Korting HC, Hube B, Oberbauer S, Januschke E, Hamm G, Albrecht A, Borelli C, Schaller M (2003): Reduced expression of the hyphal-independent C. albicans proteinase genes SAP1 and SAP3 in the efg1 mutant is associated with attenuated virulence during infection of oral epithelium
J. Med. Microbiol. 52: 623-632.

The inhibitory effect of the HIV proteinase inhibitor amprenavir, saquinavir and of the antifungal agents terbinafine, ketoconazole, amphotericin B and ciclopiroxolamine on aspartyl proteinases (Saps) secreted by Candida albicans was tested in an in vitro spectophotometric assay. As expected, both HIV proteinase inhibitors showed a significant inhibitory effect on Sap activity which was comparable to that of the classical aspartyl proteinase inhibitor pepstatin A (p < 0.001). Antifungal drugs such as ketoconazole, terbinafine and amphotericin had no or only minor inhibitory effects on the proteolytic activity. In contrast, a significant reduction of Sap activity could be demonstrated during treatment with the antifungal agent ciclopiroxolamine (p < 0.001). These results point to a multiple effect of this antimycotic agent and might explain the previously demonstrated reduced adherence of C. albicans to human epithelial cells at subinhibitory doses.