Candida albicans
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyUse of CRISPR-Cas9 To Target Homologous Recombination Limits Transformation-Induced Genomic Changes in Candida albicansGenome editing is essential to nearly all research studies aimed at gaining insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying various biological processes, including those in the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. The adaptation of the CRISPR-Cas9 system greatly facilitates genome engineering in many organisms. However, our understanding of the effects of CRISPR-...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyGeneration of Viable Candida albicans Mutants Lacking the “Essential” Protein Kinase Snf1 by Inducible Gene DeletionEssential genes are those that are indispensable for the viability and growth of an organism. Previous studies indicated that the protein kinase Snf1, a central regulator of metabolic adaptation, is essential in the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, because no homozygous snf1 deletion mutants of ...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyNatural Variation in Clinical Isolates of Candida albicans Modulates Neutrophil ResponsesNeutrophils are the key immune cell type for host defenses against infections with Candida albicans. C. albicans strains isolated from patients display large phenotypic diversity, but how this diversity impacts host-pathogen interactions with neutrophils is incompletely defined. Here, we show that...
Observation | Host-Microbe BiologyClinical Candida albicans Vaginal Isolates and a Laboratory Strain Show Divergent Behaviors during Macrophage InteractionsVulvovaginal candidiasis is one of the most common fungal infections in humans with Candida albicans as the major causative agent. This study is the first to compare clinical vaginal isolates of defined patient groups in their interaction with macrophages, highlighting the vastly different outcomes in comparison to a laboratory strain using commonly applied virulence-...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyIdentification of Genomewide Alternative Splicing Events in Sequential, Isogenic Clinical Isolates of Candida albicans Reveals a Novel Mechanism of Drug Resistance and Tolerance to Cellular StressesThe emergence of resistance in Candida albicans, an opportunistic pathogen, against the commonly used antifungals is becoming a major obstacle in its treatment. The necessity to identify new drug targets demands fundamental insights into the mechanisms used by this organism to develop drug resistance. C....
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyBacteria Modify Candida albicans Hypha Formation, Microcolony Properties, and Survival within MacrophagesCandida albicans is the predominant fungus colonizing the oral cavity that can have both synergistic and antagonistic interactions with other bacteria. Interkingdom polymicrobial associations modify fungal pathogenicity and are believed to increase microbial resistance to innate immunity. However, it is not known how these interactions alter fungal survival during...
Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyComparative Evaluations of the Pathogenesis of Candida auris Phenotypes and Candida albicans Using Clinically Relevant Murine Models of InfectionsThe newly emerged Candida species C. auris has been associated with an exponential rise in invasive disease in health care facilities worldwide with a mortality rate approaching 60%. C. auris exhibits a high level of transmissibility, multidrug resistance, and persistence in hospital...
Editor's Pick Research Article | Host-Microbe BiologyMolecular Elucidation of Riboflavin Production and Regulation in Candida albicans, toward a Novel Antifungal Drug TargetCandida albicans is an important fungal pathogen causing common superficial infections as well as invasive diseases with an extremely high morbidity and mortality. Antifungal therapies are limited in efficiency and availability. In this research, we describe the regulation of riboflavin production in C....
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologySho1p Connects Glycolysis to Ras1-cAMP Signaling and Is Required for Microcolony Formation in Candida albicansC. albicans microcolonies form extensive hyphal structures that enhance surface adherence and penetrate underlying tissues to promote fungal infections. This study examined the environmental conditions that promote microcolony formation and how these signals are relayed, in order to disrupt signaling and reduce pathogenesis. We found that a membrane-localized protein...
Research Article | Molecular Biology and PhysiologyDihydrofolate Reductase Is a Valid Target for Antifungal Development in the Human Pathogen Candida albicansThe folate biosynthetic pathway is a promising and understudied source for novel antifungals. Even dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), a well-characterized and historically important drug target, has not been conclusively validated as an antifungal target. Here, we demonstrate that repression of DHFR inhibits growth of Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen....