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Complementary adhesin function in C. albicans biofilm formation.
- Source :
-
Current biology : CB [Curr Biol] 2008 Jul 22; Vol. 18 (14), pp. 1017-24. - Publication Year :
- 2008
-
Abstract
- Background: Biofilms are surface-associated microbial communities with significant environmental and medical impact. Here, we focus on an adherence mechanism that permits biofilm formation by Candida albicans, the major invasive fungal pathogen of humans.<br />Results: The Als surface-protein family has been implicated in biofilm formation, and we show that Als1 and Als3 have critical but redundant roles. Overexpression of several other Als proteins permits biofilm formation in a biofilm-defective als1/als1 als3/als3 strain, thus arguing that the function of Als proteins in this process is governed by their respective expression levels. The surface protein Hwp1 is also required for biofilm formation, and we find that a mixture of biofilm-defective hwp1/hwp1 and als1/als1 als3/als3 strains can form a hybrid biofilm both in vitro and in vivo in a catheter infection model. Complementary function of Hwp1 and Als1 and 3 seems to reflect their interaction because expression of Hwp1 in the heterologous host S. cerevisiae permits adherence to wild-type C. albicans, but not to an als1/als1 als3/als3 strain.<br />Conclusions: The complementary roles of Hwp1 and Als1 and Als3 in biofilm formation are analogous to the roles of sexual agglutinins in mating reactions. This analogy suggests that biofilm-adhesin complementarity may promote formation of monospecies biofilms.
- Subjects :
- Animals
Candida albicans cytology
Candida albicans genetics
Candidiasis etiology
Catheterization, Central Venous adverse effects
Cell Adhesion physiology
Cell Adhesion Molecules genetics
Disease Models, Animal
Fungal Proteins genetics
Genes, Fungal
Genetic Complementation Test
Membrane Glycoproteins genetics
Membrane Glycoproteins physiology
Mutation
Rats
Saccharomyces cerevisiae cytology
Saccharomyces cerevisiae genetics
Saccharomyces cerevisiae physiology
Biofilms growth & development
Candida albicans physiology
Cell Adhesion Molecules physiology
Fungal Proteins physiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0960-9822
- Volume :
- 18
- Issue :
- 14
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Current biology : CB
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 18635358
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.034