Structural and Morphological Alterations of Candida albicans Cells after Treatment with Atratoxin $B_1$ from Holothuria atra (Jaeger)

Atratoxin $B_1$ which was found to inhibit the growth of Candida albicans caused structural and morphological alteration of the cells. Increased accumulation of vesicles and membranous bodies in the cytoplasm, and alterations of the cell membrane and cell wall were most obvious. Sequential lytic events of the cells eventually resulted in complete disintegration of the cytoplasmic structures. These results suggested that atratoxin $B_1$ functioned by either blocking the biosynthetic step during cell wall synthesis, altering cell wall metabolism or dissolution of the cell organelles. These changes caused a progressive destruction of the cell wall leading to cell lysis.