Use of the amphotericin B, miconazole, and sodium hypochlorite to control the growth of the robust Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus biofilms on polyethylene support

Abstract

Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus fumigatus are able to grow on surfaces, including medical equipment, forming robust and resistant biofilms, and protecting the fungal cells against antifungal agents. Based on that, A. flavus and A. fumigatus biofilms were treated for 48 h with amphotericin B, miconazole, and sodium hypochlorite. Amphotericin B and miconazole acted as fungistatic for both fungal strains. The minimal inhibitory concentration for the amphotericin B was 400 µg mL-1 and >833 µg mL-1 for A. flavus and A. fumigatus, respectively, for the miconazole was 600 µg mL-1 and 1200 µg mL-1. Sodium hypochlorite presented fungicide activity at 8.3 µg mL-1 on A. flavus biofilms, while for A. fumigatus biofilm only fungistatic activity was observed. A. flavus biofilms were most susceptive to the treatment with the antifungal agents than were A. fumigatus. Our observation suggests that these robust structures as an interesting model to study fungal resistance.