Sensitivity of fungi of the genus Candida to antifungal drugs

Seventy two Candida strains isolated from patients with candidiosis of the oral mucosa were studied with respect to their sensitivity to nystatin, levorin, decamine, ethonium, sanguiritrin and clotrimazole. At concentrations of 0.5 to 5 micrograms/ml all the Candida species i.e. C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei and C. quilliermondii were highly sensitive to clotrimazole. Fungistatic action of levorin, nystatin and sanguiritrin was observed in 91, 67 and 38 per cent of the strains respectively. The Candida strains were resistant to decamine and ethonium used in the above concentrations.     

Search for biological remedies for fungi of the Candida genus

51 bacterial strains were studied with a view to find out anticandidial activity; of these, 15 strains were found to have activity, more on less expressed with respect to fungi of the genus Candida. In most cases the anticandidial activity of an antagonist strain was manifested to a similar degree against several Candida strains. The preliminary analysis of antifungal substances produced by microbial strains makes it possible to suggest their antibiotic nature.     

Antifungal activity of ovotransferrin towards genus Candida

The inhibiting activity of ovotransferrin was tested towards different species belonging to genus Candida.Of one hundred strains tested, only C. krusei showed a noticeable resistance, while the other species appeared to be more sensitive than bacteria to the action of ovotransferrin. The influence of anions, such as bicarbonate and citrate, on the inhibiting activity of ovotransferrin was also investigated. Moreover it was observed that iron saturated ovotransferrin retained its activity, thus suggesting an interaction between the protein and Candida cells.     

The antilysozyme activity of yeasts in the genus Candida

The fungi of the genus Candida isolated from patients with oral mucosa candidiasis and from candidiasis carriers have been studied for their antilysozyme activity. These fungi (Candida albicans, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. quilliermondii) are antilysozyme-active. A high antilysozyme activity of the fungi isolated from patients with oral mucosa candidiasis permits supposing that the presence of this trait may be one of the factors of microorganism pathogenicity. The effective antimycotic therapy (clotrimasole, sanguirhitrin) decreases the antilysozyme activity of fungi of the genus Candida.     

Clinico-experimental study of a dried selective medium for isolating fungi in the genus Candida

The trial of a newly developed dried selective medium for the isolation of fungi of the genus Candida, involving the inoculation of 103 museum yeast strains and 542 specimens of pathological material, has been carried out. The data obtained in this trial indicate that the proposed medium has advantages over wort agar and Sabouraud medium with antibiotics in the germination index, in the ability to ensure fungal growth after the inoculation of pathological material, and in selective properties. The medium ensures the intactness of the morpho-cultural, biochemical and serological properties of the fungi. The results of the trial recommend the newly developed preparation for laboratory practice for the isolation of yeast-like fungi from clinical material in the diagnosis of candidiasis, intestinal microflora disturbances, as well as for isolation of the fungi from various environmental objects.     

Antagonistic activity of bacteria from Bacillus genus against dermatophyte fungi

Antagonistic properties of the strain Bacillus subtilis IB-54 with respect to dermatophyte fungi Trichophyton rubrum, T. mentagrophytes var. gypseum, Microsporum canis was studied. The studied strains of bacilli effectively inhibited growth and development of dermatophytes when were cultivated on the media containing different carbon sources. Experiments on laboratory animals showed that B. subtilis IB-54 displayed no virulence, toxicity, and toxigenicity and can be considered as perspective object for development of antimycotic drugs.     

Bacterial-fungal associations in the intestine under the conditions of colonization by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida

The composition of the fecal microflora in somatic patients and patients with enteric infections under the conditions of surpluscolonization by yeast-like fungi of the genus Candida was analyzed. The study revealed that the high level of fungal contamination was linked with decreased colonization resistance of the intestine (deficiency in bifidoflora) and with the presence of opportunistic microorganisms: Staphylococcus aureus, hemolytic and lactose-negative Escherichia coli, as well as nonfermenting Gram negative bacteria. The antilysozyme activity of enterobacteria was found to increase in the course of their joint cultivation with fungi of the genus Candida, that may be regarded as one of the mechanisms of the formation and maintenance of pathobiocenosis.     

Effect of enzymes on the adhesion of fungi of the genus Candida to the buccal mucosa in vitro

Influence of selected enzymes as pepsin, pronase, lysozyme, and glusulase on adhesion of 15 strains of Candida sp. to buccal epithelial cells of oral cavity of man was examined in vitro. The enzymes were used in such concentration which did not influence the viability of fungal cells. Only pepsin preincubation had no influence on adhesion test, the remaining enzymes inhibited significantly attachment of Candida strains to epithelial cells in an adherence assay in vitro.     

A cytomorphological analysis of the adhesion of fungi of the genus Candida to human and animal epithelial cells

Morphological pattern of adherence of Candida genus fungi to human and animal epithelial cells have been studied using histological and cytological methods. The interspecific differences of epithelial adhesive properties were observed: in one case, the mucous membrane epitheliocytes of different localization had different adhesive properties. Adhesive properties vary significantly within one type of epithelial cells. In individual epitheliocyte, the adherence of fungal blastospores was nonuniform: the greater density was observed in peripheral areas of cytoplasm.     

Effect of lignin on growth and tyrosinase activity of fungi from the genus Aspergillus

The effect of lignin hydrolyzate (a waste product of the pulp and paper industry) on the growth and tyrosinase activity of several strains of fungi of the genus Aspergillus was studied. During fungal growth lignin was degraded with the formation of soluble aromatic products. Accumulation of these products in the growth medium leads to a 60-100-fold increase in tyrosinase synthesis. The intensity of tyrosinase synthesis depends on the composition of the growth medium. The ratio between lignin and glucose concentrations seems to be the main factor; the activity was maximal at the ratio 2:1.