Trichophyton rubrum inhibits Candida albicans filamentation and its gene expression when grown in biofilms in vitro

BACKGROUND Dermatomycoses are caused by various fungi, including dermatophytes and Candida species, which are the most prevalent in isolated or associated forms. A great number of virulence factors expressed by these fungi are important for infection, and biofilm formation leads to the persistence of these infections. OBJECTIVES This work aimed to evaluate the dynamics of Candida albicans filamentation genes in biofilms formed by Candida albicans and Trichophyton rubrum. METHODS The effect of the supernatants on the biofilms was assessed by XTT reduction assay, confocal microscopy, and gene expression profile analysis by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). FINDINGS The supernatants did not reduce the metabolic activities or damage the topography of the monospecies biofilms but caused a reduction in their thickness. The filamentation of C. albicans was inhibited when both fungi were cultivated directly. The filamentation genes studied (CPH1, HWP1, and EFG1) were negatively modulated in C. albicans. MAIN CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that the antagonistic relationship shown by T. rubrum against C. albicans may be attributed to alterations of C. albicans filamentous genes.