Candida albicans biofilms: development, regulation, and molecular mechanisms

Abstract

A major virulence attribute of Candida albicans is its ability to form biofilms, densely packed communities of cells adhered to a surface. These biofilms are intrinsically resistant to conventional antifungal therapeutics, the host immune system, and other environmental factors, making biofilm-associated infections a significant clinical challenge. Here, we review current knowledge on the development, regulation, and molecular mechanisms of C. albicans biofilms.

Keywords: Biofilm; Candida albicans; Fungi; Microbial community; Pathogen; Transcriptional regulation.

Figure 1

Common C. albicans biofilm-associated infections. Schematic highlighting areas of the female body susceptible to C. albicans infection occurring through the use of a medical device directly colonized by a biofilm (labeled in blue) or from a localized or disseminated infection originating from a biofilm (labeled in orange).

Figure 2

C. albicans biofilm life cycle. A. Adherence of round yeast cells to a surface. B. Initiation of biofilm formation, where cells proliferate to form a basal layer of adhered cells. C. Maturation of the biofilm, where complex layers of polymorphic cells develop and become encased in an extracellular matrix. D. Dispersion, where round yeast cells leave the mature biofilm to seed new sites.