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Fungal commensalism modulated by a dual-action phosphate transceptor

Yuanyuan Wang1, Jia Zhou2, Yun Zou1

  • 1The Center for Microbes, Development, and Health, Key Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Immunology, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; The Nanjing Unicorn Academy of Innovation, Institut Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Nanjing 211135, China.

Cell Reports
|January 26, 2022
PubMed

Insights

The phosphate transceptor Pho84 is crucial for fungal gastrointestinal colonization by managing nutrient uptake and host interactions. This discovery reveals a key pathway regulating fungal commensalism without increasing pathogenicity.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Mycology
  • Host-Microbe Interactions

Background:

  • Fungal adaptation to fluctuating environments requires stress response.
  • Understanding fungal survival in the gastrointestinal (GI) ecosystem, balancing nutrition and host interactions, is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the role of the phosphate transceptor Pho84 in fungal GI colonization.
  • To elucidate the mechanisms by which Pho84 influences host-commensal relationships.

Main Methods:

  • Comparative analysis of fungal species with and without Pho84 in a GI colonization model.
  • Molecular studies to identify downstream targets and regulatory pathways of Pho84.

Main Results:

  • Pho84 depletion significantly impaired fungal GI colonization across multiple species.
  • Pho84 coordinates phosphate uptake and TOR pathway activation, inducing the Try4 regulator.
  • Pho84 promotes Candida albicans commensalism but not pathogenicity.

Conclusions:

  • Pho84 is essential for fungal adaptation and colonization in the GI tract.
  • A novel dual-action regulatory pathway for Pho84 in fungal commensalism is identified.
  • This pathway highlights nutrient sensing as a critical factor in host-fungal dynamics.
Keywords:
Candida albicansPho84dual-action activitygastrointestinal commensalism

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