[Actinomyces with anti-candida activity isolated from leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (Formicidae: Myrmicinae:...

To isolate, select and identify actinomyces associated to leaf-cutting ants Atta cephalotes (Linnaeus, 1758), that present a greater anti-Candida activity.

Cross-sectional study made with ants collected at a location in Huánuco, Peru, from which strands of actinomyces were isolated and later evaluated by in vitro testing in order to determine its antagonistic capacity against species of Candida. The actinomyces with greater antagonism were selected and cultured by agitation, then the reliable extracellular metabolites were obtained with organic solvents, and finally the crude extracts were evaluated to determine quantitatively the minimum inhibiting concentration (MIC).

Thirty (30) actinomyces were isolated, of which 47% exhibited antagonistic activity against Candida albicans (C. albicans) ATCC 7516, 43% to Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7307, 37% to Candida tropicalis ATCC 7206 and C. albicans ATCC 10231, and 30% to C. albicans ATCC 98028. Organic extracts of the HAA-16 and HAA-17 strands exhibited noticeable anti-Candida activity, being the ethyl acetate extract of the HAA-17 strand the one with the highest performance thanks to a wider activity spectrum of MIC 3.25 mg/mL against C. albicans ATCC 7516 and Candida parapsilosis ATCC 7307. The selected actinomyces were identified by means of molecular techniques as members of the Streptomyces genus.

Actinomyces associated to Atta cephalotes are excellent producers of bioactive compounds, being able to inhibit the growth of pathogenic mold of the Candida genus and with potential for application in the development of new natural products for the biomedical field.