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Bio-energetics Investigation of Candida albicans Using Real-time Extracellular Flux Analysis
Published on: March 19, 2019
Overexpression approaches to advance understanding of Candida albicans
Laxmi Shanker Rai1, Lasse van Wijlick1, Murielle Chauvel1
1Unité Biologie et Pathogénicité Fongiques, Institut Pasteur, Université de Paris, INRAE, USC2019, Paris, France.
Abstract:
Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that is responsible for infections linked to high mortality. Loss-of-function approaches, taking advantage of gene knockouts or inducible down-regulation, have been successfully used in this species in order to understand gene function. However, overexpression of a gene provides an alternative, powerful tool to elucidate gene function and identify novel phenotypes. Notably, overexpression can identify pathway components that might remain undetected using loss-of-function approaches. Several repressible or inducible promoters have been developed which allow to shut off or turn on the expression of a gene in C. albicans upon growth in the presence of a repressor or inducer. In this review, we summarize recent overexpression approaches used to study different aspects of C. albicans biology, including morphogenesis, biofilm formation, drug tolerance, and commensalism.
Insights
Overexpression of genes in Candida albicans offers a powerful method to uncover gene functions and identify new phenotypes. This approach complements loss-of-function studies for a deeper understanding of this fungal pathogen.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Molecular Biology
- Medical Microbiology
Background:
- Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing high-mortality infections.
- Gene function studies in C. albicans have relied on loss-of-function approaches like gene knockouts.
- Overexpression presents a complementary strategy to elucidate gene function and discover novel phenotypes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review recent overexpression strategies in Candida albicans.
- To highlight the utility of overexpression in understanding C. albicans biology.
- To showcase how overexpression can identify pathway components missed by loss-of-function methods.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing inducible and repressible promoters to control gene expression in C. albicans.
- Applying overexpression techniques to study specific biological processes.
- Reviewing literature on recent advancements in C. albicans overexpression systems.
Main Results:
- Overexpression studies have successfully investigated C. albicans morphogenesis.
- Gene overexpression has provided insights into biofilm formation.
- This approach aids in understanding drug tolerance and commensalism of C. albicans.
Conclusions:
- Overexpression is a valuable tool for dissecting gene function in Candida albicans.
- It expands the genetic toolkit for studying fungal pathogens.
- This technique facilitates a comprehensive understanding of C. albicans virulence and biology.
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