THE EFFECT OF ANTIFUNGAL AGENTS ON THE IN-VITRO SUSCEPTIBILITY OF CANDIDA-ALBICANS TO APO-LACTOFERRIN

The effect of subminimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of nystatin, amphotericin B, clotrimazole, miconazole and 5-fluorocytosine on the in vitro susceptibility of Candida albicans to physiological concentra tions of apo-lactoferrin was investigated. Pre-exposure of C. albicans in 1:4 and 1:16 MICs of the antifungals resulted in an increased resi stance to apo-lactoferrin-mediated cell death. Preincubation of Candid a in tunicamycin (an agent that inhibits the synthesis of yeast cell-w all mannoproteins) and subsequent exposure to apo-lactoferrin enhanced the antifungal activity, whilst addition of ergosterol (a yeast cell- wall component) to the assay suspension had no significant effect. The se results taken together indicate that apo-lactoferrin, an important component of saliva, interacts with cell-membrane constituents of C. a lbicans such as mannoproteins, and may modulate the effect of topical antifungal agents commonly prescribed for oral candidoses.