title: Differential effects of antifungal agents on expression of genes related to formation of Candida albicans biofilms.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to analyse specific molecular mechanisms involved in the intrinsic resistance of C. albicans biofilms to antifungals. We investigated the transcriptional profile of three genes (BGL2, SUN41, ECE1) involved in Candida cell wall formation in response to voriconazole or anidulafungin after the production of intermediate and mature biofilms. C. albicans M61, a well-documented biofilm producer strain, was used for the development of intermediate (12 h and 18 h) and completely mature biofilms (48 h). After exposure of cells from each biofilm growth mode to voriconazole (128 and 512 mg l(-1)) or anidulafungin (0.25 and 1 mg l(-1)) for 12-24 h, total RNA samples extracted from biofilm cells were analysed by RT-PCR. The voriconazole and anidulafungin biofilm MIC was 512 and 0.5 mg l(-1) respectively. Anidulafungin caused significant up-regulation of SUN41 (3.7-9.3-fold) and BGL2 (2.2-2.8 fold) in intermediately mature biofilms; whereas, voriconazole increased gene expression in completely mature biofilms (SUN41 2.3-fold, BGL2 2.1-fold). Gene expression was primarily down-regulated by voriconazole in intermediately, but not completely mature biofilms. Both antifungals caused down-regulation of ECE1 in intermediately mature biofilms.
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Athanasios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chatzimoschou
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Simitsopoulou
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Charalampos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Antachopoulos
authors.affiliation: Transplantation-Oncology Infectious Diseases Program, Departments of Medicine, Pediatrics, and Microbiology & Immunology, Weill Cornell Medical Center of Cornell University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.affiliation: Infectious Diseases Laboratory, 3rd Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Hippokration Hospital, Aristotle University School of Health Sciences, Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Emmanuel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Roilides
mesh_terms: D000077612:Anidulafungin; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology; D015536:Down-Regulation; D054714:Echinocandins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D015854:Up-Regulation; D065819:Voriconazole / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; C082909:ECE1 protein, Candida albicans; D054714:Echinocandins; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D000077612:Anidulafungin; D065819:Voriconazole
keywords: C. albicans; Gene expression; anidulafungin; biofilms; voriconazole