The adhesion strength of Candida parapsilosis to glass and silicone as a function of hydrophobicity, roughness and cell morphology

Hydrophobicity is one of the physico–chemical surface properties governing the initial adhesion of microorganisms to different substrata. On some occasions, once adhered, yeasts try to resist to external forces, which tend to detach the adhered cells. In this sense, knowledge of the strength of adhesion is crucial when the elimination of such microorganisms from the substratum surface represents a tool to eradicate the proliferation of biofilms. For this reason, the goal of this work was the analysis of the adhesion strength of Candida parapsilosis (strains 294 and 289) after its adhesion to glass and silicone rubber in terms of cellular surface hydrophobicity, substratum roughness and cell morphology. The elimination of adhered cells was easier for glass (hydrophilic, and with low roughness) than for silicone rubber (hydrophobic and with high roughness) and easier for strain 289 (less hydrophobic) than for strain 294 (more hydrophobic). This reveals the importance of hydrophobicity in the detachment of the adhered cells. The results also show that the more elongated and irregular cells detach better from both substrata than the ovoid-like microorganisms.