Candida glabrata biofilms: How far have we come?

Infections caused by Candida species have been increasing in the last decades and can result in local or systemic infections, with high morbidity and mortality. After Candida albicans, Candida glabrata is one of the most prevalent pathogenic fungi in humans. In addition to the high antifungal drugs...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Rodrigues, Célia Fortuna (author)
Other Authors: Rodrigues, Maria Elisa Costa (author), Silva, Sónia Carina (author), Henriques, Mariana (author)
Format: article
Language:eng
Published: 2017
Subjects:
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/1822/44878
Country:Portugal
Oai:oai:repositorium.sdum.uminho.pt:1822/44878
Description
Summary:Infections caused by Candida species have been increasing in the last decades and can result in local or systemic infections, with high morbidity and mortality. After Candida albicans, Candida glabrata is one of the most prevalent pathogenic fungi in humans. In addition to the high antifungal drugs resistance and inability to form hyphae or secret hydrolases, C. glabrata retain many virulence factors that contribute to its extreme aggressiveness and result in a low therapeutic response and serious recurrent candidiasis, particularly biofilm formation ability. For their extraordinary organization, especially regarding the complex structure of the matrix, biofilms are very resistant to antifungal treatments. Thus, new approaches to the treatment of C. glabratas biofilms are emerging. In this article, the knowledge available on C. glabratas resistance will be highlighted, with a special focus on biofilms, as well as new therapeutic alternatives to control them.