Susceptibility of Candida albicans isolates from the oral cavities of HIV-positive patients to histatin-5

Statement of problem. There is a possibility that the colonization of oral surfaces, including the denture fitting surface, can serve as a reservoir for disseminated Candidal infections, particularly in immuno-compromised hosts, such as AIDS patients. Histatins are a group of small, cationic antifungal peptides present in human saliva. Several recent reports have suggested the therapeutic potential of this peptides in patients with oral candidosis. However, little information is available on the antifungal activity of the peptides agaist Candida albicans isolates from HIV positive patients. Purpose. Fungicidal effects of Histatin-5 against oral isolates of Candida albicans from HIVpositive and -negative patients were examined. Methods/Materials. Two isolates of C. albicans from HIV-positive patients (two males), three isolates from HIV-negative patients (two males amd one female healthy donors) and one ATCC strain were used. Fungicidal assays were performed on exponential C. albicans cells in the presence or absence of Histatin-5 (0.315-50 mM). Results. Fifty mMHistatin-5 killed more than 950f C. albicans isolates from HIV-negative patients and killed more than 9027777751240f ATCC strain. In contrast, Histatin-5 induced 75.3-0x1.4b3a0b6a4aap-149nd 66.11024570420ss of viability of two C. albicans isolates from HIV-positive patients, respectively, which were statistically less effective than the fungicidal effects against any isolates from HIV negative patients, or a reference strain (ANOVA; p