This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Reprints and Permissions Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Zygmunt, W. A. Articles by Tavormina, P. A. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Zygmunt, W. A. Articles by Tavormina, P. A. Agricola Articles by Zygmunt, W. A. Articles by Tavormina, P. A.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1966 November; 14(6): 865-869
Copyright © 1966 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Steroid Interference with Antifungal Activity of Polyene Antibiotics

Department of Microbiology and Natural Products Research, Mead Johnson & Company, Evansville, Indiana

ABSTRACT

Wide differences exist among the polyene antibiotics, nystatin, rimocidin, filipin, pimaricin, and amphotericin B, with reference to steroid interference with their antifungal activities against Candida albicans. Of the numerous steroids tested, ergosterol was the only one which effectively antagonized the antifungal activity of all five polyene antibiotics. The antifungal activities of nystatin and amphotericin B were the least subject to vitiation by the addition of steroids other than ergosterol, and those of filipin, rimocidin, and pimaricin were the most sensitive to interference. Attempts to delineate the structural requirements of steroids possessing polyene-neutralizing activity in growing cultures of C. albicans are discussed. The ultraviolet absorbance of certain antibiotic steroid combinations was also studied.