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Dimorphism and virulence in Candida albicans
1Department of Microbiology, Institute of Cancer Research, Columbia University, 701 West 168th Street, New York, NY 10032, USA. apm4@columbia.edu
Current Opinion in Microbiology
|March 6, 1999
Summary
Two pathways regulate fungal filamentation in Candida albicans, a pathogen where both yeast and filamentous forms contribute to infection. Understanding these pathways may reveal new antifungal targets.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Pathogenic Fungi
- Molecular Biology
Background:
- The pathogenic fungus Candida albicans exhibits yeast-to-filament transition, a key virulence factor.
- Both yeast and filamentous morphologies are implicated in Candida albicans infections.
- Regulatory pathways controlling filamentation are crucial for understanding fungal pathogenesis.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the regulatory pathways governing filamentation in Candida albicans.
- To explore the roles of yeast and filamentous forms in C. albicans virulence.
- To identify potential novel C. albicans filamentation genes.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of virulence studies on filamentation regulatory mutants.
- Comparative analysis of C. albicans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae filamentation pathways.
Main Results:
- Evidence suggests both yeast and filamentous forms of C. albicans contribute to infection.
- Filamentation control pathways in C. albicans share similarities with those in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
Conclusions:
- The study supports the dual role of C. albicans morphologies in pathogenesis.
- Conserved regulatory mechanisms suggest the potential for undiscovered C. albicans filamentation genes.