RESUMO
The effects of the alkali metals sodium, potassium and lithium on the growth and on certain virulence factors (adhesion, cell-surface hydrophobicity and the germinating ability) of Candida albicans were investigated. It can be concluded that high concentrations of alkali metals possessed an inhibitory effect on the growth of the Candida cells and preincubation in the presence of alkali metals had a negative effect on all the virulence factors studied. It is worth emphasizing that the changes induced during the preincubation persisted even when the high concentrations of the alkali metals were removed from the cell suspension. However, even at high concentrations of sodium or potassium a considerable growth of Candida cells could be measured. Data also showed that although alkali metals could significantly decrease certain virulence traits of the fungus they could not totally inhibit either the adhesion or the germ tube formation potential of the cells. Thus, in spite of the high salt concentrations Candida cells may represent a health hazard in such habitats.
