Search results for "Candida albicans"

A New Steroidal Saponin from Dioscorea cayenensis

2004

The new 26-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-3beta,26-dihydroxy-20,22-seco-25(R)-furost-5-en-20,22-dione-3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-[alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)]-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), along with the known methyl protodioscin (2), asperoside (3) and prosapogenin A of dioscin (4) were isolated from the rhizomes of Dioscorea cayenensis LAM.-HOLL (Dioscoreaceae). Their structures were established mainly on the basis of 600 MHz 2D-NMR spectral data. 4 exhibited antifungal activity against the human pathogenic yeasts Candida albicans, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis (MICs of 20.8, 6.25, 25 microg/ml, respectively), whereas saponins 1-3 were inactive.

IFN-? in Candida albicans infections

2009

The dimorphic fungus Candida albicans is the most frequent etiologic agent that causes opportunistic infections called candidiasis, a disease whose systemic manifestation could prove fatal and whose incidence is increasing as a result of an expanding immunocompromised population. Here we review the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) in the host protection against invasive candidiasis. This cytokine plays an essential role in both the innate and adaptive arms of the immune response to candidiasis. We focus on recent progress on host-pathogen interactions at the molecular level, leading to the production of IFN-gamma by host cells. IFN-gamma is produced by CD4 Th1, CD8, gamma delta T, and n…

Studies on zymogenicity and solubilization of chitin synthase from Candida albicans

1985

The zymogenic form of the chitin synthase present in mixed membrane preparations was extracted by digitonin treatment. The residual extracted membranes exclusively retained the basal activity. Trypsin activation of the zymogenic form of the enzyme did not modify the digitonin solubilization characteristics of the original zymogenic form, suggesting significant differences between ‘in vivo’ activation of chitin synthase and that carried out by trypsin ‘in vitro’.

Effect of digitonin on membrane-bound and chitosomal chitin synthetase activity in protoplasts from yeast cells ofCandida albicans

1993

The effect of digitonin on chitin synthetase present in membrane (MMF) and cytoplasmic fractions (chitosomes) (CF) from C. albicans yeast protoplasts has been determined. The zymogen is preferentially, but not exclusively, solubilized by digitonin from MMF. Centrifugation of distinct solubilized preparations, containing either zymogen, in vivo active enzyme and/or trypsin activated enzyme, on linear sucrose gradients suggests that both zymogen and trypsin activated enzyme sediment slightly slower than the active enzyme, pointing out differences between the activation processes in vivo and in vitro or, alternatively, that both enzyme activities (active in vivo and zymogenic) correspond to di…

Induzione sperimentale di resistenza a fluconazolo in C. albicans

2006

Wall mannoproteins in cells from colonial phenotypic variants of Candida albicans.

1990

Candida albicans ATCC 26555 switched at high frequency (10(-1) to 10(-3)) between several phenotypes identified by colony morphology on a defined mineral amino-acid-containing agar medium supplemented with arginine and zinc (LAZ medium). When cells taken from colonies exhibiting distinct morphologies were plated directly onto LAZ agar, spontaneous conversion to all the variant phenotypes occurred at combined frequencies of 2.1 x 10(-1) to 9.5 x 10(-3). However, when cells taken from the different colonial phenotypes were plated directly onto an undefined medium (yeast extract/peptone/dextrose; YPD medium), or first incubated in liquid YPD medium and then cloned on YPD agar, all colonies obs…

Phenotypic characterization and adhesive properties of vaginal Candida spp. strains provided by the CHU Farhat Hached (Sousse, Tunisia).

2015

Abstract Background Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common infection among women worldwide, being Candida albicans the most commonly isolated species. Therefore, controlling this opportunistic yeast is one of the key factors for reducing nosocomial infection. Aims We investigated several virulence properties of 28 vaginal strains of Candida isolated from Tunisian women suffering from vulvovaginitis. We also analyzed the virulence properties of a clinical Candida krusei strain and five Candida reference strains. Methods Candida strains were subjected to microscopic analysis and culture in Candida ID2 chromogenic medium. The adhesive properties of these strains were estimated by the microtiter …

Antifungal activity improved by coproduction of cyclodextrins and anabaenolysins in Cyanobacteria

2015

Department of Chemistry, Nanoscience Center, University of Jyväskylä, FI-40014, Jyväskylä, Finland Cyclodextrins are cyclic oligosaccharides widely used in the pharmaceutical industry to improve drug delivery and to increase the solubility of hydrophobic compounds. Anabaenolysins are lipopeptides produced by cyanobacteria with potent lytic activity in cholesterolcontaining membranes. Here, we identified the 23- To 24-kb gene clusters responsible for the production of the lipopeptide anabaenolysin. The hybrid nonribosomal peptide synthetase and polyketide synthase biosynthetic gene cluster is encoded in the genomes of three anabaenolysin-producing strains of Anabaena.We detected previously u…

Transgenic Killer Commensal Bacteria as Mucosal Protectants

2001

As first line of defense against the majority of infections and primary site for their transmission, mucosal surfaces of the oral cavity and genitourinary, gastrointestinal, and respiratory tracts represent the most suitable sites to deliver protective agents for the prevention of infectious diseases. Mucosal protection is important not only for life threatening diseases but also for opportunistic infections which currently represent a serious burden in terms of morbidity, mortality, and cost of cures. Candida albicans is among the most prevalent causes of mucosal infections not only in immuno- compromised patients, such as HIV-infected subjects who are frequently affected by oral and esoph…

The Influence of Chemical Composition of Commercial Lemon Essential Oils on the Growth of Candida Strains

2013

Candida yeasts are saprophytes naturally present in the environment and forming colonies on human mucous membranes and skin. They are opportunistic fungi that cause severe and even fatal infections in immunocompromised individuals. Several essential oils, including eucalyptus, pine, cinnamon and lemon, have been shown to be effective against Candida strains. This study addresses the chemical composition of some commercial lemon essential oils and their antifungal potential against selected Candida yeast strains. Antifungal potential and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined for six commercial lemon essential oils against five Candida yeast strains (Candida albicans 31, Candida t…