Activity of antimicrobial peptide mimetics in the oral cavity: I. Activity against biofilms of Candida albicans.

ABSTRACT: Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides hold promise as therapeutic agents against oral pathogens such as Candida albicans but numerous difficulties have slowed their development. Synthetic, non-peptidic analogs that mimic the properties of these peptides have many advantages and exhibit potent, selective antimicrobial activity. Several series of mimetics (with molecular weight < 1000) were developed and screened against oral Candida strains as a proof-of-principle for their antifungal properties. One phenylalkyne and several arylamide compounds with reduced mammalian cytotoxicities were found to be active against C. albicans. These compounds demonstrated rapid fungicidal activity in liquid culture even in the presence of saliva, and demonstrated synergy with standard antifungal agents.

SUBMITTER: Hua J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2992321 | biostudies-literature | 2010 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature