Evaluation surfactants activity on virulence factors of Candida spp

• Grant number: 07/07162-5
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: February 01, 2008
• End date: January 31, 2010
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology - Biology and Physiology of Microorganisms
• Principal Investigator: Juliana Pereira Lyon
• Grantee: Juliana Pereira Lyon
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento (IP&D). Universidade do Vale do Paraíba (UNIVAP). São José dos Campos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Candida yeasts are opportunistic pathogens responsible for infections in immunocompromised individuals. Among the virulence factors presented by this microorganisms we can cite the adhesion ability to host cells, exoenzyme production, and germ tube formation. A large number of compounds have been tested with the aim to inhibit the adherence and exoenzymes production in Candida spp., including antifungal agents, protein inhibitors, natural compounds with biologic activity and surfactants. Surfactants are active agents for superficies and belong to the amphiphilic molecules group. These substances present a significant action on the adhesion inhibition of biological or non biological materials to different substrates. Besides, the inhibition of fungal and bacterial adherence has already been demonstrated for some kinds of surfactants. The study of the influence of ionic and non-ionic surfactants on the fungal adhesion and exoenzyme production consists in an interesting contribution, since such approach would concomitantly allow the evaluation of the fungal resistance to different surfactants as well as to obtain precious information regarding the mechanism of interaction of surfactants and proteins related to the virulence of this yeast. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

LYON, JULIANA P.; MORAES, KAREN C. M.; MOREIRA, LEONARDO M.; AIMBIRE, FLAVIO; DE RESENDE, MARIA APARECIDA. Candida albicans: genotyping methods and clade related phenotypic characteristics. Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, v. 41, n. 4, p. 841-849, OCT-DEC 2010. (07/07162-5)

MOREIRA, LEONARDO M.; LYON, JULIANA P.; TURSI, SUELLEN M. S.; TRAJANO, ISIS; FELIPE, MONALISA P.; COSTA, MARICILIA S.; RODRIGUES, MAIRA R.; CODOGNOTO, LUCIA; DE OLIVEIRA, HUEDER P. M.. Azure dyes as new photosensitizer prototypes to application in photodynamic therapy against Candida spp.. SPECTROSCOPY-AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL, v. 24, n. 6, p. 621-628, 2010. (07/07162-5)