Fig. 2

IBC showed the inhibitory effect on C. neoformans biofilm formation by inhibiting initial attachment and maturation. (A) The anti-adhesion ability of IBC to the glass surface was examined using FUN® 1/CWS double dyes combined with CLSM. (B-E) The inhibitory effect of IBC on the biofilm formation by C. neoformans was performed using CV staining (B, objective, × 40), CLSM (C, plane images; D, three-dimensional images) and FESEM (E), respectively. Scale bar was 10 μm for CLSM and 40 μm for FESEM, respectively. IBC exhibited the dispersal effect on mature biofilms by C. neoformans. Examination of the ability of high concentrations of IBC to disperse/kill 48-h mature biofilms by C. neoformans was carried out. The dispersal/killing effect of IBC on 48-h mature biofilms was evaluated using CV staining (F, objective, × 40), CLSM (G, plane images; H, three-dimensional images) and FESEM (I), respectively. (J-K) The inhibitory and dispersal effect of IBC on biofilm formation and preformed biofilms were quantitatively assessed using CV staining, respectively. Scale bar was 10 μm for CLSM and 40 μm for FESEM, respectively. Bars represent the standard deviation (n = 3). *p < 0.05; **p < 0.01; ***p < 0.001