Iron restriction to clinical isolates of Candida albicans by the novel chelator DIBI inhibits growth and increases sensitivity to azoles in vitro and in vivo in a murine model of experimental vaginitis.

This study was aimed at establishing whether withholding iron by currently used medical iron chelators and the novel chelator DIBI could restrict growth and also enhance the activity of azoles against clinical isolates of C. albicans DIBI but not deferoxamine or deferiprone, inhibited growth of C. albicans at relatively low concentrations in vitro and this inhibition was reversed by iron addition. DIBI in combination with various azoles demonstrated stronger growth inhibition than the azoles alone and greatly prolonged inhibition of cell multiplication. In addition, administration of DIBI along with fluconazole (FLC) to mice inoculated with a FLC-sensitive isolate in a model of experimental C. albicans vaginitis showed markedly improved clearance of infection. These results suggest that iron chelation by DIBI has the potential to enhance azole efficacy for the treatment of candidiasis. PMID: 29844048 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]
Source: Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy - Category: Microbiology Authors: Tags: Antimicrob Agents Chemother Source Type: research