Antifungal Activity of Aureobasidin A in Combination with Fluconazole against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans 

Document Type : Original Research

Authors
S. Alimehr 1
M. Shams-Ghahfarokhi 1
M. Razzaghi Abyaneh 2
1 Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran 14115-331, Iran
2 Department of Mycology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran 13164, Iran
10.29252/iem.6.4.285
Abstract
Background: Aureobasidin A is known as a cyclic depsipeptide antibiotic with toxic effects against yeasts such as Candida spp at low concentration. Combination therapy is used as a conventional treatment for fungal infections, especially drug-resistant cases. The current study aimed to investigate the combined effects of fluconazole and Aureobasidin A on fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates using broth microdilution method.

Materials & Methods: Antifungal activity of Aureobasidin A (AbA) compared to fluconazole against C. albicans ATCC 76615 strain was determined using the standardized broth microdilution method according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI, document M27-Ed4) guidelines. The checkerboard method was used to test the combined effects of Aureobasidin A and fluconazole. The synergy, indifference, and antagonism were defined based on the fractional inhibitory concentration values below 0.5, 0.5-4, and more than 4 μg/mL, respectively.

Findings: MIC50 and MIC90 evaluations of Aureobasidin A and fluconazole were done at concentrations of 0.25-2 and 32-64 μg/mL against C. glabrata isolates, respectively. The synergy between fluconazole and Aureobasidin A was observed against Candida isolate. A reduced MIC was demonstrated against C. albicans isolate when fluconazole was combined with Aureobasidin A at 4 to 0.12 μg/mL concentrations.

Conclusion: The present study findings revealed that Aureobasidin A combined with fluconazole exhibited potent inhibitory effects against fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates. Further studies is recommended to investigate the synergistic effects of Aureobasidin A and other antifungal drugs.

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Infection Epidemiology and Microbiology
Volume 6, Issue 4
November 2020
Pages 285-291