Oxidative stress by antimicrobial peptide pleurocidin triggers apoptosis in Candida albicans

► The increase of ROS induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial membrane depolarization. ► The dysfunction of mitochondria promotes the release of pro-apoptotic factors. ► Pleurocidin induces not necrosis, but apoptosis in C. albicans. ► Pleurocidin may affect DNA and nuclei with indirect or direct methods.