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Culture media influences Candida parapsilosis growth, susceptibility, and virulence
Betsy V Arévalo-Jaimes1,2, Joana Admella1,2, Núria Blanco-Cabra1,2
1Bacterial Infections and Antimicrobial Therapies Group (BIAT), Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), Barcelona, Spain.
Introduction:
Candida parapsilosis, a pathogenic yeast associated with systemic infections, exhibits metabolic adaptability in response to nutrient availability.
Methods:
We investigated the impact of RPMI glucose supplemented (RPMId), TSB, BHI and YPD media on C. parapsilosis growth, morphology, susceptibility (caspofungin and amphotericin B), and in vivo virulence (Galleria mellonella) in planktonic and biofilm states.
Results:
High-glucose media favors growth but hinders metabolic activity and filamentation. Media promoting carbohydrate production reduces biofilm susceptibility. Virulence differences between planktonic cells and biofilm suspensions from the same media shows that biofilm-related factors influence infection outcome depending on nutrient availability. Pseudohyphal growth occurred in biofilms under low oxygen and shear stress, but its presence is not exclusively correlated with virulence.
Discussion:
This study provides valuable insights into the intricate interplay between nutrient availability and C. parapsilosis pathogenicity. It emphasizes the importance of considering pathogen behavior in diverse conditions when designing research protocols and therapeutic strategies.
Insights
Nutrient availability impacts Candida parapsilosis pathogenicity. High glucose media promotes growth but reduces virulence, while carbohydrate-rich media affects biofilm susceptibility and infection outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Candida parapsilosis is a significant opportunistic fungal pathogen causing systemic infections.
- Metabolic adaptability is a key factor in the pathogenicity of C. parapsilosis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how different nutrient media (RPMId, TSB, BHI, YPD) affect C. parapsilosis growth, morphology, antifungal susceptibility, and virulence.
- To compare the virulence of planktonic and biofilm states of C. parapsilosis in diverse nutritional conditions.
Main Methods:
- Culturing C. parapsilosis in RPMI with glucose (RPMId), TSB, BHI, and YPD media.
- Assessing yeast growth, morphology, and biofilm formation.
- Evaluating susceptibility to caspofungin and amphotericin B.
- Determining in vivo virulence using the Galleria mellonella model.
Main Results:
- High-glucose media enhanced C. parapsilosis growth but suppressed metabolic activity and filamentation.
- Media promoting carbohydrate production decreased biofilm susceptibility to antifungals.
- Biofilm-related factors significantly influenced C. parapsilosis virulence, varying with nutrient availability.
- Pseudohyphal growth in biofilms was observed under specific conditions but not solely correlated with virulence.
Conclusions:
- Nutrient availability critically modulates C. parapsilosis pathogenicity, affecting growth, morphology, antifungal resistance, and virulence.
- Understanding C. parapsilosis behavior in diverse environments is crucial for developing effective therapeutic strategies and research approaches.
