title: Effects of extracellular DNA from Candida albicans and pneumonia-related pathogens on Candida biofilm formation and hyphal transformation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of genomic DNA purified from Candida albicans and pneumonia-related pathogens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus, on in vitro biofilm formation and morphological change of 3 Candida species (C. albicans, C. glabrata, and C. tropicalis).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Biofilm formation was evaluated by the crystal violet assay and colony-forming unit counts. Morphological characteristics of biofilms were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Addition of DNA at a low concentration (<1·0 μg ml(-1)) significantly increased biofilm mass of all three Candida species. In contrast, the addition of DNA at a high concentration (10 μg ml(-1)) decreased the biofilm mass. Interestingly, the formation of hyphae in a dense network of yeast cells was observed in C. albicans biofilms exposed to a low concentration of DNA (<1·0 μg ml(-1)).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings demonstrated that extracellular DNA (eDNA) plays a crucial role in Candida biofilm formation and suggested that eDNA may induce the morphological transition from yeast to hyphal growth form during C. albicans biofilm development.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A novel therapy targeting eDNA may be applicable for Candida infection to decrease biofilm formation and hyphal formation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Prosthodontics, Institute of Health Biosciences, The University of Tokushima Graduate School, Tokushima, Japan.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sapaar
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nur
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hirota
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yumoto
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murakami
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Amoh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuo
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Miyake
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002175:Candida / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D004271:DNA, Fungal / Q000378:metabolism*; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I / Q000494:pharmacology; D025301:Hyphae / Q000254:growth & development; D050296:Microbial Viability; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence
chemical_list: D004271:DNA, Fungal; D003850:Deoxyribonuclease I
keywords: Candida albicans; biofilm development; extracellular DNA; genomic DNA; hyphal form