Investigation of Differentially Expressed Proteins of Candida tropicalis Biofilm in Response to Citral

Abstract

Candida tropicalis is an opportunistic human pathogen with an ability to cause superficial as well as systemic infections in immunocompromised patients. C. tropicalis biofilms can cause persistent infections which are difficult to treat due to acquired resistance. Citral has been used as antifungal agents against Candida species and biofilms. In the present study, we used one-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (1D-PAGE) and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS) to identify the changes in the protein expression of C. tropicalis in response to the sub-lethal concentration of citral. A total of six differential proteins involved inoxidative stress (Tsa1p, Psa2p), amino acid biosynthesis (Met6p, Gln1p), heme biosynthesis (Hem13p) and glucose metabolism (Eno1p) pathways were detected. Our results revealed citral-induced proteins of C. tropicalis biofilm. This study will further help in the interpretation of mode of action of citral and development of novel antifungal agents against these potential protein targets.