Hexyl-Aminolevulinate Ethosomes: a Novel Antibiofilm Agent Targeting Zinc Homeostasis in Candida albicans
Yingzhe Wang, Wei Long, Feiyin Zhang, Meimei Zhang, Kang Zeng, Xiaoliang Zhu
Abstract
Candida albicans is the most prevalent fungal species of the human microbiota. The medical impact of C. albicans on its human host depends on its ability to form biofilms. The intrinsic resistance conferred by biofilms to conventional antifungal drugs makes biofilm-based infections a significant clinical challenge. In this study, we demonstrate the attenuating effect of HAL-ES on C. albicans biofilm formation and drug resistance. Furthermore, we propose that HAL-ES inhibits protein translation by disrupting zinc homeostasis in C. albicans. This study not only provides a novel and effective therapeutic strategy against C. albicans biofilm but also proposes a new strategy to resolve C. albicans biofilm infection by disrupting zinc homeostasis.