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- Title
Identification of Candida albicans regulatory genes governing mucosal infection.
- Authors
Meir, Juliane; Hartmann, Elena; Eckstein, Marie‐Therese; Guiducci, Eva; Kirchner, Florian; Rosenwald, Andreas; LeibundGut‐Landmann, Salomé; Pérez, J. Christian
- Abstract
Abstract: The fungus Candida albicans thrives on a variety of human mucosae, yet the fungal determinants that contribute to fitness on these surfaces remain underexplored. Here, by screening a collection of C. albicans deletion strains in a mouse model of oral infection (oropharyngeal candidiasis), we identify several novel regulatory genes that modulate the fitness of the fungus in this locale. We investigate in detail the interplay between the host mucosa and one of the identified mutants and establish that the C. albicans transcription regulator CUP9 is a key determinant of mucosal colonisation. Deletion of cup9 resulted in the formation of more foci of colonisation and heightened persistence in infected tongues. Furthermore, the cup9 mutant produced longer and denser filaments in the oral mucosa without eliciting an enhanced local immune response. Consistent with its role in oral colonisation, we show that CUP9's top target of regulation is a major effector of Candida's adherence to buccal cells. Finally, we establish that CUP9 also governs the interplay of the fungus with vaginal epithelial cells and has a role in vaginal infections, another common mucosal disease associated with Candida. Thus, our findings reveal a mechanism whereby C. albicans can regulate proliferation on mucosal surfaces.
- Subjects
CANDIDA albicans; ORAL mucosa diseases; IMMUNE response; CELL proliferation; FUNGAL colonies
- Publication
Cellular Microbiology, 2018, Vol 20, Issue 8, p1
- ISSN
1462-5814
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/cmi.12841