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Int J Med Sci 2016; 13(9):724-729. doi:10.7150/ijms.15951 This issue Cite

Research Paper

Adding Biotin to Parenteral Nutrition Solutions Without Lipid Accelerates the Growth of Candida albicans

Takashi Kuwahara , Shinya Kaneda, Kazuyuki Shimono

Naruto Research Institute, Research and Development Center, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc., 115 Tateiwa, Naruto, Tokushima 772-8601, Japan.

✉ Corresponding author: Takashi Kuwahara, Ph.D. Naruto Research Institute, Research and Development Center, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc., 115 Tateiwa, Naruto, Tokushima 772-8601, Japan.

Abstract

Background: We have previously demonstrated that Candida albicans requires multivitamins (MVs) or lipid to increase rapidly in parenteral nutrition (PN) solutions. In this study, in detail, the effects of vitamins on the growth of C. albicans in PN solutions without lipid were investigated. Methods: In the 1st experiment, a commercial PN solution without lipid was supplemented with water-soluble vitamins (SVs: vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂ and C, folic acid, nicotinamide, biotin and panthenol), water-insoluble vitamins (IVs: vitamins A, D, E and K) or both (MVs). In the 2nd experiment, the test solutions were prepared by supplementing the PN solution with one of each or all of the SVs. In the 3rd experiment, another commercial peripheral PN (PPN) solution without lipid was supplemented with SVs, nicotinic acid, biotin or both nicotinic acid and biotin. In each of the experiments, a specified number of C. albicans organisms was added to each test solution, and all of the test solutions were allowed to stand at room temperature (23-26ºC). The number of C. albicans was counted at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the addition of the organism. Results: In the 1st experiment, the C. albicans increased rapidly in the PN solution supplemented with the SVs, but increased slowly without the SVs, regardless of the addition of the IVs. In the 2nd experiment, the C. albicans increased rapidly in the PN solution supplemented with the SVs or biotin, but increased slowly with each of the other water-soluble vitamins. In the 3rd experiment, the C. albicans increased rapidly in the PPN solution supplemented with the SVs or biotin, but increased slowly with the addition of nicotinic acid. Conclusions: These results suggested that adding MVs or SVs to PN solutions without lipid promotes the growth of C. albicans, and that this effect is mostly attributable to biotin.

Keywords: Candida albicans, microbial growth, parenteral nutrition, biotin, vitamin, blood stream infection.

Introduction

A catheter-related blood stream infection (CRBSI) is one of the most common complications of intravenous catheters [1-5]. In order to reduce or prevent CRBSIs, factors that enhance or inhibit microbial growth in parenteral solutions should be investigated and identified. With regard to microorganisms, Staphylococcus aureus, coagulase-negative staphylococci, Candida albicans, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, etc. have been shown as the major contributors to CRBSIs in patients receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) [2, 3, 6]. Among these causative microorganisms, only C. albicans can grow in acidic PN solutions [7-11], such as those with a pH of 4.5 [12], and C. albicans causes higher mortality and morbidity than the bacterial species [13-17]. We have previously demonstrated that C. albicans increased slightly in a peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) solution consisting of amino acids, carbohydrates and electrolytes, and increased rapidly in the same PPN solution with a lipid emulsion or multivitamins (MVs) [18]. We have also shown that adding MVs to PN solutions without lipid promoted the growth of C. albicans, but adding trace elements had no effect on the growth [19].

In the present study, the effects of vitamins on the growth of C. albicans in PN solutions without lipid were investigated in detail. First, we examined the growth of C. albicans in a PN solution without lipid supplemented with water-soluble vitamins (SVs), water-insoluble vitamins (IVs) or both (MVs). Additionally, in order to identify which specific vitamin(s) enhanced the growth of C. albicans, we supplemented the PN solution with individual SVs.

Materials and Methods

Microorganisms employed

A standard American Type Culture Collection strain (ATCC10231) and 2 clinical isolates (N-6 and N-8) of Candida albicans were used in the 1st experiment. The N-6 and N-8 clinical isolates were used in the 2nd experiment, and N-6 was used in the 3rd experiment.

Test solutions

A commercial PN solution (without lipid) for central venous nutrition (AMINOTRIPA No.1, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc., Japan) was used as the control PN solution (CPN) in the 1st and 2nd experiments. An additional commercial PN solution for peripheral venous nutrition (AMINOFLUID, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.) was used as the control PPN solution (CPPN) in the 3rd experiment. A commercial multivitamin preparation (Otsuka MV Injection, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.) was used for the MVs, and consisted of a vial containing SVs (vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂ and C, folic acid, nicotinamide, biotin and panthenol) and an ampule containing IVs (vitamins A, D, E and K). The compositions of the CPN, CPPN and MVs are shown in Tables 1, 2 and 3, respectively.

In the 1st experiment, 3 test solutions (PN+SVs, PN+IVs and PN+MVs) were prepared by supplementing one bag (850 mL; one-half of the daily dose) of CPN with a daily dose of SVs, IVs or MVs.

In the 2nd experiment, the test solutions (PN+B1, PN+B2, PN+B6, PN+B12, PN+C, PN+Folic acid, PN+Nicotinic acid, PN+Biotin and PN+Panthenol) were prepared by supplementing each 100 mL of CPN in a sterile screw-capped plastic flask (polycarbonate Erlenmeyer flask, 125 mL; Corning Inc., MA, US) with each water-soluble vitamin. To prepare the PN+B1, 100 µL of a commercial vitamin B₁ injection (Thiamine hydrochloride, 10 mg/mL; NIPRO Pharma Co., Japan) was added to the CPN, resulting in 0.01 mg/mL of thiamine hydrochloride. To prepare the PN+B2, 100 µL of a commercial vitamin B₂ injection (Bisulase, 10 mg/mL; TOA EIYO Ltd., Japan) was added to the CPN, resulting in 0.01 mg/mL of riboflavin sodium phosphate. The PN+B6 was prepared by adding 100 µL of a commercial vitamin B₆ injection (Pydoxal, 30 mg/mL; CHUGAI Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japan) to the CPN, resulting in 0.03 mg/mL of pyridoxal phosphate. To prepare the PN+B12, 100 µL of a commercial vitamin B₁₂ injection (Hitocovamine M, 500 µg/mL; NIPRO Pharma Co.) was added to the CPN, resulting in 0.5 µg/mL of mecobalamin. The PN+C was prepared by adding 100 µL of a commercial vitamin C injection (Vitacimin, 100 mg/mL; Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Ltd., Japan) to the CPN, resulting in 0.1 mg/mL of ascorbic acid. To prepare PN+Folic acid, 100 µL of a commercial folic acid injection (Foliamin; 15 mg/mL; Nihon Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Japan) was added to the CPN, resulting in 0.015 mg/mL of folic acid. The PN+Nicotinic acid was prepared by adding 200 µL of a commercial nicotinic acid injection (Nyclin, 20 mg/mL, TOA EIYO Ltd.) to the CPN, resulting in 0.04 mg/mL of nicotinic acid. To prepare the PN+Biotin, 200 µL of a commercial biotin injection (Biotin, 1 mg/2 mL; FUSO Pharmaceutical Industries, Ltd., Japan) was added to the CPN, resulting in 0.001 mg/mL of biotin. The PN+Panthenol was prepared by adding 100 µL of a commercial panthenol injection (Pantol, 100 mg/mL; TOA EIYO Ltd.) to the CPN, resulting in 0.1 mg/mL of panthenol. Finally, the PN+SVs was prepared in a similar way to that described above.

In the 3rd experiment, the test solutions (PPN+SVs, PPN+Nicotinic acid, PPN+Biotin and PPN+Nicotinic acid+Biotin) were prepared by supplementing each 100 mL of CPPN in a flask with 1/10 of the daily dose of the SVs, 0.04 mg/mL of nicotinic acid, 0.001 mg/mL of biotin, and both nicotinic acid and biotin (0.04 mg/mL and 0.001 mg/mL, respectively).

Addition of microorganisms, incubation and sampling

In the 1st experiment, one loopful of organisms from each strain was suspended and diluted to approximately 200 colony forming units (CFU)/mL with physiological saline (Otsuka Normal Saline; Otsuka pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.). One millilitre of the suspension was injected into each bag of test solution, and all of the bags were hung for 72 hours at room temperature (23-26ºC). One aliquot (3-120 mL) of the test solution was sampled from each bag at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the addition of the organism.

In the 2nd and 3rd experiments, similar to the procedure described above, the suspensions of C. albicans were prepared to achieve approximately 100 CFU/mL. One millilitre of the suspension was added to each flask of test solution, and all of the flasks were allowed to stand at room temperature (23-26ºC). An aliquot (3-25 mL) of each test solution was sampled at 0, 24, 48 and 72 hours after the addition of the organism. The values obtained at 0 hours showed the number of C. albicans organisms added.

Measurement of viable microorganisms

Each aliquot of the test solution sampled was inoculated on a Soybean Casein Digest (SCD) agar plate in duplicate. When necessary, the test solution sampled was diluted 10-fold to 10⁴-fold with physiological saline before inoculation. When 1 to 50 mL of the test solution was examined, the solution was filtered with a membrane filter (0.45 µm, nitrocellulose) for the sterility test described by Japanese Pharmacopeia [20], and the filter was put on an SCD agar plate. After 20 to 30 hours of incubation at 37±1ºC, the number of C. albicans CFUs on each plate was counted, and the mean number of the duplicated data was calculated. The number of CFUs per mL was calculated by using the number of CFUs per plate, the volume inoculated and the dilution ratio. The results were shown as CFU/mL values in semi-logarithmic graphs.

As in other experimental studies of microbial growth [8, 21-24], the data obtained in this study were not analysed statistically, because the biological significance of this kind of data is considered to be assessable without a statistical analysis.

Results

First experiment (Figure 1)

Throughout the time period, both the clinical isolates (N-6 and N-8) and the standard strain (ATCC10231) of C. albicans increased a little in the CPN, and slowly in the PN+IVs. In the PN+SVs and PN+MVs, all 3 strains increased a little at 24 hours (as in the CPN), and increased rapidly at 48 hours and 72 hours. The SVs accelerated the growth of C. albicans in a way similar to the MVs, but the IVs had little or no effect on the growth.

Second experiment (Figure 2)

In the first 24 hours, the N-6 and N-8 clinical isolates increased in a similar way in all of the test solutions. Afterward, the growth of both strains stalled in the PN+B1, PN+B2, PN+B6, PN+B12, PN+C, PN+Folic acid and PN+Panthenol (as in the CPN), although the growth increased slowly in the PN+Nicotinic acid. On the other hand, both strains increased rapidly in the PN+Biotin (as in the PN+SVs). Specifically, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂ and C, and the folic acid and panthenol had no effects on the growth of the C. albicans, while the biotin acted mainly as a promoting factor among the SVs.

Third experiment (Figure 3)

The N-6 clinical isolate increased slowly in the PPN+Nicotinic acid (as in the CPPN), while it increased rapidly in the PPN+Biotin, PPN+Nicotinic acid +Biotin and PPN+SVs equally. It was confirmed that the biotin acted mostly as a promoting factor among the SVs, but the nicotinic acid did not.

 Figure 1 

Effects of water-soluble vitamins (SVs), water-insoluble vitamins (IVs) or both (MVs) on the growth of Candida albicans in a PN solution without lipid (CPN).

 Figure 2 

Effects of 9 individual water-soluble vitamins (SVs) on the growth of Candida albicans in a PN solution without lipid (CPN). a. The effects of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 or C on the growth of the N-6 clinical isolate. b. The effects of folic acid, nicotinic acid, biotin or panthenol on the growth of N-6. c. The effects of vitamins B1, B2, B6, B12 or C on the growth of the N-8 clinical isolate. d. The effects of folic acid, nicotinic acid, biotin or panthenol on the growth of N-8.

 Figure 3 

Effects of biotin or nicotinic acid on the growth of Candida albicans in a PPN solution (CPPN).

Discussion

We have previously shown that bacterial species such as Staphylococcus aureus, Serratia marcescens and Bacillus cereus cannot grow in acidic PN solutions, but Candida albicans can grow rapidly, regardless of acidic pH values [10, 11]. Furthermore, it has been shown that C. albicans can grow equally well in 4-fold to 7-fold PN solutions hypertonic to physiological saline [12]. Because factors inhibiting Candida growth are unlikely to be determined, the enhancing factors should be investigated and identified. Therefore, we have demonstrated that C. albicans needs MVs to increase rapidly in PPN solutions without lipid [18]. In the present study, the effects of vitamins on the growth of C. albicans in PN solutions without lipid were investigated in detail.

First, we examined the growth of C. albicans in a PN solution without lipid supplemented with SVs, IVs or both (MVs). The results showed that the SVs equally accelerated the growth of the C. albicans as the MVs, but the IVs did not. Next, to identify which of the vitamins accelerated the growth of the C. albicans, we supplemented the same PN solution with the individual SVs. While the nicotinic acid seemed to have a slight affect, vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂ and C, and the folic acid and panthenol did not affect the growth of the C. albicans. The biotin accelerated the growth of the C. albicans in a way similar to the SVs. Furthermore, to confirm the growth promoting effect of the biotin, we supplemented a PPN solution with biotin, nicotinic acid and both. In this experiment, it was confirmed that the biotin acted mostly as a promoting factor among the SVs or MVs, but the other vitamins did not.

Biotin is required for cell growth and fatty acid metabolism because it is used as a cofactor for carboxylases, and C. albicans is naturally auxotrophic for biotin [25]. Previous papers have indicated that many strains of C. albicans and related species in the genus Candida require biotin for growth [26, 27], and that a few strains or mutants of the other species are auxotrophic for biotin [28-30]. On the other hand, there is one paper which suggested that biotin has no influence on Candida during the first 30 hours of growth [31]. In our results, the promoting effect of biotin was not observed clearly for the first 24 hours; but afterward, the promoting effect of biotin was substantially observed. It was estimated that the biotin stored in the Candida organisms would be available for the first several cycles of cell division, and that the Candida would require biotin thereafter to increase growth.

Although applying the results of this study would be inefficient for total PN solutions containing lipid or/and MVs, it would be efficient for short term PPN solutions without lipid. The PPN solutions commercially available in Japan consist of amino acids, glucose and electrolytes, but do not contain a lipid emulsion and MVs, although some products contain only thiamine (vitamin B₁) for the prevention of Wernicke's encephalopathy or lactic acidosis. In clinical practice, PPN solutions are sometimes supplemented with water-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂ and C, but rarely supplemented with other vitamins or MVs. Recently, blood stream infection (BSI) outbreaks due to Bacillus cereus or Serratia marcescens in patients receiving PPN have been occasionally reported in Japan [32-35], but BSIs due to C. albicans have rarely been reported in PPN patients. Most recently, a PPN product containing 9 water-soluble vitamins including biotin has been released; therefore, BSIs due to C. albicans might increase in the future, even in PPN patients.

Taken together, the results of this study suggest that adding MVs or SVs to PN solutions without lipid promotes the growth of C. albicans, and this effect is mostly attributable to biotin. Therefore, PPN solutions should be supplemented with the minimum required vitamins for the short term, rather than SVs or MVs.

Abbreviations

ATCC: American Type Culture Collection; BSI: blood stream infection; CFU: colony forming units; CPN: the control parenteral nutrition solution without lipid for central venous nutrition (AMINOTRIPA No.1, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.); CPPN: the control parenteral nutrition solution without lipid for peripheral venous nutrition (AMINOFLUID, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.); CRBSI: catheter-related blood stream infection; IVs: 4 water-insoluble vitamins (vitamin A, D, E and K); MVs: multivitamins containing 9 water-soluble vitamins and 4 water-insoluble vitamins; OPR: osmotic pressure ratio to physiological saline; PN: parenteral nutrition; PN+B1: CPN supplemented with 0.01 mg/mL of thiamine hydrochloride; PN+B2: CPN supplemented with 0.01 mg/mL of riboflavin sodium phosphate; PN+B6: CPN supplemented with 0.03 mg/mL of pyridoxal phosphate; PN+B12: CPN supplemented with 0.5 µg/mL of mecobalamin; PN+Biotin: CPN supplemented with 0.001 mg/mL of biotin; PN+C: CPN supplemented with 0.1 mg/mL of ascorbic acid; PN+Folic acid: CPN supplemented with 0.015 mg/mL of folic acid; PN+IVs: one bag (850 mL, one-half of the daily dose) of CPN supplemented with a daily dose of IVs; PN+MVs: one bag (850 mL, one-half of the daily dose) of CPN supplemented with a daily dose of MVs; PN+Nicotinic acid: CPN supplemented with 0.04 mg/mL of nicotinic acid; PN+Panthenol: CPN supplemented with 0.1 mg/mL of panthenol; PN+SVs: one bag (850 mL, one-half of the daily dose) of CPN supplemented with a daily dose of SVs; PPN: peripheral parenteral nutrition; PPN+Biotin: CPPN supplemented with 0.001 mg/mL of biotin; PPN+Nicotinic acid: CPPN supplemented with 0.04 mg/mL of nicotinic acid; PPN+Nicotinic acid+Biotin: CPPN supplemented with 0.04 mg/mL of nicotinic acid and 0.001 mg/mL of biotin; PPN+SVs: 100 mL of CPPN supplemented with 1/10 of the daily dose of the SVs; SCD: Soybean Casein Digest; SVs: 9 water-soluble vitamins (vitamins B₁, B₂, B₆, B₁₂ and C, folic acid, nicotinamide, biotin and panthenol); Vit.A IU: international unit for vitamin A.

Acknowledgements

We thank Masao Ichihara for helpful suggestions.

Competing Interests

TK, SK and KS are employees for Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc.

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Author contact

Corresponding author: Takashi Kuwahara, Ph.D. Naruto Research Institute, Research and Development Center, Otsuka Pharmaceutical Factory, Inc., 115 Tateiwa, Naruto, Tokushima 772-8601, Japan.

Received 2016-4-25
Accepted 2016-8-22
Published 2016-9-15

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