The Effect of Juniperus virginiana Essential Oil on Candida albicans Biofilm Formation

Abstract

Candida albicans is one of the most important natural microbiotas in human. It is responsible for creating various types of candidiasis as opportunistic yeast. Biofilm formation is one of the pathogenic factors of Candida albicans that triggers infection from any surface on which it is formed. In this study, the effect of Juniperus virginiana essential oil (JVEO) on growth, germ tube production and biofilm formation against C. albicans ATCC 10231 was investigated. JVEO effectively inhibited C. albicans biofilm formation with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MBIC50) of <1250μg/ml. Moreover, it suppressed hyphal growth and germ tube and biofilm formation in that strain. Transcriptomic analysis carried out by qRT-PCR revealed that the expression of HWP1, ALS3 adhesion related genes and CPH1, CYR1, UME6, HGC1 and EED1 hypha formation and maintenance related genes were all suppressed by JVEO. Furthermore, in the cAMP-dependent protein kinase pathway, RAS1 was down regulated but EFG1 was not affected. These results suggest that JVEO may be a potential therapeutic treatment and control of Candida biofilm formation.