Quantification of thigmotropism (contact sensing) of Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis.

To quantify the thigmotropism, we adapted the our previous method using a chemotaxifilter system in combination with a bioluminescent adenosine triphosphate (ATP) assay based on firefly luciferase-luciferin system and analyzed the relationship between the ability of germ tube formation and thigmotropism of C. albicans and C. tropicalis. Both the ability to form germ tube and the amount of hyphae exhibiting thigmotropism varied depending upon both the species and strains of Candida. C. albicans formed more germ tubes than C. tropicalis. A good correlation was observed between the ability to form a germ tube and the capacity for thigmotropism, and the results gave a level of significance (p < 0.05). Further, SEM observation revealed that relatively long hyphae of C. tropicalis with penetrated through the pores of filter membrane. This phenomenon may be of importance in the development of pathogenesis of C. tropicalis as well as C. albicans.