title: Transcription factor Efg1 contributes to the tolerance of Candida albicans biofilms against antifungal agents in vitro and in vivo.
abstract: We investigated the molecular basis of the tolerance of Candida albicans biofilms to antifungals using the miconazole as a model compound, and translated the resulting data to other antifungals. Sessile cells of C. albicans Δefg1, lacking the transcription factor Efg1, showed increased susceptibility to miconazole, amphotericin B and caspofungin, whereas these sessile cells were equally resistant to fluconazole. The increased sensitivity to miconazole was, at least, partly due to an increased accumulation of miconazole in the cells as compared to wild-type or reintegrant Δefg1(EFG1) sessile cells. By using a rat biofilm model, we further confirmed the role of Efg1 in the tolerance of C. albicans biofilms to miconazole when grown in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bink
authors.affiliation: Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Gilmer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Govaert
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Universiteit Gent, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Davy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vandenbosch
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.|VIB Department of Molecular Microbiology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Soňa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kuchariková
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Universiteit Gent, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Coenye
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Microbiology, Universiteit Gent, Harelbekestraat 72, 9000 Gent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nelis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.|VIB Department of Molecular Microbiology, Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 31, 3001 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Dijck
authors.affiliation: Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bruno P A
authors.initials: BPA
authors.lastname: Cammue
authors.affiliation: Centre of Microbial and Plant Genetics (CMPG), Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Kasteelpark Arenberg 20, 3001 Heverlee, Belgium.
authors.forename: Karin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Thevissen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D017353:Gene Deletion; D008825:Miconazole / Q000494:pharmacology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D051381:Rats; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D004268:DNA-Binding Proteins; C121438:EFG1 protein, Candida albicans; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D014157:Transcription Factors; D008825:Miconazole