title: The Candida albicans Hwp2p can complement the lack of filamentation of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae flo11 null strain.
abstract: The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans is one of the leading agents of life-threatening infections affecting immunocompromised individuals. Many factors make C. albicans a successful pathogen. These include the ability to switch between yeast and invasive hyphal morphologies in addition to an arsenal of cell wall virulence factors such as lipases, proteases, dismutases and adhesins that promote the attachment to the host, a prerequisite for invasive growth. We have previously characterized Hwp2, a C. albicans cell wall protein which we found necessary for proper oxidative stress, biofilm formation and adhesion to host cells. Baker's yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae also possesses adhesins that promote aggregation and flocculence. Flo11 is one such adhesin that has sequence similarity to Hwp2. Here we determined that transforming an HWP2 cassette can complement the lack of filamentation of an S. cerevisiae flo11 null strain and impart on S. cerevisiae adhesive properties similar to those of a pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Natural Sciences Department, Lebanese American University, PO Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Samer S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Younes
authors.affiliation: Natural Sciences Department, Lebanese American University, PO Box 36, Byblos, Lebanon.
authors.forename: Roy A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Khalaf
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D002448:Cell Adhesion; D002460:Cell Line; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D005816:Genetic Complementation Test; D006801:Humans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000172:deficiency*; D012441:Saccharomyces cerevisiae / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins
chemical_list: C110690:FLO11 protein, S cerevisiae; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D029701:Saccharomyces cerevisiae Proteins