(E-188) "Unraveling the Rheological Characteristics of Candida albicans Biofilm Formation: Insights from Microfluidics and Mutant Analysis"

Introduction:: Candida albicans is a fungal pathogen that can cause a range of infections in humans. One key virulence factor of this organism is its ability to form biofilms, which can be difficult to eradicate and contribute to the persistence of infections. In this study, we investigated the roles of two genes, EFG1 and BCR1, in biofilm formation by C. albicans. These genes are known to be master regulators of biofilm formation and filamentous growth in the fungus. We used microscopy techniques and image analysis tools to study the morphology and growth dynamics of wild-type and mutant strains of C. albicans on polystyrene or glass surfaces. We performed porosity analysis to examine the density distribution of fungal clusters, intersection analysis to measure the number of intersections formed over time, length analysis to quantify the total branch length created by each cell, and orientation analysis to study the distribution of pixel angles. Our results showed that both EFG1 and BCR1 are important for the formation of biofilms, as the mutant strains displayed defective biofilm growth compared to the wild type. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying biofilm formation by C. albicans and could inform the development of new strategies for preventing or treating Candida infections.


Materials and Methods:: The study focused on investigating the role of EFG1 and BCR1 genes in the biofilm formation of C. albicans. To achieve this, different strains of C. albicans were cultured on polystyrene or glass surfaces using a YPD medium under specific growth conditions. Confocal microscopy was utilized to capture images of the biofilms, which were then processed and analyzed using ImageJ, OrientationJ, and other tools. Porosity, intersection, length, and orientation analyses were performed on the images to extract relevant information such as the density distribution, number of intersections, total branch length, and pixel angles at each frame. The analysis revealed that EFG1 and BCR1 mutants formed defective biofilms compared to the wild-type strain, with significant differences observed in the porosity, intersection, and length analyses. The statistical analysis further confirmed these differences, providing robust evidence for the critical role of these genes in biofilm formation. Overall, the study sheds light on the importance of EFG1 and BCR1 genes in the biofilm formation of C. albicans, highlighting potential targets for the development of novel antifungal therapies.


Results, Conclusions, and Discussions:: The study aimed to investigate the role of EFG1 and BCR1 in the formation of Candida albicans biofilms. The porosity analysis revealed that the wild-type biofilms had a higher density distribution than the mutant biofilms. This suggests that EFG1 and BCR1 play a crucial role in the overall architecture of C. albicans biofilms. The local density of small pictures and the number of intersections formed by a single yeast cell were higher in the wild-type biofilms than in the mutants. Similarly, the total length of all the branches created by a single yeast cell was also higher in the wild-type biofilms. The orientation analysis also showed that there were more pixels at each angle in the wild-type C. albicans biofilms than in the mutants.

These findings support previous research that suggests EFG1 and BCR1 are important for the formation of biofilms in C. albicans. Moreover, understanding the genetic factors that regulate biofilm formation in C. albicans can provide new insights into the development of treatments for Candida infections. Therefore, the results of this study highlight the significance of studying the genetic factors involved in biofilm formation to develop new strategies for the prevention and treatment of Candida infections

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