Monitoring ALS1 and ALS3 Gene Expression During In Vitro Candida albicans Biofilm Formation Under Continuous Flow Conditions

Tachyplesin I Analogue Peptide as an Effective Antimicrobial Agent against Candida albicans-Staphylococcus aureus Poly-Biofilm Formation and Mixed Infection

Microbial biofilms are difficult to tackle in many infectious diseases. Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus are prevalent symbiotic strains in polymicrobial biofilms, which showed enhanced antimicrobial resistance and made identifying effective treatment techniques more difficult. The antibiofilm abilities of tachplesin I analogue peptide (TP11A) and tachplesin I were investigated quantitatively in this study. Both inhibited C. albicans monomicrobial, S. aureus monomicrobial, and C. albicans-S. aureus polymicrobial biofilms quite well. TP11A suppressed the biofilm- and virulence-related genes of C. albicans (hwp 1) and S. aureus (ica A, fnb B, agr A, hla, nor A, and sig B) in the mixed biofilm, according to quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis. We created an injectable thermosensitive in situ PLEL@TP11A gel system by simply adding TP11A into poly(d,l-lactide)-poly(ethylene glycol)-poly(d,l-lactide) (PLEL). Using C. albicans-S. aureus mixed infected wound models of mice, the in vivo therapeutic effect of TP11A and PLEL@TP11A in polymicrobial infections was investigated. The findings revealed that TP11A and PLEL@TP11A could efficiently reduce bacterial and fungal burden in wound infections, as well as accelerated wound healing. Based on above findings, TP11A might be an effective antimicrobial against C. albicans-S. aureus poly-biofilm formation and mixed infection.

In Vitro Biofilm Formation on Aryl Ketone Polymer (AKP), A New Denture Material, Compared with That on Three Traditional Dental Denture Materials

Control of denture plaque biofilms is a practical approach to preventing persistent oral infections such as denture stomatitis. Objectives. This study compared in vitro biofilm attachment and growth on a new denture material, Ultaire® AKP, with that on traditional denture materials including cobalt chrome (CoCr), polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), and polyoxymethylene (POM). Methods. Microbial biofilms were grown with cultures of Candida albicans, Streptococcus mutans UA159, or a mixed Streptococcus spp. (S. mutans 700610/Streptococcus sanguinis BAA-1455) for 6 hours in a static protocol or 24 hours in a dynamic protocol for each material. Adherent biofilm cells were removed, and viable colony-forming units (CFUs) were enumerated. Confocal microscopy of the 24-hour Streptococcus spp. biofilms was used to determine biofilm mass and roughness coefficients. Results. The rank order of C. albicans attachment after 6 hours was CoCr > PMMA ^∗  > Ultaire® AKP ^∗ ( ^∗ vs CoCr, p ≤ 0.05), and that for 24-hour biofilm growth was CoCr > Ultaire® AKP ^∗  > PMMA ^∗ ( ^∗ vs CoCr, p ≤ 0.05). The rank order of S. mutans biofilm attachment was CoCr > POM > Ultaire® AKP ^∗  > PMMA ^∗ ( ^∗ vs CoCr, p ≤ 0.05), and that for the 24-hour Streptococcus spp. biofilm growth was POM > Ultaire® AKP > PMMA > CoCr ^∗ ( ^∗ vs POM, p ≤ 0.05). Confocal images revealed structural differences in Streptococcus spp. biofilms on CoCr compared with the other test materials. Significantly lower roughness coefficients of Streptococcus spp. biofilms on Ultaire® AKP were noted, suggesting that these biofilms were less differentiated. Ultaire® AKP promoted significantly less C. albicans and S. mutans biofilm attachment than CoCr at 6 hours and C. albicans growth at 24 hours. Streptococcus spp. biofilms on Ultaire® AKP were less differentiated than those on other test materials. Conclusion. In addition to its material strength, Ultaire® AKP represents an attractive option for denture material in removable partial dentures.

Analysis of Biofilm-Related Genes and Antifungal Susceptibility Pattern of Vaginal Candida albicans and Non-Candida albicans Species

Background

Vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by Candida species is a prevalent fungal infection among women. It is believed that the pathogenesis of Candida species is linked with the production of biofilm which is considered a virulence factor for this organism. The aim of this study was molecular identification, antifungal susceptibility, biomass quantification of biofilm, and detection of virulence markers of Candida species.

Methods

We investigated the molecular identification of 70 vaginal isolates of Candida species, antifungal resistance to amphotericin B, fluconazole, itraconazole, and voriconazole according to CLSI M27-A3 and M27-S4, biofilm formation, and frequency analysis of biofilm-related ALS1, ALS3, and HWP1 genes.

Results

Our findings showed that the most common yeast isolated from vaginal discharge was C. albicans (67%), followed by the non-Candida albicans species (33%). All C. albicans complex isolates were confirmed as C. albicans by HWP-PCR, and all isolates of the C. glabrata complex were revealed to be C. glabrata sensu stricto using the multiplex PCR method. FLC resistance was observed in 23.4% of C. albicans and 7.7% of C. glabrata. The resistance rate to ITC was found in 10.6% of C. albicans. The frequency of ALS1, ALS3, and HWP1 genes among Candida species was 67.1%, 80%, and 81.4%, respectively. Biofilm formation was observed in 54.3% of Candida species, and the highest frequency detected as a virulence factor was for the ALS3 gene (97.3%) in biofilm-forming species. Discussion. Our results showed the importance of molecular epidemiology studies, investigating antifungal susceptibility profiles, and understanding the role of biofilm-related virulence markers in the pathogenesis of Candida strains.

Candida albicans Bgl2p, Ecm33p, and Als1p proteins are involved in adhesion to saliva-coated hydroxyapatite

Introduction: Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen that causes oral candidiasis. A previous study showed that Bgl2p and Ecm33p may mediate the interaction between the yeast and saliva-coated hydroxyapatite (SHA; a model for the tooth surface). This study investigated the roles of these cell wall proteins in the adherence of C. albicans to SHA beads. Methods: C. albicans BGL2 and ECM33 null mutants were generated from wild-type strain SC5314 by using the SAT1-flipper gene disruption method. A novel method based on labelling the yeast with Nile red, was used to investigate the adherence. Results: Adhesion of bgl2Δ and ecm33Δ null mutants to SHA beads was 76.4% and 64.8% of the wild-type strain, respectively. Interestingly, the adhesion of the bgl2Δ, ecm33Δ double mutant (87.7%) was higher than that of both single mutants. qRT-PCR analysis indicated that the ALS1 gene was over-expressed in the bgl2Δ, ecm33Δ strain. The triple null mutant showed a significantly reduced adherence to the beads, (37.6%), compared to the wild-type  strain. Conclusion: Bgl2p and Ecm33p contributed to the interaction between C. albicans and SHA beads. Deletion of these genes triggered overexpression of the ALS1 gene in the bgl2Δ/ecm33Δ mutant strain, and deletion of all three genes caused a significant decrease in adhesion.

Relative Abundances of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata in In Vitro Coculture Biofilms Impact Biofilm Structure and Formation

Candida is a member of the normal human microbiota and often resides on mucosal surfaces such as the oral cavity or the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to their commensality, Candida species can opportunistically become pathogenic if the host microbiota is disrupted or if the host immune system becomes compromised. An important factor for Candida pathogenesis is its ability to form biofilm communities. The two most medically important species-Candida albicans and Candida glabrata-are often coisolated from infection sites, suggesting the importance of Candida coculture biofilms. In this work, we report that biofilm formation of the coculture population depends on the relative ratio of starting cell concentrations of C. albicans and C. glabrata When using a starting ratio of C. albicans to C. glabrata of 1:3, ∼6.5- and ∼2.5-fold increases in biofilm biomass were observed relative to those of a C. albicans monoculture and a C. albicans/C. glabrata ratio of 1:1, respectively. Confocal microscopy analysis revealed the heterogeneity and complex structures composed of long C. albicans hyphae and C. glabrata cell clusters in the coculture biofilms, and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) studies showed increases in the relative expression of the HWP1 and ALS3 adhesion genes in the C. albicans/C. glabrata 1:3 biofilm compared to that in the C. albicans monoculture biofilm. Additionally, only the 1:3 C. albicans/C. glabrata biofilm demonstrated an increased resistance to the antifungal drug caspofungin. Overall, the results suggest that interspecific interactions between these two fungal pathogens increase biofilm formation and virulence-related gene expression in a coculture composition-dependent manner.IMPORTANCECandida albicans and Candida glabrata are often coisolated during infection, and the occurrence of coisolation increases with increasing inflammation, suggesting possible synergistic interactions between the two Candida species in pathogenesis. During the course of an infection, the prevalence of each Candida species may change over time due to differences in metabolism and in the resistance of each species to antifungal therapies. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the dynamics between C. albicans and C. glabrata in coculture to develop better therapeutic strategies against Candida infections. Existing in vitro work has focused on understanding how an equal-part culture of C. albicans and C. glabrata impacts biofilm formation and pathogenesis. What is not understood, and what is investigated in this work, is how the composition of Candida species in coculture impacts overall biofilm formation, virulence gene expression, and the therapeutic treatment of biofilms.

Alizarin and Chrysazin Inhibit Biofilm and Hyphal Formation by Candida albicans

Candida albicans is one of the most common pathogen causes fungal infections. This opportunistic pathogen can form biofilms comprised of yeast, hyphae and pseudo hyphal elements, and the hyphal form C. albicans considered as probable virulence factor. We investigated the antibiofilm activities of 13 quinones and anthraquinones related compounds against C. albicans biofilms by using crystal violet and 2,3-bis (2-Methoxy-4-Nitro-5-Sulfo-phenyl)-2H-Tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assays to assess inhibitions of biofilm growth. Morphological changes in biofilms and biofilm thicknesses were determined by scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, respectively. It was found alizarin (1,2-dihydroxyanthraquinone) and chrysazin (1,8-dihydroxyanthraquinone) suppressed C. albicans biofilm formation. Interestingly, alizarin and chrysazin at only 2 μg/ml effectively inhibited hyphal formation and prolonged the survival of C. albicans infected Caenorhabditis elegans, thus showing a distinct antivirulent potential. A structural activity relationship study of alizarin and 6 other anthraquinones showed the presence of a hydroxyl group at C-1 position which is important for antibiofilm and antifilamentation activities. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that alizarin downregulated the expression of several hypha-specific and biofilm related genes (ALS3, ECE1, ECE2, and RBT1). Furthermore, unlike the commercial antifungal drug fluconazole, no acute toxic effect was observed when uninfected nematodes were exposed to alizarin at concentrations up to 1 mg/ml. The results of this study indicate alizarin suppresses the virulence of C. albicans in vivo which suggests alizarin may be considered as a potential candidate for further investigations to develop antifungal agent against fungal pathogen in vivo.

The Anti-Adhesive Effect of Curcumin on Candida albicans Biofilms on Denture Materials

The use of natural compounds as an alternative source of antimicrobials has become a necessity given the growing concern over global antimicrobial resistance. Polyphenols, found in various edible plants, offers one potential solution to this. We aimed to investigate the possibility of using curcumin within the context of oral health as a way of inhibiting and preventing the harmful development of Candida albicans biofilms. We undertook a series of adsorption experiments with varying concentrations of curcumin, showing that 50 μg/ml could prevent adhesion. This effect could be further synergized by the curcumin pre-treatment of yeast cells to obtain significantly greater inhibition (>90%, p < 0.001). Investigation of the biological impact of curcumin showed that it preferentially affected immature morphological forms (yeast and germlings), and actively promoted aggregation of the cells. Transcriptional analyses showed that key adhesins were down-regulated (ALS1 and ALS3), whereas aggregation related genes (ALS5 and AAF1) were up-regulated. Collectively, these data demonstrated that curcumin elicits anti-adhesive effects and that induces transcription of genes integrally involved in the processes related to biofilm formation. Curcumin and associated polyphenols therefore have the capacity to be developed for use in oral healthcare to augment existing preventative strategies for candidal biofilms on the denture surface.

Coating polypropylene surfaces with protease weakens the adhesion and increases the dispersion of Candida albicans cells

OBJECTIVES

To investigate the ability of the proteases, subtilisin and α-chymotrypsin (aCT), to inhibit the adhesion of Candida albicans biofilm to a polypropylene surface.

RESULTS

The proteases were immobilized on plasma-treated polypropylene by covalently linking them with either glutaraldehyde (GA) or N'-diisopropylcarbodiimide (DIC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The immobilization did not negatively affect the enzyme activity and in the case of subtilisin, the activity was up to 640% higher than that of the free enzyme when using N-acetyl phenylalanine ethyl ester as the substrate. The efficacies against biofilm dispersal for the GA-linked SubC and aCT coatings were 41 and 55% higher than the control (polypropylene coated with only GA), respectively, whereas no effect was observed with enzymes immobilized with DIC and NHS. The higher dispersion efficacy observed for the proteases immobilized with GA could be both steric (proper orientation of the active site) and dynamic (higher protein mobility/flexibility).

CONCLUSIONS

Proteases immobilized on a polypropylene surface reduced the adhesion of C. albicans biofilms and therefore may be useful in developing anti-biofilm surfaces based on non-toxic molecules and sustainable strategies.

Inhibition of Candida albicans biofilm development by unencapsulated Enterococcus faecalis cps2

Background/purpose

In the oral environment, Candida albicans interacts with many bacteria, including Enterococcus faecalis. We investigated the susceptibility of C. albicans biofilm development to the presence of unencapsulated E. faecalis cps2 in comparison with reference strains (E. faecalis ATCC 29212) or their respective spent medium (collected at 6 hours).

Material and methods

Crystal violet stain was used to measure the total biofilm mass, whereas quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was used to analyze the change in expression of the mRNA of hypha morphology (ALS1 and ALS3) and biofilm maturation (EFB1).

Results

At the intermediate stage, C. albicans resisted the presence of each E. faecalis strain tested and their spent medium. However, at the maturation stage, the unencapsulated strain was stronger in reducing C. albicans biofilms than the reference strain (P < 0.05). At this maturation stage, the transcription levels of each gene tested decreased in the presence of either E. faecalis strains or their respective spent medium. The unencapsulated strain was more pronounced in reducing ALS1/ALS3 expression, whereas the respective spent medium had a similar capability to restrict the expression of EFB1.

Conclusion

This study showed, the unencapsulated strain is more effective in inhibiting C. albicans biofilm development compared with the reference strains. In contrast, the secreted molecules produced by each strain tested are necessary in controlling the growths of C. albicans biofilm.

Modulation of Candida albicans virulence by bacterial biofilms on titanium surfaces

Whilst Candida albicans occurs in peri-implant biofilms, its role in peri-implantitis remains unclear. This study therefore examined the virulence of C. albicans in mixed-species biofilms on titanium surfaces. Biofilms of C. albicans (Ca), C. albicans with streptococci (Streptococcus sanguinis, S. mutans) (Ca-Ss-Sm) and those incorporating Porphyromonas gingivalis (Ca-Pg and Ca-Ss-Sm-Pg) were developed. Expression of C. albicans genes associated with adhesion (ALS1, ALS3, HWP1) and hydrolytic enzymes (SAP2, SAP4, SAP6, PLD1) was measured and hyphal production by C. albicans quantified. Compared with Ca biofilms, significant (p<0.05) up-regulation of ALS3, HWP1, SAP2 and SAP6, and hyphal production occurred in biofilms containing streptococci (Ca-Ss-Sm). In Ca-Pg biofilms, down-regulation of HWP1 and SAP4 expression, with reduced hyphal production occurred. Ca-Ss-Sm-Pg biofilms had increased hyphal proportions and up-regulation of ALS3, SAP2 and SAP6. In conclusion, C. albicans expressed virulence factors in biofilms that could contribute to peri-implantitis, but this was dependent on associated bacterial species.

Bacterial adherence and biofilm formation on medical implants: a review

Biofilms are a complex group of microbial cells that adhere to the exopolysaccharide matrix present on the surface of medical devices. Biofilm-associated infections in the medical devices pose a serious problem to the public health and adversely affect the function of the device. Medical implants used in oral and orthopedic surgery are fabricated using alloys such as stainless steel and titanium. The biological behavior, such as osseointegration and its antibacterial activity, essentially depends on both the chemical composition and the morphology of the surface of the device. Surface treatment of medical implants by various physical and chemical techniques are attempted in order to improve their surface properties so as to facilitate bio-integration and prevent bacterial adhesion. The potential source of infection of the surrounding tissue and antimicrobial strategies are from bacteria adherent to or in a biofilm on the implant which should prevent both biofilm formation and tissue colonization. This article provides an overview of bacterial biofilm formation and methods adopted for the inhibition of bacterial adhesion on medical implants.

Candida species biofilm and Candida albicans ALS3 polymorphisms in clinical isolates

Over the last decades, there have been important changes in the epidemiology of Candida infections. In recent years, Candida species have emerged as important causes of invasive infections mainly among immunocompromised patients. This study analyzed Candida spp. isolates and compared the frequency and biofilm production of different species among the different sources of isolation: blood, urine, vulvovaginal secretions and peritoneal dialysis fluid. Biofilm production was quantified in 327 Candida isolates obtained from patients attended at a Brazilian tertiary public hospital (Botucatu, Sao Paulo). C. albicans ALS3 gene polymorphism was also evaluated by determining the number of repeated motifs in the central domain. Of the 198 total biofilm-positive isolates, 72 and 126 were considered as low and high biofilm producers, respectively. Biofilm production by C. albicans was significantly lower than that by non-albicans isolates and was most frequently observed in C. tropicalis. Biofilm production was more frequent among bloodstream isolates than other clinical sources, in urine, the isolates displayed a peculiar distribution by presenting two distinct peaks, one containing biofilm-negative isolates and the other containing isolates with intense biofilm production. The numbers of tandem-repeat copies per allele were not associated with biofilm production, suggesting the evolvement of other genetic determinants.

Lab-scale preparations of Candida albicans and dual Candida albicans-Candida glabrata biofilms on the surface of medical-grade polyvinyl chloride (PVC) perfusion tube using a modified gravity-supported free-flow biofilm incubator (GS-FFBI)

The assembly of a man-made gravity-supported free-flow biofilm incubator (GS-FFBI) was described, which was composed of a gas cushion injector and four incubators. The GS-FFBI had the characteristics of (i) a bottom-up flow direction, and (ii) lab-scale biofilm preparation without the use of a multichannel pump. Two opportunistic fungal strains, namely Candida albicans and Candida glabrata, were employed to incubate C. albicans and dual C. albicans-C. glabrata biofilms on the surface of medical-grade polyvinyl chloride perfusion tube. In terms of the results from {2, 3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfo-phenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide} (XTT) assay, dry weight measurement, colony-forming unit counting, susceptibility test, and scanning electron microscopy, it was demonstrated that GS-FFBI could form both stable single and dual Candida biofilms with no significant variations among the four incubators or the three daily incubations within 21h, and could operate for at least 96h smoothly with no contamination of stock medium. The results also indicated, for the first time, that C. albicans and C. glabrata might be co-existent competitively and symbiotically in the dual biofilms with flowing media. GS-FFBI would be a useful device to study in vitro morphological and physiological features of microbial biofilms in the medical settings.

Biofilms formed by Candida albicans bloodstream isolates display phenotypic and transcriptional heterogeneity that are associated with resistance and pathogenicity

BACKGROUND

Candida albicans infections have become increasingly recognised as being biofilm related. Recent studies have shown that there is a relationship between biofilm formation and poor clinical outcomes in patients infected with biofilm proficient strains. Here we have investigated a panel of clinical isolates in an attempt to evaluate their phenotypic and transcriptional properties in an attempt to differentiate and define levels of biofilm formation.

RESULTS

Biofilm formation was shown to be heterogeneous; with isolates being defined as either high or low biofilm formers (LBF and HBF) based on different biomass quantification. These categories could also be differentiated using a cell surface hydrophobicity assay with 24 h biofilms. HBF isolates were more resistance to amphotericin B (AMB) treatment than LBF, but not voriconazole (VRZ). In a Galleria mellonella model of infection HBF mortality was significantly increased in comparison to LBF. Histological analysis of the HBF showed hyphal elements intertwined indicative of the biofilm phenotype. Transcriptional analysis of 23 genes implicated in biofilm formation showed no significant differential expression profiles between LBF and HBF, except for Cdr1 at 4 and 24 h. Cluster analysis showed similar patterns of expression for different functional classes of genes, though correlation analysis of the 4 h biofilms with overall biomass at 24 h showed that 7 genes were correlated with high levels of biofilm, including Als3, Eap1, Cph1, Sap5, Plb1, Cdr1 and Zap1.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings show that biofilm formation is variable amongst C. albicans isolates, and categorising isolates depending on this can be used to predict how pathogenic the isolate will behave clinically. We have shown that looking at individual genes in less informative than looking at multiple genes when trying to categorise isolates at LBF or HBF. These findings are important when developing biofilm-specific diagnostics as these could be used to predict how best to treat patients infected with C. albicans. Further studies are required to evaluate this clinically.

Matrine reduces yeast-to-hypha transition and resistance of a fluconazole-resistant strain of Candida albicans

AIMS

To evaluate the potential effect of matrine on reducing the growth of hypha and lowering the resistance of a fluconazole-resistant colony of Candida albicans.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Candida albicans SC5314 and a fluconazole-resistant C. albicans 215 were used. As for C. albicans SC5314, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC(80)) and effective concentration (EC(50)) were determined, 1 mg ml(-1) matrine could inhibit nearly 80% of planktonic growth by inverted microscope, 2 mg ml(-1) matrine suppressed 50% of metabolic activity of biofilm by XTT assay, vanishing hypha could be observed on spider agar containing 2 mg ml(-1) matrine, the expressions of three hypha-related genes, namely ALS 3, SUN 41 and PBS 2, were suppressed by 29, 45 and 61% by 2 mg ml(-1) matrine. Also, matrine could lower the resistance of C. albicans 215, in either the free-floating form or the biofilm phenotype.

CONCLUSIONS

Matrine had favourable antifungal potential and might be able to reverse the fluconazole resistance of clinical isolates at relatively high concentration. The anti-candidal performance of matrine could be tightly associated with yeast-to-hypha transition proved by spider agar test and qRT-PCR.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

More efforts are needed to find new antifungal agents. Matrine could be a potential candidate to fight against Candida-related infections by regulating yeast-to-hypha transition.

Plant-derived decapeptide OSIP108 interferes with Candida albicans biofilm formation without affecting cell viability

We previously identified a decapeptide from the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, OSIP108, which is induced upon fungal pathogen infection. In this study, we demonstrated that OSIP108 interferes with biofilm formation of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans without affecting the viability or growth of C. albicans cells. OSIP108 displayed no cytotoxicity against various human cell lines. Furthermore, OSIP108 enhanced the activity of the antifungal agents amphotericin B and caspofungin in vitro and in vivo in a Caenorhabditis elegans-C. albicans biofilm infection model. These data point to the potential use of OSIP108 in combination therapy with conventional antifungal agents. In a first attempt to unravel its mode of action, we screened a library of 137 homozygous C. albicans mutants, affected in genes encoding cell wall proteins or transcription factors important for biofilm formation, for altered OSIP108 sensitivity. We identified 9 OSIP108-tolerant C. albicans mutants that were defective in either components important for cell wall integrity or the yeast-to-hypha transition. In line with these findings, we demonstrated that OSIP108 activates the C. albicans cell wall integrity pathway and that its antibiofilm activity can be blocked by compounds inhibiting the yeast-to-hypha transition. Furthermore, we found that OSIP108 is predominantly localized at the C. albicans cell surface. These data point to interference of OSIP108 with cell wall-related processes of C. albicans, resulting in impaired biofilm formation.

Quantifying the forces driving cell-cell adhesion in a fungal pathogen

Owing to its ability to form biofilms on implanted medical devices, the fungal pathogen Candida albicans causes frequent infections in humans. A hallmark of C. albicans biofilms is the presence of two types of cells, budding yeast cells and growing hyphae, which are bound together and embedded in extracellular matrix material. Although cell-cell adhesion is critical to biofilm formation, architecture, and cohesion, we know little about the fundamental forces behind this interaction. Here, we use single-cell force spectroscopy to quantify the forces engaged in yeast-hyphae adhesion, focusing on the role of Als (agglutinin-like sequence) proteins as prototypes of cell adhesion molecules. We show that adhesion between individual yeast and hyphal cells involves strong, short-range cohesive interactions (1.1 ± 0.2 nN; 86 ± 33 nm) and weak, long-range tether interactions (0.4 ± 0.2 nN; 234 ± 81 nm). Control experiments demonstrate that these interactions originate from cell surface proteins that are specific to C. albicans. Using mutant strains deficient for Als expression, we find that Als3 proteins, primarily expressed on the germ tube, play a key role in establishing strong cohesive adhesion. We suggest a model in which cohesive adhesion during biofilm formation originates from tight hydrophobic interactions between Als tandem repeat domains on adjacent cells. When subjected to force, the two interacting cell surfaces detach, but the cell bodies remain tethered through macromolecular extensions. Our results represent the first direct, noninvasive measurement of adhesion forces between interacting fungal cells and provide novel insights into the molecular origin of the cohesive strength of fungal biofilms.

Salmonella enterica biofilm formation and density in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's biofilm reactor model is related to serovar and substratum

Foodborne pathogens can attach to, and survive on, food contact surfaces for long periods by forming a biofilm. Salmonella enterica is the second most common cause of foodborne illness in Ireland. The ability of S. enterica to form a biofilm could contribute to its persistence in food production areas, leading to cross-contamination of products and surfaces. Arising from a large foodborne outbreak of S. enterica serovar Agona associated with a food manufacturing environment, a hypothesis was formulated that the associated Salmonella Agona strain had an enhanced ability to form a biofilm relative to other S. enterica. To investigate this hypothesis, 12 strains of S. enterica, encompassing three S. enterica serovars, were assessed for the ability to form a biofilm on multiple food contact surfaces. All isolates formed a biofilm on the contact surfaces, and there was no consistent trend for the Salmonella Agona outbreak strain to produce a denser biofilm compared with other strains of Salmonella Agona or Salmonella Typhimurium. However, Salmonella Enteritidis biofilm was considerably less dense than Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Agona biofilms. Biofilm density was greater on tile than on concrete, polycarbonate, stainless steel, or glass.

Flexible survival strategies of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in biofilms result in increased fitness compared with Candida albicans

The majority of microorganisms persist in nature as surface-attached communities often surrounded by an extracellular matrix, called biofilms. Most natural biofilms are not formed by a single species but by multiple species. Microorganisms not only cooperate as in some multispecies biofilms but also compete for available nutrients. The Gram-negative bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the polymorphic fungus Candida albicans are two opportunistic pathogens that are often found coexisting in a human host. Several models of mixed biofilms have been reported for these organisms showing antagonistic behavior. To investigate the interaction of P. aeruginosa and C. albicans in more detail, we analyzed the secretome of single and mixed biofilms of both organisms using MALDI-TOF MS/MS at several time points. Overall 247 individual proteins were identified, 170 originated from P. aeruginosa and 77 from C. albicans. Only 39 of the 131 in mixed biofilms identified proteins were assigned to the fungus whereby the remaining 92 proteins belonged to P. aeruginosa. In single-species biofilms, both organisms showed a higher diversity of proteins with 73 being assigned to C. albicans and 154 to P. aeruginosa. Most interestingly, P. aeruginosa in the presence of C. albicans secreted 16 proteins in significantly higher amounts or exclusively among other virulence factors such as exotoxin A and iron acquisition systems. In addition, the high affinity iron-binding siderophore pyoverdine was identified in mixed biofilms but not in bacterial biofilms, indicating that P. aeruginosa increases its capability to sequester iron in competition with C. albicans. In contrast, C. albicans metabolism was significantly reduced, including a reduction in detectable iron acquisition proteins. The results obtained in this study show that microorganisms not only compete with the host for essential nutrients but also strongly with the present microflora in order to gain a competitive advantage.

Candida species: new insights into biofilm formation

Biofilms of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata and Candida tropicalis are associated with high indices of hospital morbidity and mortality. Major factors involved in the formation and growth of Candida biofilms are the chemical composition of the medical implant and the cell wall adhesins responsible for mediating Candida-Candida, Candida-human host cell and Candida-medical device adhesion. Strategies for elucidating the mechanisms that regulate the formation of Candida biofilms combine tools from biology, chemistry, nanoscience, material science and physics. This review proposes the use of new technologies, such as synchrotron radiation, to study the mechanisms of biofilm formation. In the future, this information is expected to facilitate the design of new materials and antifungal compounds that can eradicate nosocomial Candida infections due to biofilm formation on medical implants. This will reduce dissemination of candidiasis and hopefully improve the quality of life of patients.

The plant defensin RsAFP2 induces cell wall stress, septin mislocalization and accumulation of ceramides in Candida albicans

The antifungal plant defensin RsAFP2 isolated from radish interacts with fungal glucosylceramides and induces apoptosis in Candida albicans. To further unravel the mechanism of RsAFP2 antifungal action and tolerance mechanisms, we screened a library of 2868 heterozygous C. albicans deletion mutants and identified 30 RsAFP2-hypersensitive mutants. The most prominent group of RsAFP2 tolerance genes was involved in cell wall integrity and hyphal growth/septin ring formation. Consistent with these genetic data, we demonstrated that RsAFP2 interacts with the cell wall of C. albicans, which also contains glucosylceramides, and activates the cell wall integrity pathway. Moreover, we found that RsAFP2 induces mislocalization of septins and blocks the yeast-to-hypha transition in C. albicans. Increased ceramide levels have previously been shown to result in apoptosis and septin mislocalization. Therefore, ceramide levels in C. albicans membranes were analysed following RsAFP2 treatment and, as expected, increased accumulation of phytoC24-ceramides in membranes of RsAFP2-treated C. albicans cells was detected. This is the first report on the interaction of a plant defensin with glucosylceramides in the fungal cell wall, causing cell wall stress, and on the effects of a defensin on septin localization and ceramide accumulation.

Efficacy of zosteric acid sodium salt on the yeast biofilm model Candida albicans

Candida albicans is the most notorious and the most widely studied yeast biofilm former. Design of experiments (DoE) showed that 10 mg/L zosteric acid sodium salt reduced C. albicans adhesion and the subsequent biofilm formation by at least 70%, on both hydrophilic and hydrophobic surfaces of 96-well plates. Indeed, biofilm imaging revealed the dramatic impact of zosteric acid sodium salt on biofilm thickness and morphology, due to the inability of the cells to form filamentous structures while remaining metabolically active. In the same way, 10 mg/L zosteric acid sodium salt inhibited C. albicans biofilm formation when added after the adhesion phase. Contrary to zosteric acid sodium salt, methyl zosterate did not affect yeast biofilm. In addition, zosteric acid sodium salt enhanced sensitivity to chlorhexidine, chlorine, hydrogen peroxide, and cis-2-decenoic acid, with a reduction of 0.5 to 8 log units. Preliminary in vitro studies using suitable primary cell based models revealed that zosteric acid sodium salt did not compromise the cellular activity, adhesion, proliferation or morphology of either the murine fibroblast line L929 or the human osteosarcoma line MG-63. Thus the use of zosteric acid sodium salt could provide a suitable, innovative, preventive, and integrative approach to preventing yeast biofilm formation.

Detailed comparison of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms under different conditions and their susceptibility to caspofungin and anidulafungin

Candida biofilm development can be influenced by diverse factors such as substrate, culture medium, carbohydrate source and pH. We have analysed biofilm formation of Candida albicans SC5314 and Candida glabrata ATCC 2001 wild-type strains in the presence of different media (RPMI 1640 versus YNB) and using different pH values (pH 5.6 or 7.0). We determined adhesion and biofilm formation on polystyrene, changes in the expression of adhesin genes during these processes and the susceptibility of mature biofilms to echinocandins. Biofilms formed on polystyrene by both Candida species proved to be influenced strongly by the composition of the medium rather than pH. C. albicans and C. glabrata formed thicker biofilms in RPMI 1640 medium, whereas in YNB medium, both species manifested adhesion rather than characteristic multilayer biofilm architecture. The stimulated biofilm formation in RPMI 1640 medium at pH 7.0 corroborated positively with increased expression of adhesin genes, essential to biofilm formation in vitro, including ALS3 and EAP1 in C. albicans and EPA6 in C. glabrata. The thicker biofilms grown in RPMI 1640 medium were more tolerant to caspofungin and anidulafungin than YNB-grown biofilms. We also observed that mature C. glabrata biofilms were less susceptible in RPMI 1640 medium to echinocandins than C. albicans biofilms. Environmental conditions, i.e. medium and pH, can significantly affect not only biofilm architecture, but also the expression profile of several genes involved during the different stages of biofilm development. In addition, growth conditions may also influence the antifungal-susceptibility profile of fungal populations within biofilm structures. Therefore, before designing any experimental biofilm set-up, it is important to consider the potential influence of external environmental factors on Candida biofilm development.

Candida tropicalis biofilms: artificial urine, urinary catheters and flow model

Adhesion to medical devices and biofilm formation are considered important virulence factors of Candida tropicalis. This work aimed to use artificial urine (AU) and urinary catheters, under flow conditions, for studying C. tropicalis biofilms. Adhesion and biofilm formation on silicone and latex urinary catheters were quantified by crystal violet staining and determination of colony forming units. Candida surface hydrophobicity was also evaluated, as well as the biofilms' matrix content in terms of proteins and carbohydrates. Candida tropicalis was able to adhere and to form biofilms along the entire length of the catheters under flow conditions. It was found that the isolate U69 adhered significantly more to both types of catheters than did the reference strain. However, U69 biofilms contained significantly less cultivable cells and higher biofilm biomass than those of the reference strain. Detachment of cells from biofilms on latex catheter was lower compared to silicone catheter. This model using AU appeared to be suitable for studies mimicking the real body conditions. Additionally, C. tropicalis was in fact able to colonize urinary catheters in the presence of AU and to detach from these catheters, demonstrating their capacity to colonize distal sites.

Real-time PCR expression profiling of genes encoding potential virulence factors in Candida albicans biofilms: identification of model-dependent and -independent gene expression

Background

Candida albicans infections are often associated with biofilm formation. Previous work demonstrated that the expression of HWP1 (hyphal wall protein) and of genes belonging to the ALS (agglutinin-like sequence), SAP (secreted aspartyl protease), PLB (phospholipase B) and LIP (lipase) gene families is associated with biofilm growth on mucosal surfaces. We investigated using real-time PCR whether genes encoding potential virulence factors are also highly expressed in biofilms associated with abiotic surfaces. For this, C. albicans biofilms were grown on silicone in microtiter plates (MTP) or in the Centres for Disease Control (CDC) reactor, on polyurethane in an in vivo subcutaneous catheter rat (SCR) model, and on mucosal surfaces in the reconstituted human epithelium (RHE) model.

Results

HWP1 and genes belonging to the ALS, SAP, PLB and LIP gene families were constitutively expressed in C. albicans biofilms. ALS1-5 were upregulated in all model systems, while ALS9 was mostly downregulated. ALS6 and HWP1 were overexpressed in all models except in the RHE and MTP, respectively. The expression levels of SAP1 were more pronounced in both in vitro models, while those of SAP2, SAP4 and SAP6 were higher in the in vivo model. Furthermore, SAP5 was highly upregulated in the in vivo and RHE models. For SAP9 and SAP10 similar gene expression levels were observed in all model systems. PLB genes were not considerably upregulated in biofilms, while LIP1-3, LIP5-7 and LIP9-10 were highly overexpressed in both in vitro models. Furthermore, an elevated lipase activity was detected in supernatans of biofilms grown in the MTP and RHE model.

Conclusions

Our findings show that HWP1 and most of the genes belonging to the ALS, SAP and LIP gene families are upregulated in C. albicans biofilms. Comparison of the fold expression between the various model systems revealed similar expression levels for some genes, while for others model-dependent expression levels were observed. This suggests that data obtained in one biofilm model cannot be extrapolated to other model systems. Therefore, the need to use multiple model systems when studying the expression of genes encoding potential virulence factors in C. albicans biofilms is highlighted.

Response of sessile cells to stress: from changes in gene expression to phenotypic adaptation

A better understanding of the genotypic and phenotypic adaptation of sessile (biofilm-associated) microorganisms to various forms of stress is required in order to develop more effective antibiofilm strategies. This review presents an overview of what high-throughput transcriptomic analyses have taught us concerning the response of various clinically relevant microorganisms (including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Burkholderia cenocepacia and Candida albicans) to treatment with antibiotics or disinfectants. In addition, several problems associated with identifying gene expression patterns in biofilms in general and their implications for identifying the response to stress are discussed (with a focus on heterogeneity in microbial biofilms and the role of small RNAs in microbial group behavior).

Hypoxic adaptation by Efg1 regulates biofilm formation by Candida albicans

Hypoxia is encountered frequently by Candida albicans during systemic infection of the human host. We tested if hypoxia allows biofilm formation by C. albicans, which is a major cause of perseverance and antifungal resistance in C. albicans infections. Using an in vitro biofilm system, we unexpectedly discovered that several positive regulators of biofilm formation during normoxia, including Tec1, Ace2, Czf1, Och1, and Als3, had little or no influence on biofilm development during hypoxia, irrespective of the carbon dioxide level, indicating that C. albicans biofilm pathways differ depending on the oxygen level. In contrast, the Efg1 and Flo8 regulators were required for both normoxic and hypoxic biofilm formation. To explore the role of Efg1 during hypoxic and/or biofilm growth, we determined transcriptome kinetics following release of EFG1 expression by a system under transcriptional control of a doxycycline-inducible promoter. During hypoxia, Efg1 rapidly induced expression of all major classes of genes known to be associated with normoxic biofilm formation, including genes involved in glycolysis, sulfur metabolism, and antioxidative and peroxisome activities, as well as genes for iron uptake. The results suggest that hypoxic adaptation mediated by the Efg1 and Flo8 regulators is required even during normoxic biofilm development, while hypoxic biofilm formation in deep tissues or in organs may generate foci of C. albicans infections.