title: Contribution of cell surface hydrophobicity protein 1 (Csh1p) to virulence of hydrophobic Candida albicans serotype A cells.
abstract: The CSH1 gene product is the first protein implicated to affect the phenotype of cell surface hydrophobicity in Candida albicans. Ablation of expression of CSH1 resulted in a 75% loss of the cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) phenotype. When the C. albicans csh1 knockout derivative was cultured from frozen stocks, it had reacquired CSH levels similar to the parent strain and isogenic reintegrant in the absence of Csh1p re-expression through an unknown mechanism. Prior to reacquisition of CSH, the knockout was less adherent to fibronectin than the parent. Comparison of the csh1 knockout and CSH1 reintegrant in a hematogenous dissemination model allows analysis of Csh1p contribution to virulence using matched strains with similar levels of CSH. No statistical significance between the knockout and reintegrant was found in virulence based on median day of survival, although a reproducible delay in onset of lethal infection for the knockout was observed. A modest difference in mucosal colonization in a vaginal infection model was also observed between the knockout and reintegrant. The present study demonstrates that Csh1p contributes to virulence of C. albicans in mice, but other gene products also contribute to the CSH phenotype and virulence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Virginia Health System, P.O. Box 800904, 3127 MR5, Charlottesville, VA 22908-0904, USA. drs3y@virginia.edu
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.forename: Paul L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Fidel
authors.forename: Karen L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wozniak
authors.forename: Kevin C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Hazen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000502:physiology*; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D051379:Mice; D013499:Surface Properties; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: C430064:CSH1 protein, Candida albicans; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors