Development of prototype to reduce cell adhesion and biofilm production from glycolipid

The problem of drug resistance from pathogenic microorganisms will be the number 1 important public health problem in the world by 2050. Data from the Ministry of Public Health of Thailand revealed that It has been found more than 100,000 Thai people are infected with antibiotic-resistant infections each year. In the past, nearly 39,000 patients have died from drug-resistant infections, which is more than the number of deaths from ischemic heart disease. Illness and death from drug-resistant infections have an annual economic impact of more than 40,000 million baht, because the cost of antibiotics to treat drug-resistant infections is approximately 2,539 -6,084 million baht, accounting for 0.6-1.6 percent of total national health expenditure and continues to increase every year. In the past decade, invasive fungal infections or “systemic fungal infections” in humans have increased significantly. This results in an increase in death rates, especially for those with compromised immune systems. The fungus Candida (Candida sp.) is the most common pathogen in humans. That can cause severe and fatal bloodstream infections. In addition to humans, the problem of drug-resistant infections is also seen in animals due to the irrational use of antibiotics to treat infections. It allows the germs to develop drug resistance and spread genes related to drug resistance. Due to a high death rate in critically ill patients ranges from 40 to 70% depending on the severity of the infection, while there are only a few antifungal drugs available to treat fungal infections. Over the past 60 years, among the available antifungals, Amphotericin B has been developed and is used as a standard antifungal for the treatment of invasive fungal infections. Amphotericin B targets ergosterol, the main sterol component of fungal cell membranes. This cause to the creation of pores in the cell membrane that cause ion leakage and subsequent death of the fungus. However, the use of amphotericin B has its limitations. This is because it also interacts with cholesterol present in human cell membranes and cause severe adverse side effects. Azole antifungal drugs, developed in the early 1980s, target enzymes of ergosterol biosynthesis and has lower toxicity. Therefore, azoles are often used in clinical practice but eventually lead to drug resistance. Looking for new alternatives to antifungal agents is therefore an important goal in solving the drug resistance problem. Glycolipids produced from yeast It has a unique structure consisting of ω-hydroxy fatty acids, which can be used as an important precursor in the polymer industry such as bioplastics, as well as food, drugs, pharmaceuticals and biological products. Nowadays the application of glycolipids has greatly increased in importance in medical, agriculture and industry. This research project therefore focuses on the utilization of glycolipids produced from yeast strains with high potential. To be a starting material for the development of biopharmaceuticals. In the previous research studies It was found that crude glycolipid extracts produced from high-potency yeast found in the Yeast Innovation Laboratory, Faculty of Biological Resources and Technology from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, can be used as a biosurfactant that has important and interesting biological properties, such as the ability to inhibit pathogenic microorganisms. In addition, glycolipids have low cytotoxicity because it is a naturally produced substance which is environmentally friendly and biodegradable. Therefore, would like to purify and identify the types of pure glycolipid substances to test for their interest biological properties to reduce adhesion and biofilm formation, which is an important factor in fungal drug resistance. In addition, the mechanism of action and its relationship to drug resistance have been identified. Finally, the biopharmaceutical formulas will be developed for use in humans and animals as an option to reduce drug resistance.