Effect of Farnesol on Responsive Gene Expressions in Hyphal ‎Morphogenesis Transformation of Candida albicans

Aims: Candida albicans a polymorphic fungus can grow as yeast, pseudohyphae and true hyphae forms. The hyphal form has a key role in infection process during invasion to mucosal membrane. A cluster of genes contribute in controlling of hyphae formation in C. albicans, include SAP6, HWP1 and RIM101. Farnesol is a quorum sensing molecule which inhibits switching of yeast-to-hyphae form. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of farnesol on yeast-to-hyphae morphogenesis and its related gene expressions in C. albicans.
In this laboratory trial study, C .albicans was exposed to various concentration (5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 150 and 300µM) of farnesol and the rate of yeast cell proliferations and germ tube formation was evaluated by different methods and microscopic examination. Real time-PCR was performed to assess the expression levels of the hyphae-specific genes SAP6, HWP1 and RIM101. The results were analyzed by IBM SPSS 23 software using Student's t-test and one-way ANOVA.
Findings: The yeast growth reduced 5% in 300µM of farnesol approximately (p Farnesol in 300µM concentration can inhibits growth and proliferation of C. albicans yeast cells and also inhibits hyphal formation. Farnesol can affect the expression of virulent genes including pathogenic genes that are associated with hyphae morphogenesis such as SAP6 and HWP1.