(PhSe) and (Cl-PhSe) organochalcogen compounds inhibit adhesion to human endocervical (HeLa) cells and show anti-biofilm activities.

Adhesion capacity on biological surfaces and biofilm formation is considered an important step in the infection process by The ability of (PhSe) and (Cl-PhSe), two synthetic organic selenium (organochalcogen) compounds, to act on virulence factors related to adhesion to human endocervical (HeLa) cell surfaces and their anti-biofilm activities was analyzed. Both organochalcogen compounds inhibited adhesion to HeLa cells, dependent on compound concentrations. (PhSe) (at 20 µM;  = 0.0012) was significantly more effective than (Cl-PhSe) (at 20 µM;  = 0.0183) compared with the control. (PhSe) inhibited biofilm formation and decreased biofilm viability in both early and mature biofilms more efficiently than (Cl-PhSe). Overall, the organochalcogen compounds, especially (PhSe), were demonstrated to be effective antifungal drugs against virulence factors related to epithelial cell surface adhesion and the formation and viability of biofilms.