Antifungal Activity of the Noncytotoxic Human Peptide Hepcidin 20 against Fluconazole-Resistant Candida glabrata in Human Vaginal Fluid.

Vaginal infections caused by are difficult to eradicate due to this species' scarce susceptibility to azoles. Previous studies have shown that the human cationic peptide hepcidin 20 (Hep-20) exerts fungicidal activity in sodium phosphate buffer against a panel of clinical isolates with different levels of susceptibility to fluconazole. In addition, the activity of the peptide was potentiated under acidic conditions, suggesting an application in the topical treatment of vaginal infections.

Fungicidal activity of the human peptide hepcidin 20 alone or in combination with other antifungals against Candida glabrata isolates.

Candida glabrata infections are often difficult to eradicate due to the intrinsically low susceptibility to azoles of this species. In addition, C. glabrata has also been shown to be insensitive to several cationic peptides, which have been shown to be promising novel therapeutic candidates for the treatment of fungal infection.