FIGURE 8.

Goliath cells exhibit increased adhesion to plastic surfaces. Adherence of C. albicans Goliath cells formed in LZM (A,B) or in SD0 (C,D) to plastic in the presence (A,C) or absence (B,D) of zinc in the adhesion assay medium. Relevant control yeast cells formed in LZM + Z or SD0 + Z. Following incubation for 30 or 90 min, wells were washed three times with ultrapure water. CFUs in the initial supernatant and in all three wash steps were determined to calculate % adhesion. Error bars represent standard deviation and p-values were determined by t-test. Data are from three independent experiments (A,B); and two independent experiments (C,D). Goliath cells are more adherent than normal yeast cells in all the tested media type at both the time points. The adhesion capacity of Goliath cells is reduced upon incubation in LZM + Z (A vs. B). However, the presence of zinc during adhesion had a less pronounced effect on Goliath cell adhesion in SD0 + Z (C vs. D). Normal yeast cells show increased adhesion when incubated in the absence of zinc (D vs. C) (^∗P ≤ 0.05, ^∗∗P ≤ 0.01, ^∗∗∗P ≤ 0.0001).