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EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL IRON ON GROWTH PATTERNS, BIOFILM FORMATION, AND ANTIFUNGAL SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CANDIDA GLABRATA

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Thesis/Dissertation
Date
2023
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Department
Oral Biology
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http://dx.doi.org/10.34944/dspace/8437
Abstract
Objectives: Candida glabrata is the second most common cause of oral candidiasis, second only to C. albicans. Incidence of antifungal resistance has shown a steady increase for C. glabrata. Iron has shown to modulate C. albicans pathogenesis and affect drug-susceptibility. Here, we assess the effect of iron on the growth, antifungal-susceptibility, biofilms, and cell wall of C. glabrata.Methods: Growth, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC), and biofilm experiments were conducted using 96-well polystyrene plates. Yeast Nitrogen Base medium was used for growth experiments. Cultures of C. glabrata and C. albicans were grown over two nights in respective media containing varying iron concentrations. Rosewell Park Memorial Institute medium was used for MIC and biofilm experiments. Serial dilution was performed to obtain desired concentrations of antifungal drugs. For all experiments, growth was assessed at OD600nm over 24 hours using BioTek Synergy Multi Mode Reader. Paraformaldehyde treated cells and specific stains were used for cell wall studies. Results: Growth of C. glabrata declined significantly below 5μM iron, while C. albicans continued to grow at decreasing iron concentrations, up to 0.5μM. MIC experiments revealed 1.562μM, 1.562μM, and 4μM, as the MIC for Deferasirox, Nystatin, and Fluconazole, respectively. Drug synergy experiments revealed a 128-fold reduction in the amount of Nystatin and Fluconazole needed, with the addition of 1/8th of Deferasirox concentration. The biofilm experiments were inconclusive and the cell wall studies showed decreased levels of mannan, chitin, and an increased β-glucan exposure in high iron conditions. Conclusion: C. glabrata is more sensitive to alterations in environmental iron when compared to C. albicans. Drug synergy experiments underscore the importance of Deferasirox in lowering the MICs of Nystatin or Fluconazole. This can allow use of classical antifungals at lower doses, thereby limiting their side effects. Cell wall studies discuss the effect of iron on the virulence of the C. glabrata.
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