title: The expression of genes involved in the ergosterol biosynthesis pathway in Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis biofilms exposed to fluconazole.
abstract: The expression of the ERG1, ERG3, ERG7, ERG9, ERG11 and ERG25 genes in response to incubation with fluconazole and biofilm formation was investigated using reverse-transcription PCR and real-time PCR in Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis clinical isolates. The viability of biofilm was measured using an 2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-carboxanilide (XTT) reduction assay and confocal scanning laser microscopy (CSLM). Expression of the ERG11 gene was found to be low or moderate and it was regulated by fluconazole addition more so than by biofilm formation. Very low or non-detectable expression of ERG1, ERG7 and ERG25 genes was detected in C. albicans. The expression of the ERG9 increased in the presence of fluconazole in some isolates. Following incubation with fluconazole, formation of biofilm by C. dubliniensis was coupled with up-regulation of the ERG3 and ERG25 genes as have been observed previously in C. albicans. Planktonic cells of both Candida species released from biofilm displayed similar resistance mechanisms to fluconazole like attached cells. The XTT reduction assay and CSLM revealed that although incubation with fluconazole decreased the biofilm thickness, these were still comprised metabolically active cells able to disseminate and produce biofilm. Our data indicate that biofilm represents a highly adapted community reflecting the individuality of clinical isolates.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Virology, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. borecka@fns.uniba.sk
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Borecká-Melkusová
authors.forename: Gary P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.forename: Derek J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kucharíková
authors.forename: Dusan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chorvát
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bujdáková
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D004875:Ergosterol / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D015725:Fluconazole; D004875:Ergosterol