Antifungal activity of dexamethasone against fluconazole-resistant Candida albicans and its activity against biofilms.
Lisandra J SilvaCecília R SilvaLívia G do Av SáFatima Dd BarrosoThiago M CândidoHelaine A QueirozLara E Almeida MoreiraOctavio V BaccalliniBruno C CavalcantiJacilene SilvaEmanuelle Machado MarinhoManoel O MoraesJoão Ba NetoHélio Vn JúniorPublished in: Future microbiology (2022)
Objective: The present study investigated the antifungal action of dexamethasone disodium phosphate (Dex). Methodology: Susceptibility testing was performed using the Clinical & Laboratory Standards Institute protocol; M27-A3, checkerboard test and biofilm were evaluated with two isolates of Candida albicans , hyphal production test, molecular docking analysis and flow cytometry analysis. Result: Dex and fluconazole (FLC) together had a synergistic effect. Mature biofilm was reduced when treated with Dex alone or in combination. Dex and FLC promoted a decrease in the production of hyphae and changes in the level of mitochondrial depolarization, increased generation of reactive oxygen species, loss of membrane integrity, increased phosphatidylserine externalization and molecular docking; there was interaction with ALS3 and SAP5 targets. Conclusion: Dex showed antifungal activity against FLC-resistant C. albicans strains.