›› 2020, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (5): 385-392.

• Basic Research •     Next Articles

Preliminary study on the effects of farnesol on cell death in C.albicans biofilms

  

  • Received:2019-11-07 Revised:2020-01-19 Online:2020-05-26 Published:2020-06-08

Abstract: Abstract:Objective To investigate the effects of farnesol on cell death in C.albicans biofilms is necrosis or apoptosis and its correlation with the expression of CDR1 and MCA1.Methods The research strain was C.albicans standard strain and resistant strain. The study was divided into C.albicans biofilm farnesol treated group and its untreated control group. Morphological changes of C.albicans biofilm treated with farnesol were observed by confocal laser scanning microscope with PI staining. Annexin V-FITC/PI flow cytometry was employed to analysis the effect of farnesol on apoptosis and necrosis of C.albicans . The expression of CDR1 and MCA1 gene that related to apoptosis and necrosis of C.albicans was detected through q-RTPCR. Results The study found that the necrotic rate of C.albicans biofilms was higher in farnesol treated groups than that of the non-treated groups(P﹤0.05). In different biofilm phases, farnesol had a consistent necrosis effect on the biofilms from the resistant and standard strains. Under the treatment of 400 μmol/L-800 μmol/L farnesol , the rate of necrosis cells of 6 h phase was lower than 12 h phase, but higher than 24 h phase(P﹤0.05). The rate of necrosis cells was higher in biofilm from the resistant strains than that of the biofilms from the standard strains(P﹤0.05). The apoptosis effect of farnesol on C.albicans biofilms from the resistant and standard strains was not obvious(P>0.05). Farnesol increased the expression of CDR1 genes of the biofilm from the resistant strains at the three studied phases and that of the biofilms from the standard strains at the early phase, respectively. Farnesol also increased the expression of MCA1 gene of the biofilms from the resistant strains and standard strains at the early phase, respectively(P﹤0.05). Conclusion Farnesol promotes the necrosis of C.albicans biofilms from the resistant and standard strains, which is more significant on the biofilms from the resistant strains. CDR1 and MCA1 may be associated with necrosis of biofilms formed from the resistant strain. The necrosis effect of farnesol on the biofilm of C.albicans is related to its concentration and biofilm phase.

Key words: C.albicans biofilms, farnesol, the resistant strains, the standard strains, necrosis, apoptosis.