STUDY OF THE EFFECT OF AMPHOTERICIN B, NYSTATIN AND MICONAZOLE ON THE POLAR LIPIDS OF CANDIDA ALBICANS AND C. DUBLINIENSIS

The aim of study was to determine whether nystatin, amphotericin B and miconazole have similar effects upon phospholipids of Candida albicans and C. dubliniensis. A serial dilution of antifungals was prepared in flasks, then, 50 ml of standardised suspension was inoculated into each flask and incubated in shaking water bath at 37^oC for 48 h. The Candida growth in last flask was centrifuged and yeast cells harvested, washed and freeze-dried. Polar lipids were extracted from freeze-dried cells and then analysed by Fast Atom Bombardment Mass Spectrometry (FAB MS) in negative-ion mode. Nystatin, amphotericin B and miconazole different effects on phospholipids and fatty acids of two strains of C. albicans and a single strain of C. dubliniensis. The content of phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) in C. dubliniensis  decreased in the presence of nystatin and amphotericin B, whereas this phospholipid was absent in cultures exposed to miconazole. PE in both examined strains of C. albicans decreased in the presence of amphotericin B and nystatin, whereas PE in one strain of C. albicans increased and in the other decreased when cultures were exposed to nystatin. It is concluded that biosynthesis of fatty acids and phospholipids of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis were affected by nystatin, amphotericin B and miconazole, in addition to effects on ergosterol previously described. Also, antifungals have various effects on different strains of C. albicans.