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Role of Protein Glycosylation in Candida parapsilosis Cell Wall Integrity and Host Interaction

Luis A Pérez-García1, Katalin Csonka2, Arturo Flores-Carreón1

  • 1Departamento de Biología, División de Ciencias Naturales y Exactas, Universidad de Guanajuato Guanajuato, Mexico.

Frontiers in Microbiology
|March 26, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Disrupting the OCH1 gene in Candida parapsilosis affects its cell wall and immune interactions. This study reveals distinct roles for N- and O-linked mannans in fungal pathogenesis.

Area of Science:

  • Mycology
  • Immunology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Candida parapsilosis is an emerging opportunistic fungal pathogen.
  • Mannosylated fungal cell wall proteins mediate host immune interactions.
  • Och1 is a key enzyme in N-linked mannan synthesis in Candida albicans.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate the role of N-linked mannosylation in C. parapsilosis cell fitness.
  • Determine the contribution of N-linked mannans to host immune cell interactions.
  • Compare the functions of N- and O-linked mannans in C. parapsilosis pathogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Gene disruption of OCH1 in C. parapsilosis.
  • Analysis of cell wall composition and cell morphology.
  • Assessment of cytokine production (IL-1β, TNFα, IL-6, IL-10) by human monocytes upon fungal challenge.
  • In vivo infection model using mice.

Main Results:

  • Loss of Och1 led to cellular aggregation, failed morphogenesis, and increased susceptibility to cell wall agents.
  • O-linked mannans are crucial for IL-1β stimulation via dectin-1 and TLR4.
  • Both N- and O-linked mannans are important for TNFα and IL-6 stimulation.
  • Neither N- nor O-linked mannans influenced IL-10 production.
  • Mice infected with och1Δ mutants showed reduced fungal burdens compared to wild-type.

Conclusions:

  • C. parapsilosis N-linked mannosylation impacts cell fitness and morphogenesis.
  • N- and O-linked mannans play distinct roles in modulating host immune responses.
  • The functions of mannans in C. parapsilosis differ from those in C. albicans, highlighting species-specific mechanisms in fungal pathogenesis.
Keywords:
Candida parapsilosiscell wallhost-fungus interplaymannosylation pathwaymannosyltransferasevirulence

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