Secreted Aspartic Protease Cleavage of Candida albicans Msb2 Activates Cek1 MAPK Signaling Affecting Biofilm Formation and Oropharyngeal Candidiasis
Figure 10
Biofilm architecture and thickness are altered in msb2Δ/Δ and sap8Δ/Δ strains.
A. Confocal microscopy images of biofilm formed by msb2Δ/Δ and sap8Δ/Δ show differences at the morphological level (reduced yeast and hyphal density) as compared to the WT CAI4 and msb2Δ/Δ+ strains. Biofilm thickness (B) formed by msb2Δ/Δ and sap8Δ/Δ were significantly (p<0.001) lower than WT, while thickness was nearly restored in the msb2Δ/Δ+ strain. Biofilm thickness was determined by merging all z-stack images into a three-dimensional projection. Side-view images were obtained using Zieiss LSM image examiner, and thickness was measured for three different areas of the biofilm formed