AÇÃO DE MICOCINAS PRODUZIDAS POR Wickerhamomyces anomalus SOBRE ISOLADOS de Cryptococcus neoformans AMBIENTAIS

Abstract

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic yeast that can lodge in the central nervous system causing meningitis, meningoencephalitis and encephalitis, mainly in individuals with some compromised immune system; being responsible for 4.5% of opportunistic infections that affect immunosuppressed patients. The use of antifungals can lead to resistance and toxicity. The mycocins produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus capable of inhibiting the growth of eukaryotic and prokaryotic microorganisms. The objective of this work is to evaluate the susceptibility of Cryptococcus neoformans strains against mycocins produced by Wickerhamomyces anomalus. The results showed, by the broth microdilution test, that 100% of the Cryptococcus neoformans strains tested were inhibited when the culture supernatant containing mycocins was used. In the proteinase production test, 50% of the strains tested were strongly proteinase producers. All strains that had their enzymatic activity strongly positive were inhibited when tested in culture medium containing a sub-inhibitory concentration of β-glucanases. Therefore, we can say that mycocins have a vast pharmacological potential.