Candida albicans Agar Invasion Assays

Area of Science:

• Medical Mycology
• Molecular Biology
• Pathogenesis

Background:

• The human fungal pathogen *Candida albicans* disseminates into tissues via a morphological transition from budding yeast to invasive hyphal growth.
• This transition is influenced by diverse environmental factors encountered at infection sites.
• Understanding the genetic basis of invasive growth is crucial for combating candidiasis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish robust protocols for identifying genes that promote or inhibit invasive hyphal growth in *Candida albicans*.
• To develop an *in vitro* screening method that accurately models fungal tissue invasion.
• To facilitate both single-strain analysis and high-throughput screening of mutant collections.

Main Methods:

• Utilizing solid agar media to simulate tissue invasion, allowing for controlled environmental variations.
• Modulating agar concentration to assess the impact of matrix rigidity on invasive growth.
• Screening *Candida albicans* mutants under multiple conditions to identify those with significant defects in invasion.

Main Results:

• The described *in vitro* approach effectively models fungal tissue invasion, offering advantages over liquid culture methods.
• Varying media composition and agar concentration allows for mimicry of diverse host environments and matrix properties.
• This methodology enables the identification of specific genes critical for *C. albicans* invasive growth.

Conclusions:

• The developed protocols provide a versatile platform for studying *Candida albicans* invasive growth.
• This approach aids in the discovery of novel therapeutic targets for invasive fungal infections.
• The methods are adaptable for both detailed analysis of individual strains and large-scale genetic screens.