A protocol for ultrastructural study of Candida albicans biofilm using transmission electron microscopy

Thierry Mourer; Martin Sachse; Anastasia D Gazi; Christophe d'Enfert; Sophie Bachellier-Bassi

doi:10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101514

A protocol for ultrastructural study of Candida albicans biofilm using transmission electron microscopy

STAR Protoc. 2022 Sep 16;3(3):101514. doi: 10.1016/j.xpro.2022.101514. Epub 2022 Jul 1.

Authors

Thierry Mourer¹, Martin Sachse², Anastasia D Gazi², Christophe d'Enfert³, Sophie Bachellier-Bassi⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE USC2019, Fungal Biology and Pathogenicity, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: thierry.mourer@pasteur.fr.
² Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, Ultrastructural BioImaging Facility, 75015 Paris, France.
³ Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE USC2019, Fungal Biology and Pathogenicity, 75015 Paris, France.
⁴ Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, INRAE USC2019, Fungal Biology and Pathogenicity, 75015 Paris, France. Electronic address: sophie.bachellier-bassi@pasteur.fr.

Abstract

This protocol describes how to analyze C. albicans biofilm using transmission electron microscopy. We present two approaches to observe the ultrastructure of fungal cells within unperturbed biofilms, as well as an immunogold labeling procedure. This approach maintains the architecture of the fungal biofilm close to its native state by growing C. albicans biofilm on a plastic surface. After the freeze substitution procedure, classical transmission electron microscopy or electron tomography will allow the ultrastructural analysis of the microbial community.

Keywords: Cell Biology; Microbiology; Microscopy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Biofilms*
Candida albicans* / ultrastructure
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
Plastics

Substances

Plastics