Role of CaECM25 in cell morphogenesis, cell growth and virulence in Candida albicans.
Candida albicans is the most prominent opportunistic fungal pathogen in humans. Multiple factors are associated with the virulence of C. albicans, including morphogenesis, cell wall organization and growth rate. Here, we describe the identification and functional characterization of CaECM25, a gene that has not been reported before. We constructed Caecm25Delta/Delta mutants and investigated the role of the gene in morphogenesis, cell wall organization and virulence. CaECM25 deletion resulted in defects in cell separation, a slower growth rate, reduced filamentous growth and attenuated adherence to plastic surfaces. The Caecm25Delta/Delta mutant was also significantly less virulent than wild type when tested for systemic infection in mice. Therefore, CaECM25 plays important roles in morphogenesis, cell wall organization and virulence.
Zhang
TingTing
T
Key laboratory of Cell Proliferation and Regulation of Ministry of Education, Beijing 100875, China.
Li
WanJie
W
Li
Di
D
Wang
Yue
Y
Sang
JianLi
J
D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000502:physiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005800:Genes, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009024:Morphogenesis; D009154:Mutation; D015739:Nocodazole / Q000378:metabolism; D016415:Sequence Alignment; D050257:Tubulin Modulators / Q000378:metabolism
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D050257:Tubulin Modulators; D015739:Nocodazole