FIG 7.

Architecture of cospecies biofilms formed with Δgtf mutants. Shown are representative images of the architectures of cospecies biofilms formed by each of the Δgtf::kan mutant strains (at 42 h). Cospecies biofilms formed by the parental strain, UA159 (image not displayed; refer to Fig. 1), were always included (as a control) for comparison. Overall, biofilms formed with the ΔgtfB::kan mutant were thin and flat; they were devoid of microcolony structures and contained few yeast cells and almost no hyphae. The presence of the ΔgtfC::kan mutant strain also altered the overall architecture of the cospecies biofilms, which contained small microcolonies, few fungal cells, and largely defective EPS-rich matrix production. The ΔgtfBC::kan mutant strain was virtually incapable of forming cospecies biofilms with C. albicans.