Eicosapentaenoic acid as an antibiofilm agent disrupts mature biofilms of Candida albicans
Shuai Wang,
Shiwang Xie,
Tianmeng Li,
Jun Liu,
Peng Wang,
Yu Wang,
Li Gu,
Dan Luo,
Ming Wei
Affiliations
Shuai Wang
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Shiwang Xie
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
Tianmeng Li
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Jun Liu
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Peng Wang
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Yu Wang
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Li Gu
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
Dan Luo
CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, Beijing Key Laboratory of Micro-Nano Energy and Sensor, Beijing Institute of Nanoenergy and Nanosystems, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; Corresponding author.
Ming Wei
Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Beijing Institute of Respiratory Medicine and Beijing Chao-Yang Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China; Corresponding author.
The biofilm formation of Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen, represents a crucial virulence factor during candidiasis. Eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), a polyunsaturated fatty acid, has emerged as a potential antibiofilm agent against C. albicans. Herein, we aim to investigate the antifungal effect of EPA (1 mM) on the mature biofilm of C. albicans and explore the underlying mechanism. Crystal violet and XTT assays showed that EPA exerted a strong inhibitory efficacy on preformed biofilms in C. albicans. Biofilm architecture and cell viability were observed using scanning electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscopy, indicating that EPA could block the yeast-to-hypha transition and damage the structure, thereby exhibiting antibiofilm activity. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that EPA treatment led to the downregulation of genes associated with hyphal formation and biofilm development. From the signaling pathway perspective, EPA regulated the C. albicans biofilms involving two signaling pathways, namely, Ras1-cAMP-PKA and Cek-MAPK pathways. Additionally, the EPA could effectively reduce the production of key messenger cAMP in the Ras1-cAMP-PKA pathway. Interestingly, in response to EPA, ergosterol biosynthesis-related genes were down-regulated, indicating EPA as antifungal agent might reduce the risk of developing drug resistance. The findings of this study highlight the potential of EPA as an alternative or adjunctive antibiofilm agent against C. albicans-related infections.
