Tolerance to disinfectants of mono and dual-species biofilms of Candida parapsilosis and Staphylococcus aureus

• Grant number: 21/04702-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: June 01, 2022
• End date: May 31, 2024
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Applied Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Regina Helena Pires
• Grantee: Regina Helena Pires
• Host Institution: Pró-Reitoria Adjunta de Pesquisa e Pós-Graduação. Universidade de Franca (UNIFRAN). Franca , SP, Brazil
• City of the host institution: Franca

Abstract

Candida and Staphylococcus species can cause hospital-acquired infections due to their ability to inhabit and form biofilms in the host or on abiotic surfaces in polymicrobial interactions. Despite the fact that health establishments prioritize the application of disinfection programs to minimize the risk of contamination, the literature shows little disinfectant efficiency on biofilms. In addition, interactions between species can cause changes in the biofilm matrix composition, induce the appearance of persistent cells and change the community's response to antimicrobial, resulting in an increase in the morbidity and mortality of infected patients. Thus, this study proposes to evaluate the efficacy of disinfectants on C. parapsilosis and S. aureus in monospecies biofilms and in combination, as well as the effect of disinfectants on matrix components. In addition, persistent biofilm cells will be quantified after exposure to disinfectants. Environmental and clinical strains of C. parapsilosis stricto sensu, biofilm-forming and the strain S. aureus ATCC 25923 will be used. Commercial preparations of peracetic acid in combination with hydrogen peroxide and sodium hypochlorite will be diluted to concentrations of use in water distilled and sterilized. Biofilms will be formed in 96-well microplates, and cell viability, after exposure to disinfectants for a time standardized in the legislation or by the manufacturer, will be performed by counting viable cells. The quantification of the biomass formed will be obtained by the violet crystal methodology, and the matrix components will be quantified by specific methodologies before and after the exposure of biofilms to disinfectants. The knowledge of the effectiveness of disinfectants used in the hospital routine on mono or dual-species biofilms of C. parapsilosis and S. aureus can increase the knowledge of microbial tolerance to environmental stresses, which has been widely underestimated. (AU)

Scientific publications

(The scientific publications listed on this page originate from the Web of Science or SciELO databases. Their authors have cited FAPESP grant or fellowship project numbers awarded to Principal Investigators or Fellowship Recipients, whether or not they are among the authors. This information is collected automatically and retrieved directly from those bibliometric databases.)

DOURADO, J. K. S.; ALVAREZ-ORMENO, C. M.; BENARD, G.; PIRES, R. H.. Cellular and material-specific responses of Candida parapsilosis biofilms to biocides. Journal of Hospital Infection, v. 162, p. 11-pg., 2025-08-01. (22/07878-0, 21/04702-6)

ALVAREZ, CARMEN MAGALY; OLIVEIRA, MANOEL MARQUES EVANGELISTA; PIRES, REGINA HELENA. Sporotrichosis: A Review of a Neglected Disease in the Last 50 Years in Brazil. MICROORGANISMS, v. 10, n. 11, p. 17-pg., 2022-11-01. (21/04702-6)

CASTRO, VITOR DE PAULA; THOMAZ, DANILO YAMAMOTO; VIEIRA, KAYRO DE LIMA; LOPES, LEONARDO GUEDES; ROSSI, FLAVIA; DEL NEGRO, GILDA M. B.; BENARD, GIL; PIRES, REGINA HELENA. In vitro activity of sanitizers against mono- and polymicrobial biofilms of C. parapsilosis and S. aureus. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, v. 67, n. 10, p. 13-pg., 2023-10-01. (21/04702-6, 21/14473-4)