
Study of adhesion, hydrophobic cell surface, and biofilm formation in Candida albicans species isolated from patients with candidal vulvovaginitis in Qazvin
Faezeh Mohammadi 1 ©, Sahar Keshtkar 2 ℗, Amirhosein Taqidokht 2
Abstract
Study of adhesion, hydrophobic cell surface, and biofilm formation in Candida albicans species isolated from patients with candidal vulvovaginitis in Qazvin. Candida albicans is the main cause of candidal vulvovaginitis and, as a symbiotic fungus with the human microbiota, inhabits the skin and mucous membranes of the intestine and vagina. Immunity or the use of immunosuppressive drugs can cause it to develop into serious, systemic, and life-threatening diseases. Critically, this virulence shift can be mediated by the formation of drug-resistant biofilms—structured microbial communities anchored by adhesin proteins including Als3, Als1, and Hwp1. The present study investigated adhesion, cell surface hydrophobicity, and biofilm formation in 50 strains of Candida albicans isolated from women with candidal vulvovaginitis—key determinants that critically influence pathophysiology and treatment resistance, because biofilms confer resistance to treatment (for example, by preventing antibiotics from penetrating target tissues). Biofilm production was analyzed using the microplate method with crystal violet staining. Adhesion was measured at early and late stages using 96-well plates, with optical absorption readings, while hydrophobicity was assessed using the MATH method. The results showed that the mean initial surface adhesion was 0.09 ± 0.01 OD₆₀ and the final surface adhesion was 0.11 ± 0.02 OD₆₀. Notably, 72% of the isolates produced biofilms and 26% showed cell surface hydrophobicity greater than 50%. Final adhesion was positively and significantly correlated with hydrophobicity and biofilm formation (p 0.05). Furthermore, a significant positive correlation was observed between cell surface hydrophobicity and biofilm formation (r = 0.872, p = 0.001). Given the strong correlation between surface hydrophobicity and biofilm formation (r = 0.872), targeting adhesion molecules (especially Als3 and Hwp1) could be a novel strategy to reduce drug resistance in vaginal candidiasis
Keywords: Candida vulvovaginitis, cell surface hydrophobicity, biofilm, drug resistance, Als3 adhesion