Dataset Information

Plasticity of Candida albicans Biofilms.

ABSTRACT: Candida albicans, the most pervasive fungal pathogen that colonizes humans, forms biofilms that are architecturally complex. They consist of a basal yeast cell polylayer and an upper region of hyphae encapsulated in extracellular matrix. However, biofilms formed in vitro vary as a result of the different conditions employed in models, the methods used to assess biofilm formation, strain differences, and, in a most dramatic fashion, the configuration of the mating type locus (MTL). Therefore, integrating data from different studies can lead to problems of interpretation if such variability is not taken into account. Here we review the conditions and factors that cause biofilm variation, with the goal of engendering awareness that more attention must be paid to the strains employed, the methods used to assess biofilm development, every aspect of the model employed, and the configuration of the MTL locus. We end by posing a set of questions that may be asked in comparing the results of different studies and developing protocols for new ones. This review should engender the notion that not all biofilms are created equal.

SUBMITTER: Soll DR

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4981664 | biostudies-other | 2016 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

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Plasticity of Candida albicans Biofilms.

Soll David R DR Daniels Karla J KJ

Microbiology and molecular biology reviews : MMBR 20160601 3

Candida albicans, the most pervasive fungal pathogen that colonizes humans, forms biofilms that are architecturally complex. They consist of a basal yeast cell polylayer and an upper region of hyphae encapsulated in extracellular matrix. However, biofilms formed in vitro vary as a result of the different conditions employed in models, the methods used to assess biofilm formation, strain differences, and, in a most dramatic fashion, the configuration of the mating type locus (MTL). Therefore, int ...[more]

PMID: 27250770

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Project description:Candida spp. are commensal opportunistic fungal pathogens that often colonize and infect mucosal surfaces of the human body. Candida, along with other microbes in the microbiota, generally grow as biofilms in a polymicrobial environment. Due to the nature of cellular growth in a biofilm (such as production of a protective extracellular matrix) and the recalcitrance of biofilms, infections involving biofilms are very difficult to treat with antibiotics and perpetuate the cycle of infection. The two most commonly isolated Candida spp. from Candida infections are Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, and the presence of both of these species results in increased patient inflammation and overall biofilm formation. This work aims to investigate the interspecies interactions between C. albicans (Ca) and C. glabrata (Cg) in co-culture through transcriptome analysis over the course of biofilm growth. We report that during co-culture, lipid biosynthesis and transporter genes were significantly modulated in both Ca and Cg. Differentially expressed genes in Ca during co-culture growth included putative transporter genes (C2_02180W_A and C1_09210C_B; up-regulated), amino acid biosynthesis (ARO7; up-regulated most in Ca:Cg 1:3), and lipid-related genes (LIP3 and IPT1; down-regulated). Differentially expressed genes in Cg in co-culture included putative transmembrane transporters (CAGL0H03399g and CAGL0K04609g; up-regulated), an oxidative stress response gene (CAGL0E04114g; down-regulated most in Ca:Cg 1:3), genes involved in the TCA cycle (LYS12 and CAGL0J06402g; down-regulated), and several genes involved in cell wall/membrane biosynthesis (SEC53, GAS2, VIG9; down-regulated). Additionally, confocal microscopy was utilized for membrane lipid analysis between monoculture and co-culture biofilms. Through filipin-stained lipid analysis, we found that there was a significant increase in cell membrane lipid content in Ca:Cg 1:3 biofilms compared to Ca and Ca:Cg 3:1 biofilms. These results suggest substantial modifications of both cell wall, cell membrane, and transporters in both Ca and Cg during the time course of co-culture growth, which allows for increased biofilm formation and virulence in Candida co-culture biofilms.

Dataset Information

Plasticity of Candida albicans Biofilms.

Publications

Plasticity of Candida albicans Biofilms.

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