Biofilm Formation in Aspergillus fumigatus: A Comparative Study of Strains from Different Origins

One of the most notable aspects of Aspergillus fumigatus, and related to its dynamic adaptation, is its ability to form biofilm and produce a wide variety of secondary metabolites. The aim of this study is to advance the characterization of biofilms generated by different A. fumigatus strains across their developmental stages and analytically evaluate their structure and composition and their relationship with secondary metabolism activation. An in vitro biofilm model was standardized to investigate structural and analytical differences among strains isolated from distinct clinical settings and associated with different pathologies. We found that all tested strains could form biofilms; however, the characteristics of these structures—including total biomass, cellular viability and overall structure—varied markedly among strains under the evaluated conditions. Strains isolated from cystic fibrosis patients exhibited distinct behaviors in most conducted assays compared to other strains. These findings provide new insights into the variability of biofilm composition and may contribute to a better understanding of the role of biofilms in fungal pathogenesis, persistence and treatment resistance.