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Clarifying and Imaging Candida albicans Biofilms
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Macrophage Migration Is Impaired within Candida albicans Biofilms

Maria F Alonso1, Neil A R Gow2, Lars P Erwig3

  • 1Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK. m.f.alonso@abdn.ac.uk.

Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland)
|January 27, 2018
PubMed

Insights

Macrophage movement toward Candida albicans is enhanced by cell wall mutants but hindered by biofilms. Biofilm structure, not composition, limits immune cell migration, impacting infection control.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Mycology
  • Cell Biology

Background:

  • Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen.
  • Innate immune cells, like macrophages, are crucial for controlling C. albicans infections through phagocytosis.
  • Macrophage migration and recognition of fungal cell wall components are vital for effective phagocytosis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate macrophage migration dynamics in response to different forms of Candida albicans.
  • To determine the impact of C. albicans cell wall mutants and biofilms on macrophage migratory behavior.

Main Methods:

  • Live-cell imaging was used to observe phagocytosis and macrophage migration.
  • The J774.1 macrophage cell line was utilized.
  • Comparisons were made between responses to planktonic cells, cell wall mutants, and biofilms of C. albicans.

Main Results:

  • Macrophage migration was enhanced towards C. albicans cell wall mutants within the first 30 minutes.
  • Macrophage migration was reduced up to 2-fold within C. albicans biofilms compared to planktonic cells.
  • Biofilm structure, rather than polysaccharide matrix composition, was identified as the primary factor inhibiting macrophage migration.

Conclusions:

  • Macrophage migratory capacity is differentially affected by the form of C. albicans encountered.
  • The physical structure of C. albicans biofilms significantly impedes macrophage migration.
  • Impaired macrophage migration within biofilms may contribute to the persistence of C. albicans infections.
Keywords:
Candidabiofilmcell wallmacrophagemigrationphagocytosis

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