The effect of Candida albicans and Bacterial Mixed Culture on C. albicans / 대한의진균학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Fungal-bacterial interactions are ubiquitous. Implanted medical devices, including urinary bladder catheters, are particularly susceptible to colonization by Candida spp. and opportunistic bacterial pathogens. Less is known about the fungal side of fungal-bacterial interactions. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of mixed culture on C. albicans and bacteria. METHODS: After C. albicans was incubated either alone or in mixed culture with bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Enterococcus faecalis, and E. faecium) in blood agar plate, colony count and diameter were read. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of C. albicans to fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole were tested by broth microdilution method of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) M27-A3. The expression of target gene (ERG11) was analyzed by RT-PCR using real-time PCR system. RESULTS: When C. albicans and P. aeruginosa were mixed cultured, the colony count of C. albicans significantly decreased (p=0.021). The colony size, MIC, and ERG11 mRNA expression were no significant differences between single and mixed culture. CONCLUSIONS: Further investigations are warranted to understand the fungal-bacterial interaction in order to aid in the design of new strategies for the treatment and prevention of infections.