Biofilm formation in clinically relevant filamentous fungi: a therapeutic challenge

Abstract

Biofilms are highly-organized microbial communities attached to a biotic or an abiotic surface, surrounded by an extracellular matrix secreted by the biofilm-forming cells. The majority of fungal pathogens contribute to biofilm formation within tissues or biomedical devices, leading to serious and persistent infections. The clinical significance of biofilms relies on the increased resistance to conventional antifungal therapies and suppression of the host immune system, which leads to invasive and recurrent fungal infections. While different features of yeast biofilms are well-described in the literature, the structural and molecular basis of biofilm formation of clinically related filamentous fungi has not been fully addressed. This review aimed to address biofilm formation in clinically relevant filamentous fungi.

Keywords:

• Biofilm
• filamentous fungi
• antifungal resistance mechanisms
• quorum sensing

Acknowledgments

C.F.R. would like to acknowledge the UID/EQU/00511/2020 Project—Laboratory of Process Engineering, Environment, Biotechnology and Energy (LEPABE), financed by national funds through FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC). The authors warmly thank Azin Kheirkhah for the scientific linguistic revision.

Author contributions

Maryam Roudbary contributed to data curation, the review design and writing. Roya Vahedi-Shahandashti contributed to review design, writing, Figure preparation and editing. André Luis Souza dos Santos contributed to interpretation/selection and editing. Shahla Roudbar Mohammadi and Peyman Aslani contributed to review draft and revision. Cornelia Lass-Flörl and Célia F. Rodrigues contributed to the review design, editing and supervision. They are all accountable for their own contributions and ensure the accuracy of any part of the work.

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.