« Previous AbstractStreptomyces Volatile Compounds Influence Exploration and Microbial Community Dynamics by Altering Iron Availability    Next AbstractA role for pheromones in mate choice in a lekking sandfly »

Mol Microbiol

Title:		Sexual biofilm formation in Candida tropicalis opaque cells
Author(s):		Jones SK; Hirakawa MP; Bennett RJ;
Address:		"Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA"
Journal Title:		Mol Microbiol
Year:		2014
Volume:		20140319
Issue:		2
Page Number:		383 - 398
DOI:		10.1111/mmi.12565
ISSN/ISBN:		1365-2958 (Electronic) 0950-382X (Print) 0950-382X (Linking)
Abstract:		"Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis are opportunistic fungal pathogens that can transition between white and opaque phenotypic states. White and opaque cells differ both morphologically and in their responses to environmental signals. In C. albicans, opaque cells respond to sexual pheromones by undergoing conjugation, while white cells are induced by pheromones to form sexual biofilms. Here, we show that sexual biofilm formation also occurs in C. tropicalis but, unlike C. albicans, biofilms are formed exclusively by opaque cells. C. tropicalis biofilm formation was dependent on the pheromone receptors Ste2 and Ste3, confirming the role of pheromone signalling in sexual biofilm development. Structural analysis of C. tropicalis sexual biofilms revealed stratified communities consisting of a basal layer of yeast cells and an upper layer of filamentous cells, together with an extracellular matrix. Transcriptional profiling showed that genes involved in pheromone signalling and conjugation were upregulated in sexual biofilms. Furthermore, FGR23, which encodes an agglutinin-like protein, was found to enhance both mating and sexual biofilm formation. Together, these studies reveal that C. tropicalis opaque cells form sexual biofilms with a complex architecture, and suggest a conserved role for sexual agglutinins in mediating mating, cell cohesion and biofilm formation"
Keywords:		"Biofilms/*growth & development Candida tropicalis/genetics/metabolism/*physiology Gene Expression Profiling Pheromones/metabolism Receptors, Pheromone/genetics/metabolism;"
Notes:		"MedlineJones, Stephen K Jr Hirakawa, Matthew P Bennett, Richard J eng AI081704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ T32 GM007601/GM/NIGMS NIH HHS/ F31DE022701/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/ R01 AI081704/AI/NIAID NIH HHS/ F31 DE023726/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/ F31 DE022701/DE/NIDCR NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2014/03/13 Mol Microbiol. 2014 Apr; 92(2):383-98. doi: 10.1111/mmi.12565. Epub 2014 Mar 19"