Cooperative Role of MAPK Pathways in the Interaction of Candida albicans with the Host Epithelium

Candida albicans is an important human fungal pathogen responsible for tens of millions of infections as well as hundreds of thousands of severe life-threatening infections each year. MAP kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways facilitate the sensing and adaptation to external stimuli and control...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Correia, C. Inês Ribeiro, Prieto Prieto, Antonio Daniel, Román García, Elvira, Wilson, Duncan, Hube, Bernhard, Alonso Monge, Rebeca María Del Mar, Pla Alonso, Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2019
País:España
Institución:Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM)
Repositorio:Docta Complutense
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:docta.ucm.es:20.500.14352/8552
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/8552
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:579
MAP kinase
Invasion
Cell wall
Epithelium
Microbiología (Farmacia)
3302.03 Microbiología Industrial
Descripción
Sumario:Candida albicans is an important human fungal pathogen responsible for tens of millions of infections as well as hundreds of thousands of severe life-threatening infections each year. MAP kinase (MAPK) signal transduction pathways facilitate the sensing and adaptation to external stimuli and control the expression of key virulence factors such as the yeast-to-hypha transition, the biogenesis of the cell wall, and the interaction with the host. In the present study, we have combined molecular approaches and infection biology to analyse the role of C. albicans MAPK pathways during an epithelial invasion. Hog1 was found to be important for adhesion to abiotic surfaces but was dispensable for damage to epithelial cells. The Mkc1 cell wall integrity (CWI) and Cek1 pathways, on the other hand, were both required for oral epithelial damage. Analysis of the ability to penetrate nutrient-rich semi-solid media revealed a cooperative role for Cek1 and Mkc1 in this process. Finally, cek2∆ (as well as cek1∆) but not mkc1∆ or hog1∆ mutants, exhibited elevated β-glucan unmasking as revealed by immunofluorescence studies. Therefore, the four MAPK pathways play distinct roles in adhesion, epithelial damage, invasion and cell wall remodelling that may contribute to the pathogenicity of C. albicans.