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Published on: March 22, 2024
Interaction of Candida parapsilosis isolates with human hair and nail surfaces revealed by scanning electron
Marcelo T Oliveira1, Ana Flávia L Specian, Célia G T J Andrade
1Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
Abstract:
Candida parapsilosis is found frequently as commensal organism on epithelial tissues, and is also an increasing cause of nosocomial infection. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations were used to analyse the capability of C. parapsilosis cells to adhere and grow as biofilm on human natural substrates and to compare the adherence pattern of isolates exhibiting distinct phenotypes. Cells from the crepe phenotype are predominantly elongated and form pseudohyphae whereas cells from the smooth phenotype are yeast-shaped, either in liquid cultures or on human nail and hair surfaces. The electron micrographs revealed that C. parapsilosis cells from the smooth phenotype adhered in higher number to both surfaces compared to the observed for the crepe phenotype. SEM analysis of human hair surface revealed that cells from the smooth phenotype appear as clumped blastoconidia of uniform morphology embedded in a flocculent extracellular material forming biofilm. The extracellular material and biofilm were seeing in a less extension in the crepe phenotype. A distinct adherence pattern was observed when human nail was used as substrate. Here C. parapsilosis cells seem to be linked to surface structures of human nail plate. Fibrillar extracellular material was observed connecting neighbouring cells as well as nail surface.
Insights
The smooth phenotype of Candida parapsilosis adheres better to human hair and nail substrates than the crepe phenotype, forming more robust biofilms. This highlights differences in fungal adherence and biofilm formation relevant to nosocomial infections.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Medical Microbiology
- Biomaterials Science
Background:
- Candida parapsilosis is a common commensal organism on human epithelial tissues.
- It is also a significant and growing cause of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections.
- Understanding its adherence and biofilm formation is crucial for infection control.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the adherence and biofilm formation capabilities of Candida parapsilosis on natural human substrates.
- To compare the adherence patterns of C. parapsilosis isolates with distinct phenotypes (smooth vs. crepe).
Main Methods:
- Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to visualize C. parapsilosis interactions with human hair and nail surfaces.
- Adherence and biofilm structures were analyzed for two distinct C. parapsilosis phenotypes: smooth (yeast-shaped) and crepe (elongated, pseudohyphae-forming).
Main Results:
- The smooth phenotype exhibited significantly higher adherence to both hair and nail surfaces compared to the crepe phenotype.
- Smooth phenotype cells formed denser biofilms on hair, characterized by clumped blastoconidia and extracellular material.
- On nail surfaces, C. parapsilosis cells adhered to surface structures, with fibrillar extracellular material observed connecting cells and the nail plate for both phenotypes, though more pronounced in smooth.
Conclusions:
- Phenotypic variation in Candida parapsilosis influences its adherence and biofilm formation on human substrates.
- The smooth phenotype demonstrates superior adherence and biofilm-forming capacity, potentially contributing to its increased role in nosocomial infections.
- SEM provides valuable insights into the micro-architectural differences in fungal-substrate interactions.
