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Ultrastructural identification of extracellular material and appressoria in Candida albicans
Abstract:
Ultrastructural studies of Candida albicans in its invasive form, obtained from oral lesions of patients with acute or chronic candidosis and of organisms grown on chorio-allantoic membrane of chick embryo have demonstrated a dense exudate-like material over the fungal cell wall surface. Such material appears to be involved in the digestion of the host cell wall and cell membrane, thereby assisting the organism to invade the host cell. During this invasion the apical tips of hyphae have a bulging appearance, resembling the appressoria of some plant pathogens.
Insights
Candida albicans uses a dense surface material to digest host cells during invasive candidosis. This fungal invasion mechanism involves bulging hyphal tips, similar to plant pathogens.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Pathogenesis
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen causing candidosis.
- Understanding fungal invasion mechanisms is crucial for developing effective treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the ultrastructural basis of Candida albicans invasion.
- To identify the role of surface material in host cell digestion.
Main Methods:
- Ultrastructural analysis of Candida albicans from patient oral lesions.
- In vitro studies using the chick embryo chorio-allantoic membrane model.
Main Results:
- A dense exudate-like material was observed on the surface of invasive Candida albicans.
- This material appears to mediate the digestion of host cell walls and membranes.
- Apical hyphal tips exhibited a bulging morphology during invasion.
Conclusions:
- The observed surface material is implicated in Candida albicans host cell invasion.
- The invasion process shares morphological similarities with plant pathogen appressoria.