Role of biofilm morphology, matrix content and surface hydrophobicity in the biofilm-forming capacity of various Candida species

Abstract

The present study aimed to evaluate the role of biofilm morphology, matrix content and surface hydrophobicity in the biofilm-forming capacity of Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida (NAC) spp. Biofilm formation was determined by microtitre plate assay and bright-field and scanning electron microscopy. The matrix carbohydrates, proteins and e-DNA were quantified by phenol-sulfuric acid, bicinchoninic acid and UV spectroscopy, respectively. Specific glycosyl residues were detected by dot blot. The cell-surface hydrophobicity was determined by hydrocarbon adhesion assay. Candida tropicalis was found to exhibit the highest adherence to polystyrene. It formed dense biofilms with extensive pseudohyphae and hyphal elements, high hydrophobicity and the greatest amount of matrix carbohydrates, proteins and e-DNA. C. albicans displayed higher adherence and a complex biofilm morphology with larger aggregates than Candida parapsilosis and Candida krusei, but had lower matrix content and hydrophobicity. Thus, the combinatorial effect of increased filamentation, maximum matrix content and high hydrophobicity contributes to the enhanced biofilm-forming capacity of C. tropicalis.

Biofilm formation by Candida auris isolated from colonising sites and candidemia cases

“…Biofilm‐forming capacity was elucidated on 96‐well, flat‐bottomed polystyrene plates . Briefly, overnight cultures were adjusted to an OD 600 = 0.2 in RPMI‐1640 (pH 7) buffered with 165 mmol/L MOPS and 200 μL of these suspensions was inoculated per well in microtitre plates.…”

Evolution of the complex transcription network controlling biofilm formation inCandidaspecies

“…The estimated divergence time for C. dubliniensis, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis from the last common ancestor with C. albicans is approximately 20, 45, and 70 million years, respectively (Mishra et al 2007;Butler et al 2009;Moran et al 2012). C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis have been previously shown to form biofilms, while less is known about biofilm formation in C. dubliniensis (Silva et al 2011;Araujo et al 2017;Dominguez et al 2018;Kumari et al 2018). Biofilms were grown in vitro on silicone squares at 37°C for 48 hours with shaking and were monitored by confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM), as has been previously described (Nobile et al 2012).…”

“…albicans have clear orthologs in C. parapsilosis, only two of them are required for biofilm formation in the latter species (Holland et al 2014). Candida dubliniensis and C. tropicalis are more closely related to C. albicans (see Figure 2) and are also known to form biofilms (Ramage et al 2001;Silva et al 2011;Pujol et al 2015;Araujo et al 2017;Dominguez et al 2018;Kumari et al 2018), but the regulatory circuits that control this process are largely unknown.…”

“…2017; Dominguez et al . 2018; Kumari et al . 2018), but the regulatory circuits that control this process are largely unknown.…”

Pseudomembranous candidiasis by Candida tropicalis in an immunocompromised patient: Case Report.

“…2,3 The genus Candida has several virulence factors such as adhesion factors, the production of biofilms, and the production and secretion of proteolytic enzymes, enabling it to colonize and cause infection. 4,5 Oral candidiasis is a condition associated with the use of dental prostheses and patients with immunosuppression and it is mainly caused by Candida albicans, a Candida species with both a yeast and hypha morphology and accounts for more than 80% of oral fungal isolates 6 from both healthy and diseased persons. Other Candida species that have also being isolated from the oral cavity, albeit less frequently, include Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei, Candida guilliermondii, C. kefyr and Candida parapsilosis.…”