Diphenyl diselenide suppresses key virulence factors of Candida krusei, a neglected fungal pathogen

Candida krusei is a candidiasis etiological agent of relevance in the clinical setting because of its intrinsic resistance to fluconazole. Also, it has opened up new paths in the area of alternative therapeutic techniques. This project demonstrated the effects of diphenyl diselenide (PhSe)(2) and p-cloro diphenyl diselenide (pCl-PhSe)(2), two organochalcogen compounds, on relevant virulence factors for the early stage of the C. krusei host interaction and infection process. Both compounds inhibited adherence of C. krusei to both polystyrene surfaces and cervical epithelial cells and biofilm formation; the structure of the biofilm was also changed in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, both compounds inhibited C. krusei growth, but (PhSe)(2) significantly increased the time duration of the lag phase and delayed the start of the exponential phase in growth kinetics. (PhSe)(2) has more potential antifungal activity than (pCl-PhSe)(2) in inhibiting the adherence to epithelial cells, biofilm formation, and growth of C. krusei.