Clinical Microbiology and Infection 23 (2017) 941e942

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Clinical Microbiology and Infection

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Picture of a microorganism

Biofilm formation by Microsporum canis

L.J. Danielli 1, W. Lopes 2, M.H. Vainstein 2, A.M. Fuentefria 1, M.A. Apel 1, *
1)
Programa de Po
s-Graduaça ~o em Ci^
encias Farmac^euticas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
2)
Centro de Biotecnologia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

a r t i c l e i n f o

Article history:
Received 23 March 2017
Received in revised form
5 June 2017
Accepted 6 June 2017
Available online 19 June 2017

Editor: Professor L Leibovici

Keywords:
Biofilm
Dermatophytes
Microsporum canis
Scanning electron microscoy
Tinea capitis

Biofilm formation is an important cause of failures in anti-
microbial therapy usually associated with the increasing of
resistance to antimicrobial agents and with the host immune
response. The ability to form such structures has been
described for several fungal species; however, biofilm forma-
tion by dermatophytes was reported only for Trichophyton spp.
[1]. In this study, we described for the first time the biofilm
formation by Microsporum canis, considered as one of the main
aetiological agents of tinea capitis and characterized by a poor
therapeutic response. Biofilm was formed in glass coverslips
after 120 hours of culture and observed by scanning electron
microscopy (SEM) from a clinical sample of M. canis.
The images obtained by SEM demonstrate the presence of a
highly structured three-dimensional mycelium characteristic of
biofilm (Fig. 1a,b) with expansion in the form of a network of
hyphae growing in all directions (Fig. 1c,d). Moreover, poly-
saccharide extracellular matrix that links one hypha to another is
observed surrounding some areas of this mycelial structure. The
presence of polysaccharide was confirmed by reaction with Peri-
odic Acid-Schiff (PAS) (Fig. 1e,f). The extracellular matrix presents
compact regions, but usually with a porous and thin consistency,
concentrated in the superficial region of the mycelium. Formation
of biofilm by dermatophytes can be considered an important fac-
tor of fungal virulence, which may be involved in the persistence

* Corresponding author. M.A. Apel, Faculdade de Farm
acia, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Av. Ipiranga, 2752, 90610-000, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
E-mail address: miriam.apel@gmail.com (M.A. Apel).

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2017.06.006
1198-743X/© 2017 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
942 L.J. Danielli et al. / Clinical Microbiology and Infection 23 (2017) 941e942

Fig. 1. Scanning electron micrographs of Microsporum canis biofilm illustrating biofilm characteristics. (a,b) General view of hyphal layering networks covered by extracellular
matrix (ECM) at the top of the mycelium. (c,d) Higher magnification showing hyphae (red arrows) associated with thin layers of ECM (yellow arrows). (e,f) Presence of poly-
saccharides in the extracellular matrix confirmed by periodic acid Schiff techniques.

of infection. So, this finding contributes perspectives for effective Tecnolo
gico (CNPq). A. M. Fuentefria, M. A. Apel and M. H. Vainstein
therapy to eradicate infections related to biofilm formation by are grateful to CNPq for the PQ fellowships.
dermatophytes.
Author's contribution
Transparency declaration
LJD and WL contributed to drafting the manuscript, literature
The authors report no conflicts of interest. review and laboratory work. MHV, AMFe and MAA contributed to
drafting the manuscript and literature review.

Financial support
Reference
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