Biofilms formed by and species: focus on the extracellular matrix.

In the present study, the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM) of the biofilm formed by , and on a polystyrene surface was investigated. Confocal laser scanning microscopy revealed a dense mycelial mass, with an ECM covering/interspersing the fungal cells and containing carbohydrate-rich molecules (e.g. glycoproteins) and extracellular DNA. The ECMs that were chemically extracted from mature biofilms formed by each of these fungi was predominantly composed of polysaccharides, followed by proteins, nucleic acids and sterols. In general, the amount of biofilm ECM was significantly greater in and than in and Corroborating these results, the disarticulation of mature biofilms with enzymes, sodium metaperiodate and chelating agents occurred mainly in and . Collectively, these results have revealed for the first time the composition of the ECM of the biofilms formed by species and the role it plays in their architecture.