Microbiology

Biography

Biography: Anna Krasowska

Abstract

Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast-like fungus that causes exo- and endogenous infections. C. albicans strains exhibit multidrug-resistance to commonly used antifungal agents which correlates with overexpression of Cdr and Mdr efflux pumps located in the plasma membrane. Growing resistance of pathogenic C. albicans strains to many classes of antifungal drugs has stimulated efforts to find new agents to combat more invasive infections. A selected number of probiotic organisms, Saccharomyces boulardii among them, have also been tested as potential biotherapeutic agents. S. boulardii is a yeast strain that has been shown to have applications in the prevention and treatment of intestinal infections caused by microbial pathogens. We have similarly shown that S. boulardii secretes capric acid (C10:0), which is most effective in inhibiting essential virulence factors of C. albicans, especially morphological transition, partial adhesion, as well as biofilm formation. Our latest research on the mechanism of action of capric acid and its influence on the C. albicans’ cells clearly show its interaction with the plasma membrane. Capric acid decreases fluidity, while increasing the potential of the plasma membrane. For these reasons, we have probably not observed antifungal activity of amphotericin B in the presence of capric acid. The antagonism between capric acid and amphotericin B is a strong indication for physicians to not use both compounds simultaneously in the treatment of candidiasis.

Recent Publications

1.  Sellam A, Whiteway M (2016) Recent advances on Candida albicans biology and virulence F1000Res 26:2582-2590.

2.  Sanguinetti M, Posteraro B, Lass-Flörl C (2015) Antifungal drug resistance among Candida species: mechanisms and clinical impact  Mycoses 58:2-13

3. Kumar S, Singhi S, Chakrabarti A, Bansal A, & Jayashree M (2013) Probiotic use and prevalence of candidemia and candiduria in a PICU Pediatric Critical Care Medicine 14: e409-e415.

4. Martin I, Tonner R, Trivedi J, Miller H, Lee R, Liang X, Rotello L, Isenbergh E, Anderson J, Perl T, & Zhang X (2017) Saccharomyces boulardii probiotic-associated fungemia: questioning the safety of this preventive probiotic's use Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease 87:286–288.

5.  Tomičić Z, Zupan J, Matos T, & Raspor P (2016) Probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii (nom. nud.) modulates adhesive properties of Candida glabrata Medical Mycology 54:835-845.