The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i>
<i>Aspergillus flavus</i> is a medically relevant fungus, particularly in tropical regions. Although its aflatoxin production and thermotolerance are well documented, its biofilm-forming ability has received less attention, despite being a key factor in the virulence of <i>A. flavu...
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2025-01-01
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| author | José Alejandro Hernández-Benítez Brenda Nallely Santos-Ocampo Daniel Genaro Rosas-Ramírez Luis Antonio Bautista-Hernández Víctor Manuel Bautista-de Lucio Néstor Octavio Pérez Aída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar |
| author_facet | José Alejandro Hernández-Benítez Brenda Nallely Santos-Ocampo Daniel Genaro Rosas-Ramírez Luis Antonio Bautista-Hernández Víctor Manuel Bautista-de Lucio Néstor Octavio Pérez Aída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar |
| author_sort | José Alejandro Hernández-Benítez |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> is a medically relevant fungus, particularly in tropical regions. Although its aflatoxin production and thermotolerance are well documented, its biofilm-forming ability has received less attention, despite being a key factor in the virulence of <i>A. flavus</i> as an opportunistic pathogen, which can significantly impact therapeutic outcomes. To investigate the influence of temperature on the growth and biofilm formation of an <i>A. flavus</i> isolate, we compared it on solid media with the reference strain <i>A. flavus</i> ATCC 22546 and documented morphological changes during conidial germination. We examined biofilm formation in both strains across different temperatures and evaluated the susceptibility of this <i>A. flavus</i> isolate to antifungal agents in both planktonic and biofilm form. Our results showed that the temperature can promote conidiation on solid media. Radial growth was highest at 28 °C, while the conidial count and density were favored at higher temperatures. Moreover, we determined that 37 °C was the optimal temperature for conidial germination and biofilm formation. We described four distinct phases in <i>A. flavus</i> biofilm development—initiation (0–12 h), consolidation (12–24 h), maturation (24–48 h), and dispersion (48–72 h)—with the notable presence of conidial heads at 42 °C. Carbohydrates and proteins constitute the primary components of the extracellular matrix. We observed an abundance of lipid droplets within the hyphae of the MMe18 strain biofilm. The mature biofilms demonstrated reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B and itraconazole, requiring higher inhibitory concentrations for both antifungals compared with their planktonic counterparts. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ade094491f8e499a828ffa5347952840 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj-art-ade094491f8e499a828ffa53479528402025-01-24T13:37:22ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2025-01-011115310.3390/jof11010053The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i>José Alejandro Hernández-Benítez0Brenda Nallely Santos-Ocampo1Daniel Genaro Rosas-Ramírez2Luis Antonio Bautista-Hernández3Víctor Manuel Bautista-de Lucio4Néstor Octavio Pérez5Aída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar6Departamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n Col. Casco de Santo Tomás, Alcaldia Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City C.P. 11340, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n Col. Casco de Santo Tomás, Alcaldia Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City C.P. 11340, MexicoDepartamento de Química de Biomacromoléculas, Instituto de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Circuito Exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Alcaldía Coyoacán, Mexico City C.P. 04510, MexicoUnidad de Investigación del Instituto de Oftalmología, Fundación de Asistencia Privada Conde de Valenciana I.A.P., Chimalpopoca 14, Col. Obrera, Alcaldía Cuahutémoc, Mexico City C.P. 06800, MexicoUnidad de Investigación del Instituto de Oftalmología, Fundación de Asistencia Privada Conde de Valenciana I.A.P., Chimalpopoca 14, Col. Obrera, Alcaldía Cuahutémoc, Mexico City C.P. 06800, MexicoDepartamento de Investigación y Desarrollo, Probiomed, S.A. de C.V., Cruce de Carreteras Acatzingo-Zumahuacan s/n, Tenancingo C.P. 52400, State of Mexico, MexicoDepartamento de Microbiología, Escuela Nacional de Ciencias Biológicas, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Prol. Carpio y Plan de Ayala s/n Col. Casco de Santo Tomás, Alcaldia Miguel Hidalgo, Mexico City C.P. 11340, Mexico<i>Aspergillus flavus</i> is a medically relevant fungus, particularly in tropical regions. Although its aflatoxin production and thermotolerance are well documented, its biofilm-forming ability has received less attention, despite being a key factor in the virulence of <i>A. flavus</i> as an opportunistic pathogen, which can significantly impact therapeutic outcomes. To investigate the influence of temperature on the growth and biofilm formation of an <i>A. flavus</i> isolate, we compared it on solid media with the reference strain <i>A. flavus</i> ATCC 22546 and documented morphological changes during conidial germination. We examined biofilm formation in both strains across different temperatures and evaluated the susceptibility of this <i>A. flavus</i> isolate to antifungal agents in both planktonic and biofilm form. Our results showed that the temperature can promote conidiation on solid media. Radial growth was highest at 28 °C, while the conidial count and density were favored at higher temperatures. Moreover, we determined that 37 °C was the optimal temperature for conidial germination and biofilm formation. We described four distinct phases in <i>A. flavus</i> biofilm development—initiation (0–12 h), consolidation (12–24 h), maturation (24–48 h), and dispersion (48–72 h)—with the notable presence of conidial heads at 42 °C. Carbohydrates and proteins constitute the primary components of the extracellular matrix. We observed an abundance of lipid droplets within the hyphae of the MMe18 strain biofilm. The mature biofilms demonstrated reduced susceptibility to amphotericin B and itraconazole, requiring higher inhibitory concentrations for both antifungals compared with their planktonic counterparts.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/53<i>Aspergillus flavus</i>biofilmthermotolerantextracellular matrixlipid dropletsantifungal susceptibility |
| spellingShingle | José Alejandro Hernández-Benítez Brenda Nallely Santos-Ocampo Daniel Genaro Rosas-Ramírez Luis Antonio Bautista-Hernández Víctor Manuel Bautista-de Lucio Néstor Octavio Pérez Aída Verónica Rodríguez-Tovar The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> Journal of Fungi <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> biofilm thermotolerant extracellular matrix lipid droplets antifungal susceptibility |
| title | The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_full | The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_fullStr | The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_short | The Effect of Temperature over the Growth and Biofilm Formation of the Thermotolerant <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> |
| title_sort | effect of temperature over the growth and biofilm formation of the thermotolerant i aspergillus flavus i |
| topic | <i>Aspergillus flavus</i> biofilm thermotolerant extracellular matrix lipid droplets antifungal susceptibility |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/11/1/53 |
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