Candida glabrata Biofilms: How Far Have We Come?

Abstract

Infections caused by Candida species have been increasing in the last decades and can result in local or systemic infections, with high morbidity and mortality. After Candida albicans, Candida glabrata is one of the most prevalent pathogenic fungi in humans. In addition to the high antifungal drugs resistance and inability to form hyphae or secret hydrolases, C. glabrata retain many virulence factors that contribute to its extreme aggressiveness and result in a low therapeutic response and serious recurrent candidiasis, particularly biofilm formation ability. For their extraordinary organization, especially regarding the complex structure of the matrix, biofilms are very resistant to antifungal treatments. Thus, new approaches to the treatment of C. glabrata's biofilms are emerging. In this article, the knowledge available on C. glabrata's resistance will be highlighted, with a special focus on biofilms, as well as new therapeutic alternatives to control them.

Keywords: Candida glabrata; Candida species; antifungal; biofilm; candidiasis; infection; resistance.

Figure 1

Candida glabrata cells: (A) microscopy structure; (B) on CHROMagar^TM Candida; (C) on Sabouraud dextrose agar (adapted from [4]). The scale corresponds to 50 μm with a magnification of 200×.

Figure 2

Mechanisms of antifungal resistance and alternatives therapies associated to C. glabrata biofilms.