Abstract
F Abaitua, A Rementeria, R San Millan, A Eguzkiza, JA Rodriguez, J Ponton and MJ Sevilla
Departamento de Inmunologia, Microbiologia y Parasitologia, Universidad del Pais Vasco, Apartado 644, 48080-Bilbao, Spain
The in vitro effect of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrite on blastoconidia and hyphae of Candida albicans was studied. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) were used as NO donors. Both minimal and complex media at two pH values, 7.0 and 4.5, were used for the assays. Blastoconidia were more susceptible than hyphae to NO. The NO effect on blastoconidia was greater at acidic pH. Nitrite affected the viability of blastoconidia in complex medium. The percentage germination and the relative rate of elongation of hyphae were both enhanced when NO was present in acidic conditions.