Enhancement of secretory aspartyl protease production in biofilms of Candida albicans exposed to sub-inhibitory concentrations of fluconazole.

The production of Secretory Aspartyl Proteases (Sap) is an important virulence factor of Candida albicans. Many studies have shown that a challenge with sub-inhibitory concentrations of antifungals lead species of Candida to the secretion of higher concentrations of Sap. Nevertheless, published studies only reported the secretion of such enzymes by cells growing in planktonic phase, with few mention of biofilms.