Actividad de la anfotericina B y la anidulafungina, solas y combinadas, frente a biopelículas de Candida tropicalis formadas sobre Teflon ® y titanio

An In Vitro Model for Candida albicans⁻Streptococcus gordonii Biofilms on Titanium Surfaces

The oral cavity serves as a nutrient-rich haven for over 600 species of microorganisms. Although many are essential to maintaining the oral microbiota, some can cause oral infections such as caries, periodontitis, mucositis, and endodontic infections, and this is further exacerbated with dental implants. Most of these infections are mixed species in nature and associated with a biofilm mode of growth. Here, after optimization of different parameters including cell density, growth media, and incubation conditions, we have developed an in vitro model of C. albicans–S. gordonii mixed-species biofilms on titanium discs that is relevant to infections of peri-implant diseases. Our results indicate a synergistic effect for the development of biofilms when both microorganisms were seeded together, confirming the existence of beneficial, mutualistic cross-kingdom interactions for biofilm formation. The morphological and architectural features of these dual-species biofilms formed on titanium were determined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Mixed biofilms formed on titanium discs showed a high level of resistance to combination therapy with antifungal and antibacterial drugs. This model can serve as a platform for further analyses of complex fungal/bacterial biofilms and can also be applied to screening of new drug candidates against mixed-species biofilms.

Biofilm-related disease

INTRODUCTION

Biofilm formation represents a protected mode of growth that renders bacterial cells less susceptible to antimicrobials and to killing by host immune effector mechanisms and so enables the pathogens to survive in hostile environments and also to disperse and colonize new niches. Biofilm disease includes device-related infections, chronic infections in the absence of a foreign body, and even malfunction of medical devices. Areas covered: This review puts forward a new medical entity that represents a major public health issue, which we have named 'biofilm-related disease'. We highlight the characteristics of biofilm disease including its pathogenesis, microbiological features, clinical presentation, and treatment challenges. Expert commentary: The diversity of biofilm-associated infections is increasing over time and its impact may be underestimated. This peculiar form of development endows associated bacteria with a high tolerance to conventional antimicrobial agents. A small percentage of persister cells developing within the biofilm is known to be highly tolerant to antibiotics and has typically been involved in causing relapse of infections. Knowledge of the pivotal role played by biofilm-growing microorganisms in related infections will provide new treatment dynamics for this biofilm-related disease.

Time-kill assays of amphotericin B plus anidulafungin against Candida tropicalis biofilms formed on two different biomaterials

PURPOSE

To determine the fungicidal activity by time-killing assays of amphotericin B (AMB) combined with anidulafungin (ANF) against biofilms of 2 clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis and the reference strain ATCC® 750, developed on polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and titanium, using the CDC Biofilm Reactor (CBR) as an in vitro model.

METHODS

Biofilms were developed for 24 hours on the disk surfaces and then exposed to AMB (40 mg/L), ANF (8 mg/L), alone and combined. At predetermined time points after drug exposure, biofilms were removed from the disk surface by vortexing-sonication to quantify viable biofilm cells.

RESULTS

Drug activity was dependent on strain and time. After exposure to AMB, the mean decrease in viable cells attached to PTFE was 2.23 ± 0.89 Log10 cfu/cm2 (range 0.6-3.56 Log10), and on titanium 2.91 ± 1.04 (range 1.49-4.51 Log10). The reduction with ANF was 0.78 ± 0.5 (0.03-1.58 Log10) on PTFE and 0.8 ± 2.26 (0.42-1.16 Log10) on titanium. The reduction obtained with the combination of AMB + ANF was 1.8 ± 1.07 (0.22-3.54 Log10) on PTFE and 1.97 ± 0.49 (1.36-2.84 Log10) on titanium. The interaction was classified as indifferent with a tendency to antagonism.

CONCLUSIONS

The activity of antifungal agents depends on the biomaterial surfaces the biofilm forming capacity of the isolate. AMB + ANF is less effective than AMB alone on both surfaces. Thus, the combination of these antifungals does not seem to add additional benefits to the treatment of C. tropicalis biofilm-related infections.