Unequal distribution of adhesins within populations of Candida albicans

Abstract The rate of adhesion of Candida albicans to acrylic surfaces in vitro was determined after growth of the yeast in defined media containing different sugars as the carbon source. Yeasts grown on 500 mM galactose adhered at a maximal, linear rate throughout the 60-min incubation period. Non-linear adhesion rates were observed with organisms grown on other carbon sources (500 mM sucrose, 50 mM glucose or 50 mM galactose) and from these cultures, populations of yeasts were isolated which showed increased adhesion and increased resistance to spheroplast formation. These results indicate that there is an unequal distribution of adhesins among cells in such cultures.