Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 17, 2026

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
07:42

An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract

Published on: July 1, 2020

Genetically regulated filamentation contributes to Candida albicans virulence during corneal infection

Beth E Jackson1, Kirk R Wilhelmus, Bradley M Mitchell

  • 1Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, 6565 Fannin Street, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

Microbial Pathogenesis
|January 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Candida albicans

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Ophthalmology

Background:

  • Candida albicans is a common fungus that can cause opportunistic infections.
  • Virulence factors include filament formation, adherence, and protease secretion.
  • Fungal filamentation is crucial for invasive infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of hyphal extension in experimental Candida albicans keratitis.
  • To assess the virulence of genetically modified C. albicans strains in a murine model.
  • To correlate in vitro filamentation with in vivo corneal disease progression.

Main Methods:

  • Topical inoculation of scarified mouse corneas with wild-type and mutant C. albicans strains.
  • Monitoring corneal disease severity for 4 days post-inoculation.
  • Comparing in vitro growth kinetics and filamentation capabilities of yeast strains.

Main Results:

  • Wild-type C. albicans exhibited high virulence in the murine cornea.
  • Strains deficient in adherence or membrane proteins showed no significant difference in virulence.
  • Five strains with defects in filamentation genes displayed attenuated keratomycosis.
  • Mutants with impaired morphogenesis had reduced in vitro filamentation.
  • Overall growth kinetics were similar between wild-type and mutant strains.

Conclusions:

  • Phenotypic switching to filamentous forms is essential for C. albicans corneal disease.
  • Hyphal extension is a key virulence factor in experimental C. albicans keratitis.
  • Targeting filamentation pathways may offer therapeutic strategies for fungal eye infections.

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