title: Confocal analysis of the exopolysaccharide matrix of Candida albicans biofilms.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Confocal laser-scanning microscopy (CLSM) was carried out to investigate the exopolysaccharide matrix of Candida albicans (C. albicans) biofilms developed on denture material under dietary carbohydrate exposure.
  
  
  METHODS
  Biofilms were developed on poly(methyl methacrylate) discs in culture media without (control) or with supplementation by glucose or sucrose for 72 h. For the CLSM analysis, biofilms were labeled with concanavalin A (ConA) during its development. Afterwards, biofilms were also labeled with SYTO-9. To confirm the results, the matrix was investigated by the phenol-sulfuric method. Data were analyzed by anova, followed by Tukey's test, with the level of significance set at 5%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The use of ConA during biofilm development provided effective labeling of the exopolysaccharide matrix. The exposure to sucrose resulted in biofilms with the highest exopolysaccharide matrix biovolume (P < 0.05). The characterization obtained by CLSM was confirmed by the phenol-sulfuric method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Confocal laser-scanning microscopy was found to be an effective tool for investigating the exopolysaccharide matrix of C. albicans biofilms, and exposure to sucrose resulted in increased matrix production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Letícia M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Altair A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Del Bel Cury
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andréa A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: de Vasconcellos
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiological Sciences, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jaime A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Cury
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas, Piracicaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wander J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: da Silva
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003208:Concanavalin A; D003470:Culture Media; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000737:chemistry; D062610:Fungal Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000379:methods; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate / Q000737:chemistry; D011897:Random Allocation; D012463:Saliva / Q000382:microbiology; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D003764:Dental Materials; D062610:Fungal Polysaccharides; D009930:Organic Chemicals; C103389:SYTO 9; D003208:Concanavalin A; D013395:Sucrose; D019904:Polymethyl Methacrylate; D005947:Glucose
keywords: Candida albicans; biofilm; confocal laser-scanning microscopy; exopolysaccharide matrix; extracellular matrix