TITLE:
Effects of Farnesol on Drug-Resistant and Non-Resistant Candida albicans: Implications for Cosmetic and Pharmaceutical Applications
AUTHORS:
Neela Yar, Emma Wittman, Dominic Schaut, Francesco De Seta, Bryan Larsen
KEYWORDS:
Farnesol, Candida albicans, Antifungal Resistance, Persister Phenotype, Quorum Sensing
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Microbiology,
Vol.10 No.8,
August
21,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Farnesol is added to numerous consumer products that intentionally, or inadvertently come in contact with
tissues that may harbor the opportunistic yeast, Candida albicans. Objective: This study explores biological consequences of the exposure
of Candida albicans from community infections or from a panel of antifungal drug resistant organisms on
growth and survival of these organisms when exposed to farnesol. Methods: ATCC supplied Candida albicans from the MP8 drug resistance panel and an
additional 12 strains of community-acquired Candida
albicans were cultured in the presence of farnesol. With standard
micobiologic techniques and flow cytometry evaluation, a series of experiments
considered growth, morphology, viability and entrance into the quiescent
persister phenotype of Candida with emphasis on differences between drug resistant and community
organisms. Results: Differences
growth yield, relative cell size and heat susceptibility distinguished
the community organisms from the drug-resistant organisms. Using a subset of
these organisms, exposure to farnesol resulted in diminished growth, inhibited
hyphal growth, diminished cell membrane integrity and increased heat stress
susceptibility. Data provided suggest that exposure to farnesol pushes cultures
of Candida albicans toward the quiescent persister phenotype. Conclusion: Exposure of drug resistant and community strains of Candida albicans are modestly affected by farnesol in ways that may lessen their pathogenic potential. In contrast, the tendency of farnesol to engender
greater numbers of quiescent organisms could support persistence of Candida.