Adhesion Mechanisms in Fungal Biofilm Formation

Fungal biofilms arise when individual cells adhere to a surface or to one another and begin to secrete an extracellular matrix that consolidates the community. Adhesion is the foundational step in this process, mediated by a repertoire of cell-surface proteins known as adhesins. Many adhesins display modular architectures, with a ligand-binding domain, a stalk region often rich in serine and threonine, and a glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) anchor that secures the protein within the cell wall. Some adhesins contain short amyloid-forming sequences that self-assemble into fibrils, reinforcing the link between cells and matrix. Intracellular signalling pathways, notably the Rho1–protein kinase C–MAPK cascade, modulate the expression and cell-wall insertion of adhesins in response to environmental cues. Cross-kingdom interactions further diversify adhesion mechanisms, as exemplified by co-aggregation with bacterial partners in mixed-species biofilms. The global significance of fungal biofilms extends from persistent medical device infections to spoilage in food and industrial settings. A detailed understanding of adhesion at the molecular level is essential to devise targeted strategies for prevention or dispersion of biofilms without driving broad antifungal resistance.

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Adhesion Mechanisms in Fungal Biofilm Formation publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in adhesion mechanisms in fungal biofilm formation across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Adhesin: A cell-surface glycoprotein that binds specifically to host tissues, abiotic surfaces or partner cells to initiate biofilm formation.

Amyloid fibril: A highly ordered aggregate of protein strands in a cross-β sheet configuration that can enhance the mechanical stability of cell-cell contacts.

GPI anchor: A glycolipid moiety that post-translationally tethers proteins to the external face of the fungal cell wall.

Rho1–PKC–MAPK pathway: A conserved signalling cascade involving the Rho1 GTPase, protein kinase C and mitogen-activated protein kinases that regulates cell-wall biosynthesis and stress responses.

Extracellular matrix: A composite of polysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids secreted by biofilm cells that embeds and protects the community.

References

1. The Pga59 cell wall protein is an amyloid forming protein involved in adhesion and biofilm establishment in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans. npj Biofilms and Microbiomes (2023).
2. Sdd3 regulates the biofilm formation of Candida albicans via the Rho1-PKC-MAPK pathway. mBio (2024).
3. Candida albicans Adhesins Als1 and Hwp1 Modulate Interactions with Streptococcus mutans. Microorganisms (2023).