In vitro killing of Candida albicans by fatty acids and monoglycerides

The susceptibility of Candida albicans to several fatty acids and their 1-m onoglycerides was tested with a short inactivation time, and ultrathin sect ions were studied by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) after treatment with capric acid. The results show that capric acid, a 10-carbon saturated fatty acid, causes the fastest and most effective killing of all three str ains of C albicans tested, leaving the cytoplasm disorganized and shrunken because of a disrupted or disintegrated plasma membrane. Lauric acid, a 12- carbon saturated fatty acid, was the most active at lower concentrations an d after a longer incubation time.