title: Caco-2 monolayer as a model for transepithelial migration of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans.
abstract: A model for transepithelial migration of human fungal pathogens was established, in which Candida albicans was shown to migrate across a monolayer of Caco-2 intestinal cells in a two-chamber system. Electron microscopy revealed typical stages of epithelial penetration by C. albicans including phagocytosis at the apical side, intra- and intercellular migration and exit on the basolateral side of the monolayer. Hyphal growth forms appeared particularly involved in penetration of the Caco-2 monolayer. The model was examined using defined C. albicans mutants defective in hyphal development (efg1/efg1) or growth (ura3/ura3). Transmigration of the efg1/efg1 mutant strain was reduced, while transmigration of the ura3/ura3 strain was blocked completely in the absence of uridine. Because these results parallel virulence characteristics of the mutants the Caco-2 monolayer system appears a useful model for the study of fungal-human host cell interactions.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Mikrobiologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Weide
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ernst
mesh_terms: D018938:Caco-2 Cells; D002176:Candida albicans; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D008954:Models, Biological