Effects of Chitosan on Candida albicans: Conditions for Its Antifungal Activity
Joint Authors
Peña, Antonio
Sánchez, Norma Silvia
Calahorra, Martha
Source
Issue
Vol. 2013, Issue 2013 (31 Dec. 2013), pp.1-15, 15 p.
Publisher
Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Publication Date
2013-06-17
Country of Publication
Egypt
No. of Pages
15
Main Subjects
Abstract EN
The effects of low molecular weight (96.5 KDa) chitosan on the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans were studied.
Low concentrations of chitosan, around 2.5 to 10 μg·mL−1 produced (a) an efflux of K+ and stimulation of extracellular acidification, (b) an inhibition of Rb+ uptake, (c) an increased transmembrane potential difference of the cells, and (d) an increased uptake of Ca2+.
It is proposed that these effects are due to a decrease of the negative surface charge of the cells resulting from a strong binding of the polymer to the cells.
At higher concentrations, besides the efflux of K+, it produced (a) a large efflux of phosphates and material absorbing at 260 nm, (b) a decreased uptake of Ca2+, (c) an inhibition of fermentation and respiration, and (d) the inhibition of growth.
The effects depend on the medium used and the amount of cells, but in YPD high concentrations close to 1 mg·mL−1 are required to produce the disruption of the cell membrane, the efflux of protein, and the growth inhibition.
Besides the findings at low chitosan concentrations, this work provides an insight of the conditions required for chitosan to act as a fungistatic or antifungal and proposes a method for the permeabilization of yeast cells.
American Psychological Association (APA)
Peña, Antonio& Sánchez, Norma Silvia& Calahorra, Martha. 2013. Effects of Chitosan on Candida albicans: Conditions for Its Antifungal Activity. BioMed Research International،Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-15.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1004521
Modern Language Association (MLA)
Peña, Antonio…[et al.]. Effects of Chitosan on Candida albicans: Conditions for Its Antifungal Activity. BioMed Research International No. 2013 (2013), pp.1-15.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1004521
American Medical Association (AMA)
Peña, Antonio& Sánchez, Norma Silvia& Calahorra, Martha. Effects of Chitosan on Candida albicans: Conditions for Its Antifungal Activity. BioMed Research International. 2013. Vol. 2013, no. 2013, pp.1-15.
https://search.emarefa.net/detail/BIM-1004521
Data Type
Journal Articles
Language
English
Notes
Includes bibliographical references
Record ID
BIM-1004521