Fungal Biofilm Dispersal
摘要
Biofilm dispersal is a critical stage in the biofilm life cycle, enabling fungal cells to spread, colonize new environments, and establish persistent infections. Dispersed cells exhibit distinct phenotypic and transcriptional characteristics, often displaying enhanced virulence, increased adhesion, and immune evasion compared to their planktonic counterparts. Recent studies have revealed that biofilm dispersal in fungi is influenced by multiple factors, including epigenetic modifications, extracellular vesicle-mediated regulation, and metabolic adaptation under nutrient deprivation. Understanding fungal biofilm dispersal is essential for devising effective strategies to prevent and treat fungal infections, especially in the context of medical devices, where biofilms are notoriously resilient and dispersing cells can directly enter the bloodstream, increasing the risk of systemic infection.