Fig. 1

Filamentous growth in and on PDMS. a Schematic of PDMS microchamber array. Top and side views are shown with dimensions indicated. b Characterization of PDMS microchamber array. XY transmission view (top) with the location of XZ confocal reflection scan (bottom) of upright PDMS mounted on a coverslip (indicated by dotted red line). Bars are 10 μm in XY and XZ. c Enlarged XZ scan of PDMS microchambers. XZ confocal reflection microscopy of 3 microchambers with dotted lines, indicating top and bottom. Bar is 10 μm. d PDMS microchambers with C. albicans cells entrapped. C. albicans cells were mixed with serum (75%) and added to PDMS microchamber arrays, and DIC image is shown. Note the cell with a germ tube (top row). Bar is 10 μm. e Non-invasive filamentous growth on PDMS micro-arrays. DIC images of growth on PDMS surface from 3 independent experiments on 40:1 PDMS to cross-linker, with indicated times (h:min). f Invasive filamentous growth within PDMS microarrays. DIC images of growth within PDMS from 2 independent experiments using 40:1 PDMS to cross-linker with times indicated. The initial PDMS chamber is outlined with a dotted yellow line to highlight deformation upon invasive filament extension