The influence of antifungal polyenes on in vitro adherence of Candida to epithelial cells

Objectives: Oral candidiasis is the most common opportunistic infection in immunocompromised patients. The antifungal polyenes are commonly used for the treatment of oral candidiasis. Since adherence of microorganisms to mucosal surfaces is required for successful colonization and subsequent infection, the aim of this study was to assess quantitatively the influence of antifungal polyenes (amphotericin B, nystatin, natamycin) on in vitro adherence of Candida albicans ATTC 44990 and Candida glabrata ATCC MYA-275 to human epithelial cell monolayers. Methods: The adherence of yeasts to HeLa or HSC-3 cell monolayers was assessed according to the method of Samaranayake et al. (J Med Microbiol 1994, 41:230-238) with the addition of antimycotics at minimum inhibitory or sublethal concentrations, or with no drug addition (controls). Results: Significant reduction of candidal adherence was observed when antifungal polyenes were used, except in the case of C. glabrata adherence to HeLa cells for nystatin at the minimum inhibitory concentration. The suppressive effect against two Candida strains was highest for amphotericin B, and nystatin elicited the lowest efficacy. Conclusions: The present data, the first on the effect of antifungal polyenes, indicate that minimum inhibitory and sublethal concentration of amphotericin B, nystatin and natamycin suppress in vitro adherence of Candida to epithelial cell monolayers. These studies were supported by grant from the Kosciuszko Foundation, New York, USA