Open AccessAntibiofilm and antifungal activities of medium‐chain fatty acids against Candida albicans via mimicking of the quorum‐sensing molecule farnesol
Author(s) -
Lee JinHyung,
Kim YongGuy,
Khadke Sagar Kiran,
Lee Jintae
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
microbial biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.287
H-Index - 74
ISSN - 1751-7915
DOI - 10.1111/1751-7915.13710
Subject(s) - farnesol , biofilm , decanoic acid , candida albicans , quorum sensing , corpus albicans , chemistry , biochemistry , fatty acid , yeast , microbiology and biotechnology , bacteria , biology , virulence , gene , genetics
We demonstrate that medium‐chain fatty acids mimic the quorum‐sensing molecule farnesol. Six sets of evidence, that is, (i) structural similarities, (ii) inhibition of hyphal growth, (iii) inhibition of biofilm formation, (iv) inhibition of farnesol production, (v) inhibition of sterol production, and (vi) effects on gene expressions, which showed medium‐chain fatty acids interfere with farnesol signaling and that their antibiofilm and antivirulence activities are superior to that of farnesol. Our findings show that fatty acids found in prokaryotes and eukaryotes might interfere with fungal communication and that medium‐chain fatty acids might be used as developmental starting points for the design of potent antibiofilm and antifungal agents against fungal Candida species.