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Presence of Extracellular DNA in the Candida albicans Biofilm Matrix and its Contribution to Biofilms

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Abstract

DNA has been described as a structural component of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in bacterial biofilms. In Candida albicans, there is a scarce knowledge concerning the contribution of extracellular DNA (eDNA) to biofilm matrix and overall structure. This work examined the presence and quantified the amount of eDNA in C. albicans biofilm ECM and the effect of DNase treatment and the addition of exogenous DNA on C. albicans biofilm development as indicators of a role for eDNA in biofilm development. We were able to detect the accumulation of eDNA in biofilm ECM extracted from C. albicans biofilms formed under conditions of flow, although the quantity of eDNA detected differed according to growth conditions, in particular with regards to the medium used to grow the biofilms. Experiments with C. albicans biofilms formed statically using a microtiter plate model indicated that the addition of exogenous DNA (>160 ng/ml) increases biofilm biomass and, conversely, DNase treatment (>0.03 mg/ml) decreases biofilm biomass at later time points of biofilm development. We present evidence for the role of eDNA in C. albicans biofilm structure and formation, consistent with eDNA being a key element of the ECM in mature C. albicans biofilms and playing a predominant role in biofilm structural integrity and maintenance.

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Acknowledgments

Work in the laboratory of J.L.L.-R. is supported by Grants number 5R21DE017294 from the National Institute of Dental & Craniofacial Research and R21AI080930 from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIDCR, the NIAID or the NIH. M. M. was financially supported by a fellowship from Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), Portugal (contract SFRH/BD/28222/2006).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, Universidade do Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal

    Margarida Martins, Mariana Henriques & Rosário Oliveira

  2. Department of Biology and South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA

    Priya Uppuluri, Derek P. Thomas, Ian A. Cleary & José L. Lopez-Ribot

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  1. Margarida Martins
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  2. Priya Uppuluri
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  3. Derek P. Thomas
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  4. Ian A. Cleary
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  5. Mariana Henriques
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  6. José L. Lopez-Ribot
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  7. Rosário Oliveira
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Correspondence to Rosário Oliveira.

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Martins, M., Uppuluri, P., Thomas, D.P. et al. Presence of Extracellular DNA in the Candida albicans Biofilm Matrix and its Contribution to Biofilms. Mycopathologia 169, 323–331 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9264-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-009-9264-y

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