Pseudohyphae formation in Candida glabrata due to CO۲ exposure

Background and Purpose: Formation of pseudohyphae is considered a virulence factor in Candida species. Generally, Candida glabrata grows as budding yeast cells; however, reports illustrated that C. glabrata could form pseudohyphal cells in response to some stimuli. In this study, we provided insight into the ability of C. glabrata in forming pseudohyphal cells under different levels of carbon dioxide (CO۲). Materials and Methods: Candida glabrata reference strain (ATCC ۹۰۰۳۰) was used in this study. Yeast samples were cultured on Sabouraud dextrose broth (SDB) medium and incubated under ۳%, ۵%, and ۱۰% CO۲ levels for ۲۴, ۴۸ and۷۲ h. Control cultures were prepared without CO۲ pressure for three days. The possibility of pseudohyphae and mycelium formation in C. glabrata was investigated. Results: The results of this study revealed that the most branching filament-like cells were obtained at high CO۲ pressure (۱۰%) after ۷۲ h. After three days of low CO۲ pressure (۳%), only yeast and budding cells were observed without any pseudohyphae formation. Conclusion: CO۲ could act as a stimulus and induced formation of pseudohyphae in Candida glabrata yeast cells.

Keywords:

Candida glabrata , CO۲ pressure , Pseudohyphae