Graduation Year

2025

Document Type

Campus Only Senior Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelor of Arts

Department

Biology

Reader 1

Pete Chandrangsu

Reader 2

Aditi Vyas

Abstract

In the current era of modern medicine, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics is common, aggravating the growing anthropogenic change of antimicrobial resistance. Within this subset of microbial infections, fungal diseases are even more difficult to treat due to the limited variety of antifungal drugs and the virulence of certain fungal infections. Candida albicans is a pathogenic yeast responsible for common fungal infections in humans. Zinc and other metals have historically shown antimicrobial properties against different types of bacteria and fungi. Use of these metals, organometallic compounds, or metal complexes is well documented, and similarly, the importance of metal micronutrients, such as zinc, is clearly established in discussion of the human immune system and cellular metabolism. Cannabidiol is another chemical compound that has shown antimicrobial properties, notably in Gram-positive bacteria, though it has been effective against some Gram-negative bacteria and fungal pathogens. Combination therapy of different compounds has been a promising field due to the fact that different agents could have a synergistic, antimicrobial effect when combined. The following study aims to investigate the potential of zinc and cannabidiol in combination therapy against the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans. Analysis of the time kill assay revealed no synergistic relationship between the two agents. Though the results do highlight the potential of CBD as an antifungal and the need for further examination with zinc against C. albicans growth. These findings are preliminary, and future replication and analysis are necessary. With the rise of antifungal resistance, combination therapy against fungal pathogens such as Candida albicans is a significant domain in which zinc and CBD could potentially be of use in the development of future treatments.

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This thesis is restricted to the Claremont Colleges current faculty, students, and staff.

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