Antifungal Activity of Oleylphosphocholine on In Vitro and In Vivo Candida albicans Biofilms

ABSTRACT In this study, we investigated the potential antifungal activity of the alkylphospholipid oleylphosphocholine (OlPC), a structural analogue of miltefosine, on in vitro and in vivo Candida albicans biofilm formation. The effect of OlPC on in vitro and in vivo C. albicans biofilms inside triple-lumen polyurethane catheters was studied. In vivo biofilms were developed subcutaneously after catheter implantation on the lower back of Sprague-Dawley rats. Animals were treated orally with OlPC (20 mg/kg of body weight/day) for 7 days. The effect of OlPC on biofilms that developed on the mucosal surface was studied in an ex vivo model of oral candidiasis. The role of OlPC in C. albicans morphogenesis was investigated by using hypha-inducing media, namely, Lee, Spider, and RPMI 1640 media. OlPC displayed activity against both planktonic cells and in vitro C. albicans biofilms. To completely abolish preformed, 24-h-old biofilms, higher concentrations (8, 10, and 13 mg/liter) were needed. Moreover, OlPC was able to reduce C. albicans biofilms formed by caspofungin-resistant clinical isolates and acted synergistically when combined with caspofungin. The daily oral administration of OlPC significantly reduced in vivo C. albicans biofilms that developed subcutaneously. In addition, OlPC decreased biofilm formation on mucosal surfaces. Interestingly, the application of subinhibitory concentrations of OlPC already inhibited the yeast-to-hypha transition, a crucial virulence factor of C. albicans. We document, for the first time, the effects of OlPC on C. albicans cells and suggest the potential use of OlPC for the treatment of C. albicans biofilm-associated infections.

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