Effect of marine polyunsaturated fatty acids on biofilm formation of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis.
The effect of marine polyunsaturated fatty acids on biofilm formation by the human pathogens Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis was investigated. It was found that stearidonic acid (18:4 n-3), eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5 n-3), docosapentaenoic acid (22:5 n-3) and docosahexaenoic acid (22:6 n-3) have an inhibitory effect on mitochondrial metabolism of both C. albicans and C. dubliniensis and that the production of biofilm biomass by C. dubliniensis was more susceptible to these fatty acids than C. albicans. Ultrastructural differences, which may be due to increased oxidative stress, were observed between treated and untreated cells of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis with formation of rough cell walls by both species and fibrillar structures in C. dubliniensis. These results indicate that marine polyunsaturated fatty acids may be useful in the treatment and/or prevention of biofilms formed by these pathogenic yeasts.
Department of Microbial, Biochemical and Food Biotechnology, University of the Free State, P.O. Box 339, Bloemfontein, 9301, South Africa. ThibaneV@ufs.ac.za
Vuyisile S
VS
Thibane
Johan L F
JL
Kock
Ruan
R
Ells
Pieter W J
PW
van Wyk
Carolina H
CH
Pohl
D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D018533:Biomass; D002175:Candida / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated / Q000032:analysis / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012623:Seawater
D005231:Fatty Acids, Unsaturated