvia miltiorriza)의 에탄올추출물이 세포막의 투과성을 변화시키고 세포벽 합성을 저해하여 항캔디다 활성을 나타냄을 밝혔다. 본 연구에서는 10개 C. albicans 임상균주가 형성한 초기단계의 바이오필름을 대상으로 XTT 환원분석법으로 대사활성을 측정하니, $78{\mu}g/ml$ 단삼 에탄올추출물에 의해 바이오필름의 대사활성이 평균 51.3% 감소되었다. C. albicans 세포들이 폴리스티렌 표면에 부착하거나 germ tube를 형성하는 과정에서의 단삼 에탄올추출물의 영향을 현미경으로 분석하니, $39{\mu}g/ml$ 단삼 에탄올추출물에 의해 부착된 세포의 밀도는 현저하게 감소하였으나 germ tube 형성은 거의 억제하지 못했다. 단삼 에탄올추출물이 C. albicans SC5314 세포의 균사에 특이적인 유전자 발현에 미치는 영향을 qPCR로 분석한 결과, EAP1은 34.7% (p < 0.001), ALS1은 45.0% (p < 0.001), ALS3는 48.1% (p < 0.001), ECE1은 21.3% (p = 0.006) 억제하였다. 결론적으로 단삼의 에탄올추출물은 초기단계의 C. albicans 바이오필름 발달을 효율적으로 저해하며, 이는 EAP1, ALS1, ALS3 유전자의 발현억제에 따른 세포부착 억제와 관련이 있다. 더불어 단삼 에탄올추출물의 C. albicans 세포막 기능저해와 세포벽 합성억제에 의한 구조변화 또한 세포부착단계에서의 바이오필름 발달억제에 기여할 것으로 추정된다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권2호
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• pp.395-404
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• 2017

Fungal cell walls and cell membranes are the main targets of antifungals. In this study, we report on the antifungal activity of an ethanol extract from Paeonia lactiflora against Candida albicans, showing that the antifungal activity is associated with the synergistic actions of preventing cell wall synthesis, enabling membrane depolarization, and compromising permeability. First, it was shown that the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora was involved in damaging the integrity of cell walls in C. albicans. In isotonic media, cell bursts of C. albicans by the P. lactiflora ethanol extract could be restored, and the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the P. lactiflora ethanol extract against C. albicans cells increased 4-fold. In addition, synthesis of $(1,3)-{\beta}-{\small{D}}-glucan$ polymer was inhibited by 87% and 83% following treatment of C. albicans microsomes with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract at their $1{\times}MIC$ and $2{\times}MIC$, respectively. Second, the ethanol extract from P. lactiflora influenced the function of C. albicans cell membranes. C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract formed red aggregates by staining with a membrane-impermeable dye, propidium iodide. Membrane depolarization manifested as increased fluorescence intensity by staining P. lactiflora-treated C. albicans cells with a membrane-potential marker, $DiBAC_4(3)$ ((bis-1,3-dibutylbarbituric acid) trimethine oxonol). Membrane permeability was assessed by crystal violet assay, and C. albicans cells treated with the P. lactiflora ethanol extract exhibited significant uptake of crystal violet in a concentration-dependent manner. The findings suggest that P. lactiflora ethanol extract is a viable and effective candidate for the development of new antifungal agents to treat Candida-associated diseases.