Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology

The Korean Society for Microbiology and Biotechnology (한국미생물·생명공학회)
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Investigation of the Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Action of LMWS-Chitosan

  • Park, Yoon-Kyung (Research Center for Proteineous Materials (RCPM), Chosun University) ;
  • Kim, Mi-Hyun (Research Center for Proteineous Materials (RCPM), Chosun University) ;
  • Park, Seong-Cheol (Research Center for Proteineous Materials (RCPM), Chosun University) ;
  • Cheong, Hyeon-Sook (Department of Biotechnology and BK21 Research Team for Protein Activity Control, Chosun University) ;
  • Jang, Mi-Kyeong (Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Nah, Jae-Woon (Department of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sunchon National University) ;
  • Hahm, Kyung-Soo (Research Center for Proteineous Materials (RCPM), Chosun University)
  • Published : 2008.10.31
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Abstract

Chitosan, a cationic polysaccharide, has been widely used as a dietary supplement and in a variety of pharmacological and biomedical applications. The antifungal activity and mechanism of action of low molecular weight water-soluble chitosan (LMWS-chitosan) were studied in fungal cells and vesicles containing various compositions of fungal lipids. LMWS-chitosan showed strong antifungal activity against various pathogenic yeasts and hyphae-forming fungi but no hemolytic activity or cytotoxicity against mammalian cells. The degree of calcein leakage was assessed on the basis of lipid composition (PC/CH; 10:1, w/w). Our result showing that LMWS-chitosan interacts with liposomes demonstrated that chitosan induces leakage from zwitterionic lipid vesicles. Confocal microscopy revealed that LMWS-chitosan was located in the plasma membrane. Finally, scanning electron microscopy revealed that LMWS-chitosan causes significant morphological changes on fungal surfaces. Its potent antibiotic activity suggests that LMWS-chitosan is an excellent candidate as a lead compound for the development of novel anti-infective agents.

Keywords

References

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