FLORIDA PRIMROSE AND NITHYA JAGANNATHAN
Abstract
Candida is the dimiorphic fungi which is the most common microbes present in the body. Biofilms are communities of microorganisms which are often attached onto a surface and enclosed in an extracellular polysaccharide matrix.The formation of a mature biofilm is based on the transition between the hyphae and the yeast forms of the candidal species, cell adhesion and the extracellular matrix formation. Biofilm formation is a major virulence factor in the pathogenicity of Candida, and Candida biofilms are difficult to eradicate because of their very high antifungal resistance. Candida can cause both superficial and systemic disease, and are now recognized as major agents of hospital-acquired infection. Numerous studies have been performed to determine the role of biofilm in infections. The currect review focuses on the steps involoved in biofilm formation, molecular characteristics and the factors which play a role in biofilm formation with a mention on the drug resistance.