The ability of farnesol to prevent adhesion and disrupt Fusarium keratoplasticum biofilm

A biofilm is represented by a community of microorganisms capable of adhering to a surface and producing substances that envelop the cells, forming an extracellular matrix. The extracellular matrix is responsible for protecting microorganisms against environmental stress, hosts the immune system and confers resistance to antimicrobials. Fusarium keratoplasticum is a common species of FSSC ( Fusarium solani species complex) associated with human infections, being the most prevalent species related to biofilm formation in hospital water systems and internal pipelines. With this in mind, this study aimed to characterise the biofilm formed by the fungus F . keratoplasticum and to evaluate the effects of farnesol, a fungal quorum sensing (QS) molecule, on the preformed biofilm and also during its formation at different times (adhesion and 24, 48 and 72 h). F . keratoplasticum is able to adhere to an abiotic surface and form a dense biofilm in 72 h, with increased total biomass and matrix modulation with the presence of extracellular DNA, RNA, polysaccharides and proteins. Farnesol exhibited important anti-biofilm activity, causing the destruction of hyphae and the extracellular matrix in preformed biofilm and preventing the adhesion of conidia, filamentation and the formation of biofilm. Few studies have characterised the formation of biofilm by filamentous fungi. Our findings suggest that farnesol acts efficiently on F . keratoplasticum biofilm since this molecule is capable of breaking the extracellular matrix, thereby disarranging the biofilm.