A morphogenetic regulatory role for ethyl alcohol in Candida albicans

Abstract

Regulation of morphogenesis through the production of chemical signalling molecules such as isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenylethyl alcohol, 1-dodecanol, E-nerolidol and farnesol is reported in Candida albicans. The present study focuses on the effect of ethyl alcohol on C. albicans dimorphism and biofilm development. Ethyl alcohol inhibited germ tube formation induced by the four standard inducers in a concentration-dependent manner. The germ tube inhibitory concentration (4%) did not have any effect on the growth and viability of C. albicans cells. Ethyl alcohol also inhibited the elongation of germ tubes. Four percentage of ethyl alcohol significantly inhibited biofilm development on polystyrene and silicone surfaces. We suggest a potential morphogenetic regulatory role for ethyl alcohol, which may influence dissemination, virulence and establishment of infection.

Effect of alcohols on filamentation, growth, viability and biofilm development in Candida albicans

“…Filament formation was studied using microtiter plate assay in 96-well microtiter plates as described previously (Chauhan et al , 2010). Briefly, cells from stock were inoculated in various inducer media to get 1 × 10 6 cells ml −1 .…”

“…Plates were incubated at 35 °C on an orbital shaker for 24 h. Optical density was measured at 620 nm wavelength using a 96-well microplate reader (Multiscan Ex-Thermo Electron Corp. USA) and absorbance of alcohols treated wells were compared with that of control. Plate count was done to see the effect on viability (Chauhan et al , 2010). Cells from the respective wells were diluted to get 300 to 400 colonies and an aliquot of the sample was spread on YPD agar plates.…”

“…Attachment to tissue culture dishes and polystyrene dishes in Pseudomonas species is affected by methanol, ethanol, propanol, and butanol (Fletcher, 1983). C. albicans in presence ethyl alcohol, dodecanol, isoamyl alcohol, and nerolidol failed to switch from yeast to hyphae under standard induction conditions (Martins et al , 2007; Davis-Hanna et al , 2008; Chauhan et al , 2010). Short chain n-alkanols are reported to affect the morphogenesis in the dimorphic fungus, Aureobasidium pullulans (Moragues et al , 1998).…”

Sensing of the Microbial Neighborhood by Candida albicans

“…Conversely, tyrosol shortens lag-phase growth in low-density cultures and stimulates germ-tube formation in yeast cells [9]. Other molecules that are potential QS molecules in C. albicans include phenylethyl alcohol, tryptophol, and MARS (morphogenic autoregulatory substance), although the mechanisms of action of these molecules remain unclear [10]–[12]. Thus, multiple QS molecules can impact C. albicans morphology ( Figure 1 ).…”

An in vitro repositioning study reveals antifungal potential of chloroquine to inhibit growth and morphogenesis in Candida albicans

“…The effect of CQ on yeast-to-hyphae transition in C. albicans was studied by microplate-based standard assay (Chauhan et al, 2011). FBS and RPMI-1640, two different inducers of germ tube formation, were used.…”