In vitro synergism of simvastatin and fluconazole against Candida species

Infecções fúngicas sistêmicas são responsáveis por altas taxas de mortalidade. Várias espécies de fungos podem estar envolvidas, mas Candida spp é a mais prevalente. A sinvastatina é usada para diminuir o colesterol e também exibe ação antifúngica. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a ação sinérgica de sinvastatina e fluconazol contra cepas de Candida spp. O teste de susceptibilidade foi realizado de acordo com o protocolo M27-A3, pelo método de micro diluição em caldo e o efeito sinérgico de sinvastatina e fluconazol foi calculado com base no ICIF (Índice de Concentração Inibitória Fraccionada). Onze cepas foram avaliadas, e a sinvastatina mostrou um efeito sinérgico com o fluconazol em dez (91%) das cepas de Candida spp. Sinvastatina pode ser uma droga valiosa no tratamento de infecções sistêmicas causadas por Candida spp.Systemic fungal infections are responsible for high mortality rates. Several species of fungi may be involved, but Candida spp. is the most prevalent. Simvastatin is used to lower cholesterol and also exhibits antifungal action. The aim of this study was to evaluate the synergistic action of simvastatin with fluconazole against strains of Candida spp. Susceptibility testing was performed according to protocol M27-A3, by broth microdilution method and the synergistic effect of simvastatin and fluconazole was calculated based on FICI (Fractional Inhibitory Concentration Index). Eleven strains were evaluated, and simvastatin showed a synergistic effect with fluconazole against 10 (91%) of the Candida spp. strains tested. Simvastatin may be a valuable drug in the treatment of systemic infections caused by Candida spp

Fungos anemófilos isolados na cidade de Fortaleza, Estado do Ceará, Brasil

Fungos anemófilos são importantes causas de rinite e asma alérgicas. O conhecimento destes fungos em uma cidade ou região é importante para o diagnóstico e tratamento específico de manifestações alérgicas provocadas por inalação destes alérgenos. Os fungos anemófilos da cidade de Fortaleza, Estado do Ceará, Brasil, foram estudados no período de um ano. Quinhentos e vinte placas de Petri com meio ágar Sabouraud destrose foram expostas em 10 diferentes locais na cidade. Nas placas expostas foram isoladas 1.521 colônias de 24 gêneros diferentes. Os mais predominantes foram: Aspergillus (44,7%), Penicillium (13,3%), Curvularia (9,8%), Cladosporium (6,8%), Mycelia sterilia (6,0%), Fusarium (3,5%), Rhizopus (3,1%), Drechslera (2,6%), Alternaria (2,4%), e Absidia (2,2%). Os resultados revelaram que Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mycelia sterilia, Fusarium and Alternaria foram encontrados durante todos os meses do ano. Absidia foi mais freqüente durante a fase seca e sem chuva. Os fungos anemófilos e a alta concentração de esporos no ar são importantes porque podem resultar em um aumento das doenças alérgicas do aparelho respiratório.Airbone fungi are considered important causes of allergic rhinitis and allergic asthma. The knowledge of these fungi in a city or region is important for the ecological diagnosis and specific treatment of allergic manifestations induced by inhalation of fungal allergens. The airborne fungi of Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Brazil, were studied during a one year period. Five hundred and twenty Petri dishes with Sabouraud dextrose agar medium were exposed at ten different locations in the city. The dishes exposed yielded one thousand and five hundred and twenty one colonies of twenty four genera. The most predominants were: Aspergillus (44.7%), Penicillium (13.3%), Curvularia (9.8%), Cladosporium (6.8%), Mycelia sterilia (6.0%), Fusarium (3.5%), Rhizopus (3.1%), Drechslera (2.6%), Alternaria (2.4%) and Absidia (2.2%). The results shown that Aspergillus, Penicillium, Mycelia sterilia, Fusarium and Alternaria were found during all months in the year. Absidia was more frequent during the dry season. Anemophilous fungi and the high concentration of spores in the air are important because may result in an increased number of people with allergic respiratory disease

ANTIFUNGAL ACTIVITY OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES OBTAINED BY GREEN SYNTHESIS

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are metal structures at the nanoscale. AgNPs have exhibited antimicrobial activities against fungi and bacteria; however synthesis of AgNPs can generate toxic waste during the reaction process. Accordingly, new routes using non-toxic compounds have been researched. The proposal of the present study was to synthesize AgNPs using ribose as a reducing agent and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a stabilizer. The antifungal activity of these particles against C. albicans and C. tropicalis was also evaluated. Stable nanoparticles 12.5 ± 4.9 nm (mean ± SD) in size were obtained, which showed high activity against Candida spp. and could represent an alternative for fungal infection treatment.Nanopartículas de Prata (AgNPs) são estruturas metálicas em escala nanométrica. AgNPs apresentam atividades antimicrobianas contra fungos e bactérias; no entanto, a síntese de AgNPs pode gerar resíduos tóxicos e devido a isso novas rotas utilizando compostos atóxicos têm sido buscadas. O objetivo desse estudo foi sintetizar AgNPs utilizando a ribose como agente redutor e dodecil sulfato de sódio (SDS) como estabilizante e avaliar a atividade antifúngica dessas partículas contra C. albicans e C. tropicalis. Foram sintetizadas nanopartículas estáveis com 12,5 ± 0,2 nm (média ± DP) que apresentaram elevada atividade contra Candida spp. e podem representar boa alternativa no tratamento de infecções fúngicas

Correlation between microdilution, Etest, and disk diffusion methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of fluconazole against Candida sp. blood isolates

INTRODUCTION: Antifungal susceptibility testing assists in finding the appropriate treatment for fungal infections, which are increasingly common. However, such testing is not very widespread. There are several existing methods, and the correlation between such methods was evaluated in this study. METHODS: The susceptibility to fluconazole of 35 strains of Candida sp. isolated from blood cultures was evaluated by the following methods: microdilution, Etest, and disk diffusion. RESULTS: The correlation between the methods was around 90%. CONCLUSIONS: The disk diffusion test exhibited a good correlation and can be used in laboratory routines to detect strains of Candida sp. that are resistant to fluconazole