FUNGAL BIOFILMS: CHALLENGES AND STRATEGIC APPROACH TO OVERCOME THE GAINSAY IN BIOMEDICAL SCIENCE

Nitin Mahendra Chauhan

College of Natural and Computational Sceinces, Dilla University, Dilla 419, Ethiopia

Abstract

Fugal biofilms are described as group of organism which are encased in an extra- polysaccharide matrix (EPS) on both biotic as well as abiotic surfaces. Various alterations occur during their transition from planktonic form to a surface attached community. Which leads to number of persistent infections that react poorly to conventional antifungal therapy? Biofilm-related infections caused by fungus and associated drug resistant are serious problems for immunocompromised populations, hospitalized patients, as well as those undergoing surgery and preferring various medical implants and are considered as threat in such patients. This resistance mechanism could be in part due to the surface-induced up-regulation of drug efflux pumps. Considering this threat, molecules which can prevent or remove biofilms are needed. Several strategies have been employed to forbid or destruct fungal biofilms which includes: 1. Mechanical removal by sonication, freezing or thawing; 2. Chemical eradication by use of biocides, detergents, antibiotics or surfactants. However, it has been difficult to completely remove or treat biofilms by these methods due to protection of cells associated with biofilms by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) which act as barriers for protecting biofilm cells. Another alteration that also governs biofilm formation is quorum sensing (QS). Therefore there is a need to alter methods that are capable of eradicating the biofilms by destroying the EPS barrier or arrest QS phenomenon to combat fungal biofilms in the future which is contestable.

Keywords: Biofilms, Candida, Quorum sensing, Antifungal, Drug resistant.