Profiling of adhesive properties of the agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) protein family, a virulent attribute of Candida albicans.
Candida albicans is normally present in nearly all humans but can cause fatal diseases in immunocompromised patients. The agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) gene family of C. albicans has been suggested to be important for biofilm formation on medical devices. Here, we cloned all ALS genes and determined the binding properties of their gene products by cell surface engineering of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Most of the ALS homologues had the ability to bind polypropylene, borosilicate glass and polyvinyl chloride, which are often used as materials in medical devices. However, ALS homologues were not able to bind polyurethane, polymethyl methacrylate, polytetrafluoroethylene or titanium. These findings will aid in the development of biofilm-resistant medical devices.
Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Kyoto, Japan.
Wataru
W
Aoki
Nao
N
Kitahara
Natsuko
N
Miura
Hironobu
H
Morisaka
Kouichi
K
Kuroda
Mitsuyoshi
M
Ueda
D002176:Candida albicans / Q000737:chemistry*; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D004864:Equipment and Supplies / Q000382:microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression; D037102:Lectins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics
D005656:Fungal Proteins; D037102:Lectins; D037521:Virulence Factors