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Candida tropicalis biofilm's matrix--involvement on its resistance to amphotericin B

Tânia Fernandes1, Sónia Silva1, Mariana Henriques1

  • 1Centre of Biological Engineering, Laboratório de investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.

Diagnostic Microbiology and Infectious Disease
|July 21, 2015
PubMed

Insights

Amphotericin B (AMB) did not prevent Candida tropicalis biofilm formation or eradicate existing biofilms. Instead, AMB increased biofilm production, highlighting the crucial role of the biofilm matrix in antifungal resistance.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Antimicrobial Resistance
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Candida tropicalis is a significant fungal pathogen.
  • Biofilm formation is a key virulence factor in C. tropicalis, conferring tolerance to antifungals.
  • Mechanisms underlying antifungal resistance in C. tropicalis biofilms are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the efficacy of amphotericin B (AMB) against Candida tropicalis biofilms.
  • To determine the role of biofilm matrix components in AMB resistance.

Main Methods:

  • Assessing AMB's ability to inhibit biofilm formation.
  • Evaluating AMB's efficacy in eradicating pre-formed biofilms.
  • Analyzing changes in biofilm matrix composition (protein and carbohydrate content) after AMB treatment.

Main Results:

  • AMB failed to completely inhibit the formation of C. tropicalis biofilms.
  • AMB was ineffective in eradicating established C. tropicalis biofilms.
  • AMB treatment significantly increased biofilm production, with elevated total protein and carbohydrate content in the matrix.

Conclusions:

  • The biofilm matrix plays a critical role in Candida tropicalis resistance to amphotericin B.
  • Current therapeutic strategies using AMB may be limited in combating C. tropicalis biofilms.
  • Further research into targeting the biofilm matrix is warranted for effective antifungal treatment.
Keywords:
Amphotericin BBiofilmsCandida tropicalisMatrixResistance

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