Description
Morphogenesis control by chemical signaling molecules is beginning to be highlighted in Candida biology.
The present study focuses on morphogenic compounds produced in situ by Candida albicans and Candida
dubliniensis during planktonic and biofilm growth that may at least partially substantiate the effect promoted
by supernatants in morphogenesis. For both species, planktonic versus biofilm supernatants were analyzed by
headspace-solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Both planktonic cells and
biofilm supernatants of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis contained isoamyl alcohol, 2-phenylethanol, 1-dodecanol,
E-nerolidol, and E,E-farnesol. Alcohol secretion profiles were species, culture mode, and growth time specific.
The addition of exogenous alcohols to the cultures of both species inhibited the morphological transition from
the yeast to the filamentous form by up to 50%. The physiological role of these alcohols was put to evidence by
comparing the effects of a 96-h cultured supernatant with synthetic mixtures containing isoamyl alcohol,
2-phenylethanol, E-nerolidol, and E,E-farnesol at concentrations determined herein. All synthetic mixtures
elicited a morphological effect similar to that observed for the corresponding supernatants when used to treat
C. albicans and C. dubliniensis cultures, except for the effect of the 96-h C. dubliniensis planktonic supernatant
culture on C. albicans. Overall, these results reveal a group of alcohol extracellular signaling molecules that are
biologically active with C. albicans and C. dubliniensis morphogenesis.
; Henriques, Mariana 
