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Updated: Jul 9, 2026
06:53
An Optimized Protocol for Candida albicans Infection in Schmidtea mediterranea to Study Fungal Pathogenesis and Host Defense
Published on: April 17, 2026
Candida albicans modulates host defense by biosynthesizing the pro-resolving mediator resolvin E1
Eric J Haas-Stapleton1, Yan Lu, Song Hong
1Department of Cell and Tissue Biology, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States of America.
Plos One
|December 20, 2007
Summary
Candida albicans fungi produce anti-inflammatory resolvins, similar to humans. These fungal resolvins enhance neutrophil immune responses against Candida infections and aid in fungal clearance.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Immunology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Candida albicans is a common human fungal pathogen causing inflammation.
- Resolvins are anti-inflammatory lipids from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) that regulate inflammation resolution.
- Resolvins are known to reduce neutrophil migration during inflammation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if Candida albicans can synthesize resolvins.
- To characterize the resolvins produced by Candida albicans.
- To determine the immunomodulatory effects of Candida albicans-derived resolvins on human neutrophils and in a murine model of candidiasis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Candida albicans for resolvin biosynthesis.
- Chemical characterization of synthesized resolvins.
- In vitro assays assessing neutrophil chemotaxis, phagocytosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and killing of Candida.
- In vivo studies using a mouse model of systemic candidiasis.
Main Results:
- Candida albicans biosynthesizes resolvins chemically identical to human resolvins, including Resolvin E1 (RvE1).
- RvE1 biosynthesis in Candida albicans is sensitive to lipoxygenase and cytochrome P450 inhibitors.
- Low concentrations (1nM) of RvE1 enhanced neutrophil phagocytosis, ROS generation, and fungal killing, while higher concentrations (10nM) reduced neutrophil chemotaxis. RvE1 stimulated fungal clearance in a mouse model.
Conclusions:
- Candida albicans produces its own anti-inflammatory resolvins, distinct from human trans-cellular biosynthesis.
- Fungal-derived RvE1 modulates host immune responses, enhancing fungal clearance and potentially influencing the balance between commensal and pathogenic Candida.
- This represents a novel inter-species chemical signaling system impacting host-pathogen interactions.
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