Study on the Effect of the Antifungal Extract from Bacillus sp. on the Physicochemical Properties of Candida albicans

Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen of humans; this infectious agent can adhere and colonize several surfaces to establish many dangerous infections. The effect of methanol extract from Bacillus sp. isolated from Calotropis procera Ait. rhizosphere on the physicochemical characteristics of Candida albicans cell surface was investigated. The Lifshitz-van der Waals, acid-base surface tension components Delta Giwi, electron donor and electron acceptor parameters of the yeast cell surface were assessed using contact angle measurement. Results showed higher antifungal activity of methanol extract against tested yeast. Regarding contact angle measurements, cell surface of control or untreated C. albicans showed hydrophilic character, strong electron donor character and weak electron acceptor character. After limited exposure to the antifungal extract, the treated cell surface has become more hydrophilic quantitatively. Moreover, the results showed an increase of the electron donor character and a decrease of the electron acceptor character. However, non-significant modifications on the physicochemical characteristics of cell surface between exposures for 1 and 2 h to the extract were found.