Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 9, 2026

Infecting Mice with Malassezia spp. to Study the Fungus-Host Interaction
06:19

Infecting Mice with Malassezia spp. to Study the Fungus-Host Interaction

Published on: November 6, 2019

Antifungal susceptibility of Malassezia pachydermatis biofilm

Luciana A Figueredo1, Claudia Cafarchia, Domenico Otranto

  • 1Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Bari , Valenzano , Italy.

Medical Mycology
|July 10, 2013
PubMed

Insights

Malassezia pachydermatis biofilms exhibit significant antifungal resistance. This yeast, causing infections in dogs and humans, shows high resistance to common antifungal drugs when in its sessile form.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Yeast Pathogenesis

Background:

  • Antifungal resistance is a growing concern in microbial infections.
  • Biofilm formation is a known mechanism of antimicrobial resistance in many microbes.
  • Malassezia pachydermatis is a yeast implicated in canine otitis/dermatitis and human neonatal infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro antifungal susceptibility of Malassezia pachydermatis.
  • To compare antifungal resistance in planktonic versus sessile (biofilm) forms of M. pachydermatis.
  • To assess the association between M. pachydermatis biofilm formation and antifungal drug resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Evaluated antifungal susceptibility of M. pachydermatis strains.
  • Tested planktonic and sessile yeast forms.
  • Utilized the XTT assay and Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) microdilution method.
  • Assessed resistance to fluconazole, miconazole, ketoconazole, itraconazole, posaconazole, terbinafine, and voriconazole.

Main Results:

  • Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were significantly higher for sessile cells compared to planktonic cells.
  • Over 90% of M. pachydermatis strains in sessile form demonstrated resistance to all tested antifungal agents.
  • Biofilm formation in M. pachydermatis is strongly correlated with reduced susceptibility to antifungal drugs.

Conclusions:

  • Malassezia pachydermatis biofilm formation is associated with significant antifungal resistance.
  • These findings highlight the need for further research into drug resistance mechanisms in Malassezia spp.
  • Understanding M. pachydermatis biofilm resistance is crucial for effective treatment strategies.

More Related Videos

A 96 Well Microtiter Plate-based Method for Monitoring Formation and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Candida albicans Biofilms07:19

A 96 Well Microtiter Plate-based Method for Monitoring Formation and Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Candida albicans Biofilms

Published on: October 21, 2010

Candida albicans Biofilm Chip (CaBChip) for High-throughput Antifungal Drug Screening08:05

Candida albicans Biofilm Chip (CaBChip) for High-throughput Antifungal Drug Screening

Published on: July 18, 2012

Related Concept Videos

Antifungal Agents01:15

Antifungal Agents

Amphotericin B is a broad-spectrum antifungal agent that exploits structural differences between fungal and mammalian cell membranes. Its amphipathic structure—featuring a hydrophobic polyene-lactone ring and a hydrophilic region containing mycosamine and carboxylic acid groups—enables selective binding to ergosterol, a sterol predominantly found in fungal plasma membranes. This selective interaction underlies the drug’s antifungal activity, although weak binding to cholesterol contributes to...
The Skin Microbiota01:27

The Skin Microbiota

The human skin serves as a complex ecosystem inhabited by a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. This microbiome plays a critical role in maintaining skin health and defending against pathogenic invaders. The composition of microbial communities varies significantly across different regions of the body, influenced primarily by the local levels of moisture and sebum.Regional Variation in Skin MicrobiotaCutibacterium acnes predominantly colonizes sebaceous...