High throughput bioanalytical techniques for elucidation of Candida albicans biofilm architecture and metabolome

Abstract

Candida albicans is the fungus most commonly associated with biofilm formation in immunocompromised individuals, and biofilm formation is now well-recognized as a primary virulence factor in candidiasis. C. albicans biofilm production is a highly regulated and coordinated process, with adhesive contacts, morphogenetic conversions, and consortia activity all playing important roles. The cells within the biofilm are well protected from myriads of environmental stressors, such as host immune defenses and antifungal treatment, which challenges substantial clinical implications for the treatment of biofilm-associated infections. The biofilm lifestyle grounds a hotspot for more invasive and recurrent Candidal infection, as a mature biofilm releases naïve yeast cells out from the matured biofilm. For the research of biofilm and biofilm-related properties, high-throughput techniques such as spectroscopy, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), microscopy, and DNA microarray were used. Even with a small number of experimental samples, high throughput procedures provide magnified and accurate results. For their experimental samples, these biotechniques are extremely sensitive. Microscopic study of Candidal biofilms elucidates biofilm morphology, and electron microscopy can be used to produce higher resolution images of biofilms. Similarly, spectroscopic techniques aid in the identification and quantification of the primary and secondary metabolites produced by the biofilm. Genomic profiling using DNA microarray and PCR helps in analyzing the expression of various genes associated with biofilm formation. The present review comprises all the high throughput biotechniques used so far for the study of the Candidal biofilm, which will develop a sound structural understanding of the biofilm to assist in easy diagnosis and its possible treatments.