Title:The Organochalcogen Compound (MeOPhSe)2 Inhibits Both Formation and the Viability of the Biofilm Produced by Candida albicans, at Different Stages of Development
Volume: 24
Issue: 33
Author(s): Lais M. Machado de Amorim, Marília T. Braga, Moisés L. Carvalho, Ivone Regina de Oliveira, Samyr M. Querobino, Carlos Alberto-Silva, João B. Teixeira da Rocha and Maricilia S. Costa*
Affiliation:
- Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento – IP&D. Universidade do Vale do Paraíba – UNIVAP. Av. Shishima Hifumi, 2911. Sao Jose dos Campos, SP,Brazil
Keywords:
Candida albicans, biofilm formation, biofilm viability, (MeOPhSe)2, antifungal therapy, organochalcogen compounds.
Abstract: Background: Candida albicans is a commensal and opportunistic fungus which is able to produce both
local and systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. A correlation has been demonstrated between the
resistance to conventional antifungal drugs and C. albicans ability to produce biofilms. Therefore, the potential of
the organochalcogen compounds as antifungal therapy has been demonstrated.
Method: In this work, we studied the effect of the organochalcogen compound (MeOPhSe)2 on both formation
and the viability of the biofilm produced by C. albicans, at different stages of development. Biofilm formation
and viability were determined by a metabolic assay based on the reduction of XTT assay. In addition, the morphology
of the biofilm was observed using light microscopy.
Results: A significant reduction was observed in both growth and biofilm formation by C. albicans, in a dependent
manner of cell density. In the presence of 2 µM (MeOPhSe)2 it was observed an inhibition of 87, 72, 69 and
56 % in C. albicans growth, using cell densities of 104, 105, 106 and 107 cells/mL, respectively. C. albicans
growth was inhibited >90 % in the presence of 10 µM (MeOPhSe)2 in all cell densities used. Also, (MeOPhSe)2
was found to be able to decrease the viability of the biofilm produced by C. albicans at different stages of development.
This effect was more pronounced in early biofilms as compared to mature biofilms. Biofilms forming at
6 and 12 hours was inhibited ~80% in the presence of 10 µM (MeOPhSe)2. However, mature biofilms presented
an inhibition of ~40 % in the presence of 10 µM (MeOPhSe)2. The analyses of the structure of the biofilm have
shown a significant reduction in the number of both yeast and filamentous form after treatment with (MeOPhSe)2.
In addition, the organochalcogen compound (MeOPhSe)2 did not modify the viability of Fibroblastic cells.
Conclusion: Taken together, these results demonstrated the potential of the organochalcogen compound (MeOPhSe)
2 as a promising antifungal therapy.
