Exogenous fungal quorum sensing molecules inhibit planktonic cell growth and modulate filamentation and biofilm formation in the Sporothrix schenckii complex

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of the quorum sensing molecules (QSMs) farnesol, 2-phenylehtanol, tyrosol and tryptophol against planktonic cells, filamentation and biofilms of Sporothrix spp. The antifungal activity of QSMs was evaluated by broth microdilution. QSMs showed MICs in the ranges of 0.01-1 µM (farnesol), 1-8 mM (2-phenylehtanol and tyrosol), and >16 mM (tryptophol). Filamentous biofilm formation was inhibited by farnesol and 2-phenylehtanol and stimulated by tyrosol. Yeast biofilm formation was inhibited by 2-phenylehtanol and tyrosol. Tryptophol did not affect Sporothrix biofilm formation. QSMs showed MICs against mature biofilms of 8-32 µM (farnesol), 8-32 mM (2-phenylehtanol) and 64-128 mM (tyrosol). In conclusion, farnesol, 2-phenylethanol and tyrosol have antifungal activity against planktonic and sessile cells and modulate filamentation and biofilm formation in Sporothrix spp.

Keywords:

• Antifungal activity
• biofilm
• farnesol
• 2-phenylethanol
• Sporothrix
• tyrosol
• tryptophol

Acknowledgements

The Analytical Center UFC/CT-INFRA/MCTI-SISNANO/Pro-Equipment CAPES for technical support in obtaining scanning electron microscopy images.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Brazilian agencies National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq; Grant 305024/2017-5) and Office for the Improvement of Higher Education Personnel (CAPES; Brazil; Grant 88881.168799/2018-00).