Antifungal and anti-biofilm activity of new propane Sulfonyl Hydrazone Against Candida Isolates

Candidiasis is the most frequently encountered fungal disease that ranges from mild mucosal infections to serious candidaemia and disseminated candidiasis. There are only limited classes of antifungal agents available for physicians to combat Candida infections. In addition, biofilm cells display phenotypic traits that resulting in enhanced resistance to antifungal drugs. Therefore, the limited option to combat fungal threat has raised the interest in seeking alternative antifungal compounds. The aim of this study was to investigate the antifungal and anti-biofilm activity of the new Sulfonyl hydrazones compound Anaf-Psh (3-hydroxynaphthalene 2ethylidenepropane sulfonylhydrazone), derived from sulfonamides. The Candida species evaluated in this study included the five reference strains and thirty-five clinical isolates belonging to a collection of fungal strains previously established at the Gazi University Medical Mycology Laboratory. Identification was performed by conventional methods and by biochemical characterization using the API ID32C® system (Biomerieux) and was confirmed by the sequencing. The antifungal activity of Anaf-Psh was determined using a broth microdilution method according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) standards. The compound concentrations varied between 0.5–256  µg/ml. The anti-biofilm effect of the synthesized compound was evaluated in 96-well polystyrene flat-bottom microplates. The compound was found to be effective against all tested Candida strains with MIC ranging from 8-64 µg/ml and also inhibit biofilm formation in tested isolates. As a conclusion, it's in vitro antifungal and anti-biofilm properties, this new compound Anaf-Psh is a promising new agent for the control and treatment of Candida infections.