Abstract
Objective
Health is the most important aspect that needs to be considered, and the oral cavity
cannot be separated from other parts. Candida albicans is a normal flora in the oral cavity that is a major cause of oral candidiasis. Research
on biofilms can help prevent oral candidiasis infection in the community. Biofilms
are involved in the pathogenesis and could be examined using an electron and fluorescence
microscope, which can analyze the whole biofilm in actual conditions. This study aims
to determine the chemical elements and thickness of Candida albicans biofilms induced by glucose, lactose, soy protein, and iron.
Materials and Methods
This analytic observational study was carried out by observing the chemical elements
and thickness of the biofilm by scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive
X-ray (SEM-EDX) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). SEM-EDX data analysis
used the EDAX APEX software and CLSM used the Olympus FluoView ver 4.2.a.
Results
SEM-EDX examination showed the formation of Candida albicans biofilm induced by glucose, lactose, soy protein, and iron with similarity in the
percentage of the most constituent chemical elements, namely, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen,
and phosphorus, and the least were sulfur. The thickest biofilm was found in the induction
of iron, glucose, and lactose, and the thinnest was soy protein.
Conclusion
The chemical elements of Candida albicans biofilm induced by four different inducers has the same percentage of the composition
of elements, namely, oxygen, carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, and the least were
sulfur and the thickest biofilm was by the induction of iron, glucose, and lactose,
and the thinnest was by soy protein.
Keywords
health - biofilm thickness -
Candida albicans
- chemical elements - CLSM
