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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, September 2001, p. 3234-3240, Vol. 39, No. 9
Department of
Microbiology,1 and Department of
Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases,2 The
University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio,
Texas
Received 23 March 2001/Accepted 14 June 2001
Candida dubliniensis is an opportunistic yeast closely
related to Candida albicans that has been recently
implicated in oropharyngeal candidiasis in human immunodeficiency
virus-infected patients. Most manifestations of candidiasis are
associated with biofilm formation, with cells in biofilms displaying
properties dramatically different from free-living cells grown under
normal laboratory conditions. Here, we report on the development of in
vitro models of C. dubliniensis biofilms on the surfaces of
biomaterials (polystyrene and acrylic) and on the characteristics
associated with biofilm formation by this newly described species. Time
course analysis using a formazan salt reduction assay to monitor
metabolic activities of cells within the biofilm, together with
microscopy studies, revealed that biofilm formation by C. dubliniensis occurred after initial focal adherence, followed by
growth, proliferation, and maturation over 24 to 48 h. Serum and
saliva preconditioning films enhanced the initial attachment of
C. dubliniensis and subsequent biofilm formation. Scanning
electron microscopy and confocal scanning laser microscopy were used to
further characterize C. dubliniensis biofilms. Mature
C. dubliniensis biofilms consisted of a dense network of
yeasts cells and hyphal elements embedded within exopolymeric material.
C. dubliniensis biofilms displayed spatial heterogeneity and an architecture showing microcolonies with ramifying water channels. Antifungal susceptibility testing demonstrated the increased resistance of sessile C. dubliniensis cells, including the
type strain and eight different clinical isolates, against fluconazole and amphotericin B compared to their planktonic counterparts. C. dubliniensis biofilm formation may allow this species to maintain its ecological niche as a commensal and during infection with important
clinical repercussions.
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.9.3234-3240.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Biofilm Formation by Candida
dubliniensis
*
Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of
Medicine/Div. Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas Health
Science Center at San Antonio. South Texas Centers for Biology in
Medicine, Texas Research Park, 15355 Lambda Dr., San Antonio, TX 78245. Phone: (210) 562-5017. Fax: (210) 562-5016. E-mail:
ribot{at}uthscsa.edu.
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