The effect of histatin 5, adsorbed on PMMA and hydroxyapatite, on Candida albicans colonization

ABSTRACT The limited number of treatments for oral candidiasis resulted in the emergence of azole‐resistant Candida albicans strains, thus enforcing the need for novel antifungal treatments. Although histatin 5 (H5) demonstrates antifungal activity, its inhibitory effect when adhered to hydroxyapatite and Polymetylmethacrylate (PMMA) surfaces, resembling conditions of the in vivo pellicle, remains unexplored. The objective of this in vitro study was to determine whether surface‐adhered H5 inhibits the colonization of C. albicans on hydroxyapatite and/or PMMA. The C. albicans assay involved developing a mono‐protein pellicle (either H5 or albumin) on hydroxyapatite and PMMA discs, introducing C. albicans and counting the number of adhered cells, throughout time, using scanning electron microscopy. A negative binomial statistical model and the Tukey–Kramer test were used for statistical analysis, with p