Fig. 1

IBC affected the cell membrane integrity (A), metabolic activity (B) and cell morphology (C) of C. neoformans. CLSM images of C. neoformans cells in the presence of various concentrations of IBC (0 MIC, 1 MIC and 2 MIC) were obtained using SYTO9/PI (A), and FUN® 1/CWS (B) double dyes, respectively. Furthermore, C. neoformans treated with various concentrations of IBC at 30 °C for 6 h was investigated using FESEM. The scale bar for CLSM and FESEM images was 10 μm. IBC altered cytoplasmic membrane potential (D), decreased the ergosterol content (E) and disrupted the fungal ultrastructure (F-J) in C. neoformans. Quantitative analysis of cytoplasmic membrane potential and ergosterol contents was performed in IBC-treated C. neoformans cells. In addition, cells were viewed under a TEM microscope, in which fungal cells were incubated in the absence (F, G) and presence (H-J) of IBC at 1 MIC for 24 h. Scale bar was 1 μm for the TEM images, and 500 nm for the extended images. Bars represent the standard deviation (n = 3). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001