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Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 2009, p. 3914-3922, Vol. 53, No. 9
0066-4804/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00657-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus Form Polymicrobial Biofilms: Effects on Antimicrobial Resistance{triangledown}

Melphine M. Harriott and Mairi C. Noverr*

Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, Michigan 48201

Received 13 May 2009/ Returned for modification 5 June 2009/ Accepted 18 June 2009

Candida albicans readily forms biofilms on the surface on indwelling medical devices, and these biofilms serve as a source of local and systemic infections. It is estimated that 27% of nosocomial C. albicans bloodstream infections are polymicrobial, with Staphylococcus aureus as the third most common organism isolated in conjunction with C. albicans. We tested whether S. aureus and C. albicans are able to form a polymicrobial biofilm. Although S. aureus formed poor monoculture biofilms in serum, it formed a substantial polymicrobial biofilm in the presence of C. albicans. In terms of architecture, S. aureus formed microcolonies on the surface of the biofilm, with C. albicans serving as the underlying scaffolding. In addition, S. aureus matrix staining revealed a different phenotype in polymicrobial versus monomicrobial biofilms, suggesting that S. aureus may become coated in the matrix secreted by C. albicans. S. aureus resistance to vancomycin was enhanced within the polymicrobial biofilm, required viable C. albicans, and was in part mediated by C. albicans matrix. However, the growth or sensitivity to amphotericin B of C. albicans is not altered in the polymicrobial biofilm.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI 48201. Phone: (313) 577-9746. Fax: (313) 577-1155. E-mail: mnoverr{at}med.wayne.edu

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 29 June 2009.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, September 2009, p. 3914-3922, Vol. 53, No. 9
0066-4804/09/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/AAC.00657-09
Copyright © 2009, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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