title: The role of biofilms in onychomycosis.
abstract: Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of nails primarily caused by dermatophyte fungi. Fungi are traditionally understood as existing in the environment as planktonic organisms; however, recent advancements in microbiology suggest that fungi form biofilms-complex sessile microbial communities irreversibly attached to epithelial surfaces by means of an extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix also acts as a protective barrier to the organisms within the biofilm. The biofilm is surprisingly resistant to injury and may act as a persistent source of infection possibly accounting for antifungal resistance in onychomycosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Toronto School of Medicine, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Mediprobe Research Inc, London, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: agupta@execulink.com.
authors.forename: Aditya K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Gupta
authors.affiliation: Mediprobe Research Inc, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Deanne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daigle
authors.affiliation: Mediprobe Research Inc, London, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Jessie L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Carviel
mesh_terms: D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003883:Arthrodermataceae; D018441:Biofilms; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D005658:Fungi / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D014009:Onychomycosis / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: antifungal; biofilm; dermatophyte fungi; extracellular matrix; nail; onychomycosis