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The Effect of Gentian Violet on Virulent Properties of Candida albicans

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gentian violet (GV) on phospholipase activity, proteinase activity and germ tube formation rate of Candida albicans. Both 12 phospholipase-positive and 12 proteinase-positive C. albicans isolates with Pz values ≤0.89 were obtained. A yeast suspension (1–3 × 107 cfu/ml) of each isolate was prepared. After a brief exposure (60 min) to sub-therapeutic concentrations (0.5 or 2 μg/ml) of GV, Pz value of phospholipase, Pz value of proteinase and germ tube formation rate were determined. Phospholipase activity, proteinase activity and germ tube formation rate in two groups exposed to GV were significantly lower than those in the group unexposed (P < 0.05). The results of this study indicated that sub-therapeutic concentrations of GV may lead to reduction in phospholipase activity, proteinase activity and germ tube formation, and then may suppress virulence and pathogenicity of C. albicans.

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Acknowledgments

The authors, especially Su Ying, are very grateful to Prof. Michael McCullough at School of Dental Science of The University of Melbourne, Australia, for his many helpful discussions and good suggestions.

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  1. Department of Dermatology and Ethology, Qilu Hospital Affiliated To Shandong University, Jinan, China

    Su Ying, Sun Qing & Li Chunyang

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  1. Su Ying
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  2. Sun Qing
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  3. Li Chunyang
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Correspondence to Su Ying.

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Ying, S., Qing, S. & Chunyang, L. The Effect of Gentian Violet on Virulent Properties of Candida albicans . Mycopathologia 169, 279–285 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9258-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9258-9

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