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Advisor(s)
Abstract(s)
Oral candidiasis is particularly evident, not only in cancer patients receiving
chemotherapy, but also in elderly people with xerostomy. In general, Candida is an
opportunistic pathogen, causing infections in immunocompromised people and, in some
cases, when the natural microbiota is altered. Chitosan, a natural derivative of chitin, is a
polysaccharide that has been proven to possess a broad spectrum of antimicrobial activity
that encompasses action against fungi, yeast and bacteria. While recent studies have revealed
a significant antibiofilm activity upon several microorganisms, including C. albicans, little
is known regarding the impact of chitosan upon the adhesive process or mature biofilms.
With that in mind, the purpose of this work was to evaluate, in vitro, the capability of
chitosan to inhibit C. albicans growth and biofilm formation. The results obtained showed
that chitosan is capable of inhibiting C. albicans planktonic growth (HMW, 1 mg/mL; LMW,
3 mg/mL). Regarding biofilm growth, chitosan inhibited C. albicans adhesion (ca. 95%),
biofilm formation (percentages above 90%) and reduced mature biofilms by ca. 65% and
dual species biofilms (C. albicans and S. mutans) by ca. 70%. These results display the
potential of this molecule to be used as an effective anti-Candida agent capable of acting
upon C. albicans infections.
Description
Keywords
Candidiasis Candida albicans Chitosan Biofilm Antibiofilm
Pedagogical Context
Citation
COSTA, Eduardo …[et al.] - Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity of Chitosan on the Oral Pathogen Candida albicans. Pathogens ISSN 2076-0817. Vol. 3 (2014), p. 908-919
Publisher
MDPI