Synergistic Antifungal Activity of Synthetic Peptides and Antifungal Drugs against <i>Candida albicans</i> and <i>C. parapsilosis</i> Biofilms
Leandro P. Bezerra,
Cleverson D. T. Freitas,
Ayrles F. B. Silva,
Jackson L. Amaral,
Nilton A. S. Neto,
Rafael G. G. Silva,
Aura L. C. Parra,
Gustavo H. Goldman,
Jose T. A. Oliveira,
Felipe P. Mesquita,
Pedro F. N. Souza
Affiliations
Leandro P. Bezerra
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Cleverson D. T. Freitas
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Ayrles F. B. Silva
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Jackson L. Amaral
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Nilton A. S. Neto
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Rafael G. G. Silva
Department of Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Aura L. C. Parra
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Gustavo H. Goldman
Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, São Paulo P.O. Box 05508-000, SP, Brazil
Jose T. A. Oliveira
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
Felipe P. Mesquita
Drug Research and Development Center, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel, Nunes de Melo 100, Caixa, Fortaleza 60430-275, CE, Brazil
Pedro F. N. Souza
Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60451, CE, Brazil
C. albicans and C. parapsilosis are biofilm-forming yeasts responsible for bloodstream infections that can cause death. Synthetic antimicrobial peptides (SAMPs) are considered to be new weapons to combat these infections, alone or combined with drugs. Here, two SAMPs, called Mo-CBP3-PepI and Mo-CBP3-PepIII, were tested alone or combined with nystatin (NYS) and itraconazole (ITR) against C. albicans and C. parapsilosis biofilms. Furthermore, the mechanism of antibiofilm activity was evaluated by fluorescence and scanning electron microscopies. When combined with SAMPs, the results revealed a 2- to 4-fold improvement of NYS and ITR antibiofilm activity. Microscopic analyses showed cell membrane and wall damage and ROS overproduction, which caused leakage of internal content and cell death. Taken together, these results suggest the potential of Mo-CBP3-PepI and Mo-CBP3-PepIII as new drugs and adjuvants to increase the activity of conventional drugs for the treatment of clinical infections caused by C. albicans and C. parapsilosis.
