Participation of the Candida albicans surface antigen in adhesion, the first phase of biofilm development.

The lack of work dealing with possible ways of reducing biofilm production via inhibiting Candida albicans adherence in the first stage of biofilm formation was a motivation for this study. The study was focused on two questions: (1) can a decrease in adherence affect the quantity of mature biofilm? and (2) can blocking the surface C. albicans complement receptor 3-related protein (CR3-RP) with polyclonal anti-C3-RP antibody or monoclonal antibody OKM1 significantly contribute to a reduction in adherence during biofilm formation? The presence and quantity the CR3-RP expressed in the biofilm was confirmed by immunofluorescence, immunocytometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. To determine the changes in adherence of C. albicans CCY 29-3-162 and C. albicans catheter isolate, 30-, 60-, 90- and 120-min time points were selected and viability was determined by XTT assay. The strains were preincubated with both antibodies to block CR3-RP, which proved to be effective at reducing adhesion and the formation of a mature biofilm (64.1-74.6%). The duration of adhesion, between 30 and 120 min, seems to have a significant effect on the mature biofilm. The blocking of CR3-PR by antibodies before adherence affected the fitness of biofilm, which was not able to revitalize in the later stages.