title: Detailed comparison of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata biofilms under different conditions and their susceptibility to caspofungin and anidulafungin.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Virology, Mlynská dolina B-2, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.|VIB Department of Molecular Microbiology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, Box 2438, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium.|Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Soňa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kucharíková
authors.affiliation: VIB Department of Molecular Microbiology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, Box 2438, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium.|Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hélène
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tournu
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Diagnostic Sciences, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Katrien
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lagrou
authors.affiliation: VIB Department of Molecular Microbiology, KU Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, Box 2438, B-3001 Leuven-Heverlee, Belgium.|Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Dijck
authors.affiliation: Comenius University in Bratislava, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Microbiology and Virology, Mlynská dolina B-2, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
authors.forename: Helena
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bujdáková
mesh_terms: D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D041221:Candida glabrata / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D000077336:Caspofungin; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D055666:Lipopeptides; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D050296:Microbial Viability / Q000187:drug effects; D011137:Polystyrenes
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D054714:Echinocandins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D055666:Lipopeptides; D011137:Polystyrenes; D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000077336:Caspofungin