Phospholipid and sterol analysis of plasma membranes of azole-resistant Candida albicans strains

The phospholipid and sterol composition of the plasma membranes of five flu conazole-resistant clinical Candida albicans isolates was compared to that of three fluconazole-sensitive ones. The three azole-sensitive strains test ed and four of the five resistant strains did not exhibit any major differe nce in their phospholipid and sterol composition. The remaining strain (R5) showed a decreased amount of ergosterol and a lower phosphatidylcholine :p hosphatidylethanolamine ratio in the plasma membrane. These changes in the plasma membrane lipid and sterol composition may be responsible for an alte red uptake of drugs and thus for a reduced intracellular accumulation of fl uconazole thereby providing a mechanism for azole resistance. (C) 2000 Fede ration of European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.