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Updated: Oct 5, 2025
An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
Serial systemic candidiasis alters Candida albicans macromorphology associated with enhancement of virulence
Glaucia Sayuri Arita1, Pollyanna Cristina Vincenzi Conrado1, Karina Mayumi Sakita1
1Department of Clinical Analysis and Biomedicine, Laboratory of Medical Mycology, State University of Maringá, Maringá, Paraná, Brazil.
Abstract:
Candida albicans is one of the major pathogens found in superficial and invasive infections. This fungus expresses several virulence factors and fitness attributes that are essential to the pathogenesis. In our previous study using a murine model of serial systemic candidiasis, virulence of the recovered C. albicans was enhanced and several virulence factors were also modified after five successive passages through mice (P1-P5). In this study, we aimed to correlate the different fungal morphologies, as well as the filamentation, invasion, and stress resistance abilities, of the cells recovered after passing through this model of infection with our previous findings regarding virulence. We obtained two colony morphology types from the recovered cells, differing in their peripheral filamentation. The morphotype 1, which presented zero to five filaments in the colony edge, was higher in P2, while morphotype 2, which presented more than five filaments in the colony edge, was predominant from P3 to P5. In general, morphotype 1 showed similar levels regarding filamentation in serum, invasion of agar and cells, and resistance to osmotic, oxidative, and thermal stress in all passages analyzed. The morphotype 2, however, exhibited an enhancement in these abilities over the passages. We observed an accordance with the increased virulence over the passages obtained in our previous study and the increased adaptability profile of morphotype 2. Therefore, we suggest that the behavior observed previously in the pathogenesis and virulence could be attributed, at least in part, to the greater presence and ability of morphotype 2.
Insights
Candida albicans virulence increased with host passages, linked to enhanced fungal adaptability. Morphotype 2 cells, predominant after multiple passages, showed greater filamentation, invasion, and stress resistance, correlating with increased pathogenicity.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Pathogenesis Research
Background:
- Candida albicans is a significant fungal pathogen causing superficial and invasive infections.
- Previous research demonstrated enhanced C. albicans virulence and modified virulence factors after serial passage in a murine model.
Purpose of the Study:
- To correlate fungal morphologies, filamentation, invasion, and stress resistance with previously observed virulence changes in C. albicans.
- To investigate the adaptability of C. albicans morphotypes during serial systemic candidiasis.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of two distinct C. albicans colony morphotypes (morphotype 1 and morphotype 2) recovered after serial passages in mice.
- Assessment of fungal filamentation, invasion capabilities (agar and host cells), and resistance to osmotic, oxidative, and thermal stress.
- Correlation of observed fungal traits with virulence data from previous serial passage studies.
Main Results:
- Two morphotypes were identified: morphotype 1 (0-5 filaments) predominant in early passages (P2), and morphotype 2 (>5 filaments) predominant in later passages (P3-P5).
- Morphotype 1 maintained consistent levels of filamentation, invasion, and stress resistance across passages.
- Morphotype 2 demonstrated enhanced filamentation, invasion, and stress resistance capabilities, increasing with successive passages.
Conclusions:
- The increased adaptability profile of morphotype 2, characterized by enhanced virulence factors, correlates with the increased pathogenicity observed in C. albicans.
- The enhanced virulence of C. albicans during serial systemic candidiasis is, at least partly, attributable to the prevalence and superior abilities of morphotype 2.
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