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Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis
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Adhesive and mammalian transglutaminase substrate properties of Candida albicans Hwp1

J F Staab1, S D Bradway, P L Fidel

  • 1Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, College of Medicine and Public Health, Ohio State University, 333 West Tenth Avenue, Columbus, OH 43210, USA.

Science (New York, N.Y.)
|March 5, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Candida albicans uses a hypha-specific protein, Hwp1, to attach to host cells and cause infection. Removing Hwp1 reduces the yeast's ability to invade tissues and cause candidiasis.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Candidiasis pathogenesis involves tissue invasion by filamentous Candida albicans.
  • Morphology-specific gene products may enhance fungal invasiveness.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the hypha-specific surface protein Hwp1 in Candida albicans pathogenesis.
  • To understand the mechanism of microbial adhesion involving host transglutaminases.

Main Methods:

  • Genetic manipulation of Candida albicans to create Hwp1-deficient strains.
  • Assays to assess fungal attachment to human buccal epithelial cells.
  • In vivo studies in mouse models to evaluate systemic candidiasis.

Main Results:

  • Hwp1 acts as a substrate for mammalian transglutaminases.
  • Candida albicans strains lacking Hwp1 showed impaired stable attachment to epithelial cells.
  • Hwp1 deficiency led to a reduced capacity to cause systemic candidiasis in mice.

Conclusions:

  • Hwp1 is crucial for Candida albicans adhesion to host cells.
  • This interaction highlights a paradigm of microbial adhesion involving host enzymes.
  • Hwp1 represents a potential target for antifungal therapies.

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