title: Metabolomics analysis of fungal biofilm development and of arachidonic acid-based quorum sensing mechanism.
abstract: The infections caused by filamentous fungi are becoming worldwide problem of healthcare systems due to increasing drug-resistance of this microorganism and increasing number of immunocompromised nosocomial patients. These infections are related with Aspergillus ability to form sessile communities referred to as the biofilms. The small compounds known as quorum sensing (QS) molecules allow this microorganism to coordinate all processes taking place during biofilm formation and maturation. In the study presented, the HRMAS1H NMR metabolomic approach was applied to define composition of extra and intracellular metabolites produced by biofilmic and planktonic (aka free-swimming) cultures of this microorganism and to evaluate impact of quorum sensing molecule, arachidonic acid (AA) on biofilm formation. The Scanning Electron Microscopy was used to confirm Aspergillus ability to form biofilm in vitro, while multivariate and univariate data analysis was applied to analyze data obtained. The Aspergillus strain was able to form strong biofilm structures in vitro. The statistical analysis revealed significant changes of metabolite production depending on Aspergillus culture type (biofilm vs. plankton), time and presence of QS molecules. The data obtained, if developed, might be used in future NMR diagnostics as markers of Aspergillus biofilm-related infections and lead to shorten time between pathogen identification and introduction of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4366-1306
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ząbek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Parasitology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Junka
authors.affiliation: Centre of Advance Manufacturing Technologies, Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Patrycja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Szymczyk
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Wojtowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Klimek-Ochab
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, Wroclaw University of Technology, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Młynarz
mesh_terms: D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D001230:Aspergillus / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D003428:Cross Infection; D005658:Fungi / Q000166:cytology / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D025301:Hyphae / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism; D055432:Metabolomics / Q000379:methods; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D009181:Mycoses / Q000175:diagnosis; D010933:Plankton / Q000502:physiology; D053038:Quorum Sensing / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D016718:Arachidonic Acid
keywords:  Aspergillus; 1H NMR spectroscopy; fungal biofilm formation; metabolomics; quorum sensing