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Candida albicans Goliath cells pioneer biofilm formation

Summary

Researchers discovered that Candida albicans produces giant-sized cells called Goliath cells when zinc is scarce. These oversized cells are extremely sticky and can cling to plastic surfaces like catheters even when exposed to blood flow. Once attached, they form thicker, more resilient biofilms that can seed infections into the bloodstream, making Goliath cells particularly dangerous in hospital settings where catheters are commonly used.

Background

Candida albicans is a fungal pathogen capable of causing life-threatening bloodstream infections, particularly in association with indwelling medical devices like catheters. Under zinc restriction, C. albicans forms enlarged Goliath cells that exhibit enhanced adhesive properties compared to normal yeast cells.

Objective

To investigate whether Goliath cells can adhere to abiotic surfaces under physiologically relevant shear stress conditions and to explore their potential role in colonizing indwelling medical devices such as catheters during bloodstream infections.

Results

Goliath cells demonstrated enhanced adhesion to oral and vaginal epithelial cells, superior adhesion to plastic surfaces compared to host tissue, and robust adherence to abiotic surfaces even under high shear stress. Biofilms seeded by Goliath cells were more metabolically active and structurally denser with increased hyphal volume.

Conclusion

Goliath cells are uniquely suited to pioneer biofilm formation on indwelling medical devices due to their exceptional adhesiveness under physiological shear stress, increased cell surface hydrophobicity, and ability to form denser biofilms compared to normal yeast cells.
  • Published in:mBio,
  • Study Type:Experimental Research,
  • Source: 10.1128/mbio.03425-24; PMID: 40778760
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