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Updated: Jul 25, 2025
Clarifying and Imaging Candida albicans Biofilms
Published on: March 6, 2020
Shikonin Inhibits Candida albicans Biofilms via the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 Signalling Pathway
Chong Pang1,2, Jianshuang Chen1,2, Lan Yang3
1School of Basic Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde, Hebei, People's Republic of China.
Objective:
To investigate the influence of shikonin (SK) on the formation of Candida albicans biofilms and discuss the possible mechanism.
Methods:
The inhibition of the formation of C. albicans biofilms by SK was observed by scanning electron microscopy. A silicone film method and a water-hydrocarbon two-phase assay were performed to investigate the effects of SK on cell adhesion. Real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used to analyse the expression of genes related to cell adhesion and Ras1-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) - enhanced filamentous growth protein 1 (Efg1) signalling pathway. Finally, the level of cAMP in C. albicans was detected and exogenous cAMP rescue experiment was conducted.
Results:
The results showed that SK could destroy the typical three-dimensional structure of the biofilms, inhibit cell surface hydrophobicity and cell adhesion, downregulate the expression of Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 signalling pathway-related genes (ECE1, HWP1, ALS3, RAS1, CYR1, EFG1 and TEC1) and effectively reduce the production of key messenger cAMP in the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway. Meanwhile, exogenous cAMP reversed the inhibitory effect of SK on biofilms formation.
Conclusion:
Our results suggest that SK exhibits potential anti-C. albicans biofilms effects related to the inhibition of Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway.
