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Updated: Mar 29, 2026
Establishment of an In vitro System to Study Intracellular Behavior of Candida glabrata in Human THP-1 Macrophages
Published on: December 10, 2013
Uptake of clinical yeast isolates by human epithelial cell line
A N Atre1, A Mehta1, P R Chandorkar1
1National Centre for Cell Science, Savitribai Phule Pune University Campus, Ganesh Khind, Pune 411007, India.
Objective:
The occurrence of yeast infections in humans has increased, with the species belonging to genus Candida still being the most common cause of infection. Nevertheless, infections caused by less common yeasts have been widely reported in recent years. The main objective of this study was to assess the potential of these less common saprophytic yeasts to invade the host cell, which is essential for causing systemic infections.
Material And Methods:
Various yeast isolates were identified by DNA sequence information of PCR amplified ITS region. The purported saprophytic yeasts were characterized for internalization by mammalian cells in vitro, by staining the F-actin.
Conclusion:
The identification of different yeast isolates from various patients revealed that 70% of the isolates belonged to the genus Candida, while remaining 30% of the isolates were yeasts not belonging to genus Candida. These non-Candida clinical isolates, either in yeast or hyphal forms, were efficiently internalized by human epithelial cells. The internalization was marked by a process of actin polymerization surrounding the invading yeast. Such uptake by epithelial cells signifies traversal of cell barrier by yeast cells during infection in vivo.
Insights
Less common yeasts, not just Candida, can invade human cells. This yeast cell invasion, observed in vitro, involves actin polymerization and is crucial for causing systemic infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Yeast infections are increasing, with Candida species being the primary cause.
- Recent reports highlight infections caused by less common yeast species.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the capacity of non-Candida yeasts to invade host cells.
- To understand the mechanism of yeast cell invasion for systemic infection potential.
Main Methods:
- Yeast isolates identified using DNA sequencing of the PCR amplified ITS region.
- In vitro assessment of yeast internalization by mammalian cells via F-actin staining.
Main Results:
- 70% of clinical yeast isolates were Candida; 30% were non-Candida species.
- Both yeast and hyphal forms of non-Candida isolates were efficiently internalized by human epithelial cells.
- Internalization involved actin polymerization around the invading yeast cells.
Conclusions:
- Non-Candida yeasts possess the ability to invade host epithelial cells.
- This invasion mechanism, involving actin polymerization, suggests a potential for causing systemic infections in vivo.
- Understanding non-Candida yeast pathogenicity is crucial for managing emerging fungal infections.
