Morphological changes of Candida albicans induced by saperconazole

The effects of a new triazole antifungal agent, saperconazole, on the morphology of Candida albicans were studied by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. An inoculum of 10(6) CFU ml-1 was exposed to saperconazole at 1 and 10 micrograms ml-1 and at different times up to 24 h samples were removed for microscopic observations. The antifungal agent caused the yeasts to become round and turgescent and to cluster; budding appeared to be affected also, as seen by scanning electron microscopy. Transmission electron microscopy showed a thickened wall, the presence of intraparietal electron-dense vesicles and of multilamellae near the plasma membrane.