Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 15, 2026
A Soluble Tetrazolium-Based Reduction Assay to Evaluate the Effect of Antibodies on Candida tropicalis Biofilms
Published on: September 16, 2022
Biofilm formation and genetic variability of BCR1 gene in the Candida parapsilosis complex
Rogelio de J Treviño-Rangel1, Irám P Rodríguez-Sánchez2, Adrián G Rosas-Taraco3
1Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico.
Background:
Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto, Candida orthopsilosis, and Candida metapsilosis are cryptic species that belong to the C. parapsilosis complex, which has been increasingly associated to fungemia in various geographic regions, principally due to the capability of these yeasts to form biofilms on indwelling medical devices. BCR1 is one of the most studied genes related to Candida spp. biofilms.
Aims:
To evaluate the biofilm forming capability of a subset of 65 clinical isolates of the C. parapsilosis complex using two conventional approaches, and to look for an association between the biofilm forming phenotype and genetic variants of a fragment of BCR1.
Methods:
The biofilm determination was carried out by crystal violet staining and tetrazolium reduction assay. On the other hand, a segment of BCR1 gene was sequenced by Sanger methodology.
Results:
C. parapsilosis sensu stricto was statistically associated with a low biofilm production phenotype, while C. orthopsilosis was significantly associated with both phenotypes (high and low biofilm producers). According to the BCR1 sequence analysis, genetic variability was detected in C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis without a particular biofilm formation phenotype association.
Conclusions:
Under the adopted experimental design, C. parapsilosis sensu stricto was associated with the low biofilm phenotype and C. orthopsilosis with both phenotypes (high and low biofilm producers). On the other hand, an association between a biofilm forming phenotype and a particular genetic variant of the analyzed BCR1 fragment was not found.
Insights
Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto showed low biofilm formation, while Candida orthopsilosis exhibited both high and low biofilm production. No link was found between biofilm phenotype and BCR1 gene variants in this study.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Molecular Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- The Candida parapsilosis complex, including C. parapsilosis sensu stricto, C. orthopsilosis, and C. metapsilosis, is a significant cause of fungemia.
- These yeasts are notorious for forming biofilms on medical devices, increasing infection risk.
- The BCR1 gene is a key factor investigated in Candida spp. biofilm formation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the biofilm-forming capacity of 65 clinical isolates from the C. parapsilosis complex.
- To investigate potential associations between biofilm phenotypes and genetic variations in a specific fragment of the BCR1 gene.
Main Methods:
- Biofilm formation was quantified using crystal violet staining and tetrazolium reduction assays.
- A segment of the BCR1 gene was analyzed using Sanger sequencing.
Main Results:
- Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto was statistically linked to low biofilm production.
- Candida orthopsilosis showed significant association with both high and low biofilm production phenotypes.
- Genetic variations in the BCR1 gene were observed in C. orthopsilosis and C. metapsilosis, but not correlated with specific biofilm phenotypes.
Conclusions:
- Candida parapsilosis sensu stricto is associated with low biofilm formation, while C. orthopsilosis exhibits varied biofilm production.
- The study did not establish a correlation between biofilm-forming phenotypes and specific genetic variants within the analyzed BCR1 gene fragment.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Biofilms
02:53CRISPR and crRNAs
The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...