• Journal of Life Science
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• v.27 no.12
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• pp.1494-1499
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• 2017

Oral infection due to Candida albicans is a widely recognized and frequent cause of superficial infections of the oral mucosa (oral candidiasis). Although oral candidiasis is not a life-threatening fungemia, it can cause severe problems in individuals under certain conditions. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are noncoding, small RNA molecules, which regulate the expression of other genes by inhibiting the translation of target mRNAs. The present study was designed to identify miRNAs in C. albicans and determine their possible roles in this organism. miRNA-sized small RNAs (msRNAs) were cloned in C. albicans by deep sequencing, and their secondary structures were analyzed. All the cloned msRNAs satisfied conditions required to qualify them as miRNAs. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that two of the most highly expressed C. albicans msRNAs, Ca-363 and Ca-2019, were located in the 3' untranslated region of the corticosteroid-binding protein 1 (CBP1) gene in a reverse orientation. miRNA mimics were transformed into C. albicans to investigate their RNA-inhibitory functions. RNA oligonucleotide-transformed C. albicans was then observed by fluorescent microscopy. Quantitative PCR analysis showed that these msRNAs did not inhibit CBP1 gene expression 4 hr and 8 hr after ectopic miRNA transformation. These results suggest that msRNAs in C. albicans possess an miRNA-triggered RNA interference gene-silencing function, which is distinct from that exhibited by other eukaryotic systems.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.335-340
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• 2017

PURPOSE. Bacterial adhesion on provisional crown materials retained for a long time can influence the duration for which permanent prosthetic restorations can be healthily worn in the oral cavity. The aim of this study was to compare seven different commonly used provisional crown materials with regard to Streptococcus mutans and Candida albicans surface adhesion. MATERIALS AND METHODS. For each group, twenty specimens of the provisional fixed prosthodontic materials TemDent ($Sch{\ddot{u}}tz$), Imident (Imicryl), Tab 2000 (Kerr), Structur Premium (Voco), Systemp (Ivoclar Vivadent), Acrytemp (Zhermack), and Takilon-BBF (Takilon) were prepared (diameter, 10.0 mm; height, 2.0 mm). Surface roughness was assessed by atomic force microscopy. Each group was then divided into 2 subgroups (n=10) according to the microbial suspensions used: S. mutans and C. albicans. The specimens were incubated at $37^{\circ}C$ with S. mutans or C. albicans for seven days. Bacterial adherence on surfaces was assessed using the 2,3-bis[2-methyloxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl]-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) assay. RESULTS. S. mutans showed maximum adhesion to Structur, followed by Systemp, Acrytemp, Takilon, Tab 2000, Imident, and TemDent (P<.05). The highest vital C. albicans adhesion was noted on Takilon, followed by Imident and Tab 2000; the lowest adhesion was noted on Systemp (P<.05). CONCLUSION. The materials showed significant differences in the degree of bacterial adhesion. C. albicans showed higher surface adhesion than S. mutans on provisional crown and fixed partial denture denture materials.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of 3 chairside polishing methods and laboratory polishing methods on surface roughness and $C.$ $albicans$ adhesion of polyamide denture base. Materials and methods: Using contact profilometer, the surface of polyamide specimens ($25{\times}15{\times}2mm$) was studied after conventional polishing without finishing and after chiarside polishing with 2 chiarside polishing kits and chairside-pumice polishing following finishing with tungsten carbide bur. To evaluate the adhesion of $C.$ $albicans$, $C.$ $albicans$ suspension was overlayed on the test specimen. And the specimens were incubated for 2 hours. Imprint culture method was achieved and counted the colony on the agar plate. Polished polyamide were evaluated using a scanning electron microscope. The statistics were conducted using one-way ANOVA and in case of difference, Scheffe test and Tamhane's T2 test were used. Results: Surface roughness (Ra) of surfaces polished with 2 chairside polishing kits had higher than conventional polishing and pumice polishing. The highest roughness value was $0.32{\pm}0.10{\mu}m$, and the lowest was $0.02{\pm}0.00{\mu}m$. The adhesion of $C.$ $albicans$ on the specimens polished with chairside polishing group and pumice polishing group were increased than conventional polishing group ($P$<.01). Conclusion: Conventional laboratory polishing was found to produce the smoothest surface and the lowest adhesion of $C.$ $albicans$. Two groups polished with Chairside polishing kits were similar with respect to surface roughness. Surface of the specimen polished with pumice is significantly smoother than 2 chairside polishing groups, but the result of $C.$ $albicans$ adhesion is that group polished with pumice was similar with 2 chairside polishing groups ($P$>.01).

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.121-138
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• 1982

The present study was conducted in order to investigate the role of yeast-like fungi in bovine mastitis. Attempts were made to isolate and identify yeast-like fungi from the milk from normal udders and those with clinical or subclinical mastitis and from feces. Also incuded in the study were trials for the pathogenicity of the isolates for laboratory animals and efficacy of an anti-fungal drug for the treatment of mastitis. A total of 133 isolates of yeast-like fungi was made from milk and feces and they were identified as Candida (C.) albicans (5 isolates), C. krusei (63 isolates), C. tropicalis (27 isolates), Torulopsis (T.) glabrata (10 isolates), Rhodotourla sp. (6 isolates), Hansenula sp. (6 isolates) and Pichia sp. (1 isolate). Sixty seven strains of yeast-like fungi were isolated from the milk of 64 quarters (4.3% of quarters examined) of 55 cows (14.3% of cows examined). C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. parapsilosis and T. glabrata were isolated as the causative agents from 20 quarters (1.3% of quarters examined) with clinical mastitis. C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. albicans, C. pseudotropicalis, T. glabrata, Rhodotorula sp. and Hansenula sp. were isolated as the causative agents from 22 quarters (1.5% quarters examined) with subclinical mastitis. C. tropicalis, C. krusei, T. glabrata and Rhodotorula sp. were isolated as the contaminants from 22 normal quarters (1.5% of quarters examined). C. krusei, C albicans, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis, C. parapsilosis, T. glabrata, Hansenula sp., Rhodotorula sp. and Pichia sp. were isolated as the contaminants from feces and all of the species except Pichia sp. were isolated from milk of the same cows at the some time. Intramammary infusion of nystatin was effective for the treatment of mastitis caused by C. albicans, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotoropicalis, C. parapsilosis, T. glabrata and Rhodotorula sp. C. albicans, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, C. pseudotropicalis, T. glabrata, Hamsenula sp. and Pichia sp. were pathogenic for rat but C. parapsilosis and Rhodotorula sp. were not.

• Mycobiology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.67-72
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• 2013

Pathogenic microbes secrete various enzymes with lipolytic activities to facilitate their survival within the host. Lipolytic enzymes include extracellular lipases and phospholipases, and several lines of evidence have suggested that these enzymes contribute to the virulence of pathogenic fungi. Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans are the most commonly isolated human fungal pathogens, and several biochemical and molecular approaches have identified their extracellular lipolytic enzymes. The role of lipases and phospholipases in the virulence of C. albicans has been extensively studied, and these enzymes have been shown to contribute to C. albicans morphological transition, colonization, cytotoxicity, and penetration to the host. While not much is known about the lipases in C. neoformans, the roles of phospholipases in the dissemination of fungal cells in the host and in signaling pathways have been described. Lipolytic enzymes may also influence the survival of the lipophilic cutaneous pathogenic yeast Malassezia species within the host, and an unusually high number of lipase-coding genes may complement the lipid dependency of this fungus. This review briefly describes the current understanding of the lipolytic enzymes in major human fungal pathogens, namely C. albicans, C. neoformans, and Malassezia spp.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.538-547
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• 2019

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of two well-known natural antioxidants, vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE), on the antifungal activity of honokiol against Candida albicans. The broth microdilution method was employed to test the antifungal activities of honokiol with or without antioxidants in the medium against C. albicans strain. Intracellular reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation were determined by fluorescence staining assay. Mitochondrial dysfunction was assessed by detecting the mitochondrial DNA and the mitochondrial membrane potential. We observed that VC could significantly potentiate the antifungal activities of honokiol while VE reduced the effectiveness of honokiol against C. albicans. In addition, VC accelerated honokiol-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and inhibited glycolysis leading to a decrease in cellular ATP. However, VE could protect against mitochondrial membrane lipid peroxidation and rescue mitochondrial function after honokiol treatment. Our research provides new insight into the understanding of the action mechanism of honokiol and VC combination against C. albicans.

• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.357-364
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• 2009

Phospholipids are crucially important in a cell membrane function and could thereby influence antibiotic susceptibility. In order to investigate the antifungal mechanism the total lipid was extracted from C. albicans treated with citronellol or thymol in concentration of their minimum inhibiting concentration and the changes in phospholipids composition were analyzed using ketoconazole as control. The cell growth and total lipid synthesis in cell walls of C. albicans were inhibited by treatment with citronellol. The levels of total lipids were decreased by 35.85% compared to the control. They also showed a significant decrease in the contents of phospholipid, phosphatidylcholine(PC), phosphatidyl ethanolamine(PE) and phosphatidylinositol(PI). As the result of GC assay for total fatty acid methyl esters of PC, PE and PI in C. albicans treated with citronellol, it was found that the major fatty acid composed of three phospholipid were palmitic acid, stearic acid and oleic acid. Moreover, the pattern of the fatty acid compositions of PC, PE and PI were changed by the oil. Based on the results, the anti-Candida mechanism of citronellol or thymol might be closely associated with disrupting the permeability barriers of the fungal cell wall composition or construction.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.9
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• pp.1322-1326
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• 2013

New antifungal agents are required to compensate for the increase in resistance to standard antifungal agents of Candida albicans, which is an important opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes minor infections in many individuals but very serious infections in those who are immune-compromised. In this study, combinations of theaflavin and epicatechin are investigated as potential antifungal agents and also to establish whether antifungal synergy exists between these two readily accessible and cost-effective polyphenols isolated from black and green tea. The results of disc diffusion assays showed stronger antibacterial activity of theaflavin:epicatechin combinations against C. albicans NCTC 3255 and NCTC 3179, than that of theaflavin alone. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 1,024 ${\mu}g/ml$ with theaflavin and 128-256 ${\mu}g/ml$ with theaflavin:epicatechin combinations were found. The fractional inhibitory concentration indexes were calculated, and the synergy between theaflavin and epicatechin against both isolates of C. albicans was confirmed. Theaflavin:epicatechin combinations show real potential for future use as a treatment for infections caused by C. albicans.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 2017

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is one of the urogenital infections occurring in women worldwide. Candida albicans is generally observed among various types of microorganisms causing VVC. Antibiotic therapy is typical, and the use of Lactobacilli probiotics is to be recognized as a promising alternative. The aim of this study was to select vaginal lactobacilli with probiotic properties against C. albicans. In a previous study, we isolated 38 lactobacilli from vagina of Korean women and 20 isolates were shown to inhibit C. albicans. We further selected 10 isolates which were able to inhibit C. albicans less than $10^5CFU/mL$. Among these selected strains, Lactobacillus salivarius MG242 (identified by 16s rRNA sequencing) was finally selected based on its strong anti-candidal activity, acid/bile salt resistance and adhesion property. Indirect adhesion activity of MG242 measured by auto-aggregation assay showed more than 60% auto-aggregation after 5 h standing. Taken these results together, the selected strain MG242 may have potential for application in vagina health related products.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.124-130
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• 2001

The in vitro activities of 2,2'-dipyridyl, an iron-chelator, against clinical isolates of Trichomonas vaginalis, Candida albicans, and Gardnerella vaginalis was evaluated and compared with those of four other vaginal suppositories, ornidazole, clotrimazole, povidone-iodine, and $Cenacert^{\circledR}$ (Methylbezethonium Chloride mixed with 9-aminoacrydine undecylenate and hydrochloric acid N-myristyl-3-hydroxy butyl amine). The 2,2'-dipyridyl killed T. vaginalis and G. vaginalis at concentrations of $410\;{\mu}g/ml$ and $205\;{\mu}g/ml$, respectively, however, ths agent was less active against C. albicans (80% of which was inhiited at $410\;{\mu}g/ml$). The inhibition of these three pathogens by 2,2'-dipyridyl was similar to clotrimazole. In addition, the effect of 2,2'-dipyridyl on the ultrastructure of T. vaginalis, C. albicans, an G. vaginalis was examined. Transmission electron microscopy indicated that 2,2'-dipyridyl induced modifications of the cellular contents and cell envolope concumitant with the degradation of the three pathogens. These results suggest that 2,2'-dipyridyl has an inhibitory effect on C. albicans and G. vaginalis, as well as T. vaginalis.