Surfactin is a type of cyclic lipopeptide biosurfactant implicated in a wide range of applications. Although its antimicrobial activity has been characterized, its effect on Candida albicans physiology remains to be elucidated. The present study evaluated the influence of surfactin-C15 (SF) and its complexes with divalent counterions on C. albicans biofilm formation and preformed biofilms. The SF and metal(II)-SF complexes inhibited biofilm formation and reduced the metabolic activity of mature biofilms in a concentration-dependent manner. The same concentrations of the compounds studied dislodged preexisting biofilms grown on polystyrene plates. Moreover, SF and its metal(II) complexes reduced the mRNA expression of hypha-specific genes HWP1, ALS1, ALS3, ECE1 and SAP4 without exhibiting significant growth inhibition. Further research showed that the compounds tested reduced cellular surface hydrophobicity (CSH). These results suggest that SF and metal(II)-SF complexes could be used as anti-biofilm agents against C. albicans hypha-related infections in clinical practice.
Keywords: Candida albicans; biofilms; biosurfactants; hypha-specific genes; morphogenesis; surfactin.