Silver Nanoparticles: A Promising Antifungal Agent against the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Emergent <i>Candida auris</i>

<i>Candida auris</i> is a globally-emerging pathogen that is correlated to nosocomial infections and high mortality rates, causing major outbreaks in hospitals and serious public health concerns worldwide. This study investigated the antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Reem AlJindan, Doaa M. AlEraky
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-07-01
Series:Journal of Fungi
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/8/7/744
Description
Summary:<i>Candida auris</i> is a globally-emerging pathogen that is correlated to nosocomial infections and high mortality rates, causing major outbreaks in hospitals and serious public health concerns worldwide. This study investigated the antifungal activity of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on clinical isolates of <i>C. auris.</i> A total of eight clinical isolates were collected from blood, urine, ear swab, and groin. <i>C. auris</i> was confirmed by MALDI-TOF MS, and gene sequencing. All isolates confirmed as <i>C. auris</i> were subjected to antimicrobial agents, including amphotericin B, fluconazole, caspofungin, voriconazole, micafungin, and flucytosine. A serial dilution of a silver nanoparticles solution was prepared to test antifungal susceptibility testing under planktonic conditions. Moreover, an antibiofilm activity assay was determined using a colony-forming assay and a cell viability assay by a live–dead yeast kit. Significant antifungal and antibiofilm activity of AgNPs was detected against all isolates; MIC was <6.25 μg/mL, the range of MFC was from 6.25 to 12.5 μg/mL for all isolates, and the highest value of IC<sub>50</sub> was 3.2 μg/mL. Silver nanomaterials could represent a possible antimicrobial agent to prevent outbreaks caused by <i>C. auris</i> infections.
ISSN:2309-608X