白色念珠菌生物被膜研究进展

难治性真菌感染的临床分析发现,病灶感染病原常以生物被膜的形态存在。生物被膜的形成可帮助真菌躲避宿主细胞免疫系统清除和药物的攻击,所造成的持续性感染严重威胁人类健康,因此,认识研究真菌生物被膜及其耐药机理对于防治临床真菌感染有着重大意义。白色念珠菌是一种临床感染常见的条件性致病菌,也是目前真菌生物被膜研究的主要研究模型。白色念珠菌生物被膜主要由多糖、蛋白质和DNA构成,其形成由微生物间的群体感应调控,并受到环境中营养成分及其附着物表面性质影响。研究发现,胞外基质的屏障作用、耐药基因的表达等机制与生物被膜耐药性的产生密切相关。本文就白色念珠菌生物被膜的形成过程、结构组成、形成的影响因素、现有研究模型、耐药机制和治疗策略等几个方面介绍近年来的研究进展。

Recent progress in Candida albicans biofilm

Biofilms have been associated with a variety of persistent fungal infections that respond poorly to conventional treatments. Forming biofilm could help fungi escape from host immune system defense and antimicrobial treatment. Fungal biofilms have emerged as a clinical problem associated with persistent infections, causing significant morbidity and mortality. Candida albicans is the most common fungal pathogen in humans, causing mucosal infections as well as life-threatening systemic infections. Biofilm of Candida albicans has been relatively well studied among fungal pathogens. Recent studies show that the extracellular matrix of Candida albicans biofilm consists of proteins, DNA and polysaccharides. Moreover, quorum sensing, environmental nutrition and surface materials affect the formation of Candida albicans biofilms. Other studies reveal that physical barrier function of the extracellular matrix, specific genetic manipulation and other mechanisms might contribute to the drug-resistance of fungal biofilms. This review discusses the recent advances in the understanding of Candida albicans biofilms, including the formation process, structural components, factors of formation, research models, drug-resistance mechanisms and potential treatment strategies.