title: Single-molecule imaging and functional analysis of Als adhesins and mannans during Candida albicans morphogenesis.
abstract: Cellular morphogenesis in the fungal pathogen Candida albicans is associated with changes in cell wall composition that play important roles in biofilm formation and immune responses. Yet, how fungal morphogenesis modulates the biophysical properties and interactions of the cell surface molecules is poorly understood, mainly owing to the paucity of high-resolution imaging techniques. Here, we use single-molecule atomic force microscopy to localize and analyze the key components of the surface of living C. albicans cells during morphogenesis. We show that the yeast-to-hypha transition leads to a major increase in the distribution, adhesion, unfolding, and extension of Als adhesins and their associated mannans on the cell surface. We also find that morphogenesis dramatically increases cell surface hydrophobicity. These molecular changes are critical for microbe-host interactions, including adhesion, colonization, and biofilm formation. The single-molecule experiments presented here offer promising prospects for understanding how microbial pathogens use cell surface molecules to modulate biofilm and immune interactions.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Life Sciences & Institute of Condensed Matter and Nanosciences, Université catholique de Louvain, Croix du Sud, 1, bte L7.04.01., B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve, Belgium.
authors.forename: Audrey
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beaussart
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Alsteens
authors.forename: Sofiane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El-Kirat-Chatel
authors.forename: Peter N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Lipke
authors.forename: Sona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kucharíková
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Van Dijck
authors.forename: Yves F
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Dufrêne
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology; D002470:Cell Survival; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006001:Glycoconjugates / Q000378:metabolism; D057927:Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions; D025301:Hyphae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D008351:Mannans / Q000378:metabolism*; D057054:Molecular Imaging; D009024:Morphogenesis; D021381:Protein Transport
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; D006001:Glycoconjugates; D008351:Mannans