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The lipopeptides pseudofactin II and surfactin effectively decrease Candida albicans adhesion and hydrophobicity
Piotr Biniarz1, Gabriela Baranowska, Joanna Feder-Kubis
1Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Wrocław, ul. Fryderyka Joliot-Curie 14a, 50-383, Wrocław, Poland.
Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
|May 30, 2015
Summary
Lipopeptide biosurfactants like pseudofactin and surfactin effectively prevent Candida albicans adhesion to surfaces. These biosurfactants show significant fungal adhesion reduction, with mechanisms potentially involving cell wall protein extraction.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
- Surface Science
Background:
- Candida albicans poses a significant human health challenge due to its adherence and biofilm formation.
- Surfactants and biosurfactants can modulate microbial cell surface properties, inhibiting adhesion.
- Understanding biosurfactant interactions with C. albicans is crucial for developing anti-adhesion strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of lipopeptide biosurfactants, pseudofactin (PF II) and surfactin (SU), in preventing Candida albicans adhesion to polystyrene.
- To compare the anti-adhesion abilities of PF II and SU against C. albicans strains with varying cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH).
- To elucidate the mechanisms by which these biosurfactants inhibit fungal adhesion.
Main Methods:
- Assessing C. albicans adhesion to polystyrene microplates under different treatment conditions.
- Utilizing pseudofactin (PF II) and surfactin (SU) to pre-condition microplates or co-incubate with fungal cells.
- Measuring changes in cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) and analyzing cell wall protein extraction after biosurfactant treatment.
Main Results:
- Biosurfactants significantly reduced C. albicans adhesion by 35-90% when microplates were pre-conditioned.
- An 80-90% reduction in adhesion was achieved when C. albicans cells were incubated with biosurfactants.
- While PF II was less effective than SU in pre-coating, their activity was similar when co-incubated with cells, irrespective of CSH.
- Pre-incubation with biosurfactants led to increased adhesion of hydrophobic strains, suggesting irreversible cell wall changes.
- Biosurfactant treatment caused the extraction of cell wall proteins (10-40 kDa) from C. albicans.
Conclusions:
- Lipopeptide biosurfactants are potent inhibitors of Candida albicans adhesion to polystyrene surfaces.
- The anti-adhesion effect is dependent on the application method (pre-conditioning vs. co-incubation) and biosurfactant type.
- Mechanisms of action include alterations in cell surface properties and extraction of specific cell wall proteins.
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