Future Medicine, Future Microbiology, 3(11), p. 351-362, 2016
DOI: 10.2217/fmb.15.142
Full text: Unavailable
Aim: To evaluate the capacity of hematoporphyrin monomethyl ether (HMME) in the presence of light to cause photodynamic inactivation (PDI) of Candida albicans. Materials & methods: HMME photoactivity was evaluated against azole-susceptible and -resistant C. albicans. The mechanisms by which PDI of C. albicans occurred were also investigated. Results: HMME-mediated PACT caused a dose-dependent inactivation of azole-susceptible and -resistant C. albicans. Incubation with 10 μM HMME and irradiation with 72 J cm-2 light decreased the viability of C. albicans by 7 log10, induced damage of genomic DNA, led to loss of cellular proteins and damaged the cell wall, membrane and intracellular targets. Conclusion: Candida albicans can be effectively inactivated by HMME in the presence of light, and HMME-mediated PACT shows its potential as an antifungal treatment.