FIG 4 .

Filamentation and biofilm-forming capabilities of a C. albicans TLO2 mutant strain. Candida strains (wild type, TLO2 heterozygote, and tlo2/tlo2 homozygote) grown overnight in YPD at 30°C were inoculated into Spider media and incubated at 37°C for 0, 2, 4, and 6 h. Aliquots from each strain were assessed for cell phenotype by microscopy. Biofilms for these strains were also developed under static conditions for 48 h and visualized microscopically, and their dry weight was measured for biomass. The tlo2^−/− homozygote showed a drastic reduction in both filamentation and biofilm formation compared to the wild-type strain. The heterozygote displayed normal hyphal development, but the hyphae did not clump together as was seen in the wild-type samples. The tlo2/TLO2 heterozygote also had an intermediate defect on biofilm formation.