<i>Candida albicans</i> Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Dependent Lethality and ROS-Independent Hyphal and Biofilm Inhibition by Eugenol and Citral
Zinnat Shahina, Easter Ndlovu, Omkaar Persaud, Taranum Sultana, Tanya E. S. Dahms
Abstract
Candida albicans is a normal resident on and in the human body that can cause relatively benign infections. However, when our immune system is severely compromised (e.g., cancer chemotherapy patients) or underdeveloped (e.g., newborns), this fungus can become a deadly pathogen, infecting the bloodstream and organs. Since there are only a few effective antifungal agents that can be used to combat fungal infections, these fungi have been exposed to them over and over again, allowing the fungi to develop resistance. Instead of developing antifungal agents that kill the fungi, some of which have undesirable side effects on the human host, researchers have proposed to target the fungal traits that make the fungus more virulent. Here, we show how two components of plant-based essential oils, eugenol and citral, are effective inhibitors of C. albicans virulence traits.