Control of Candida albicans morphology and pathogenicity by post-transcriptional mechanisms.
Candida albicans is a major human fungal pathogen responsible for both systemic and mucosal infections in a wide variety of immunocompromised individuals. Because the ability of C. albicans to undergo a reversible morphological transition from yeast to filaments is important for virulence, significant research efforts have focused on mechanisms that control this transition. While transcriptional and post-translational mechanisms have been well-studied, considerably less is known about the role of post-transcriptional mechanisms. However, in recent years several discoveries have begun to shed light on this important, but understudied, area. Here, I will review a variety of post-transcriptional mechanisms that have recently been shown to control C. albicans morphology, virulence and/or virulence-related processes, including those involving alternative transcript localization, mRNA stability and translation. I will also discuss the role that these mechanisms play in other pathogens as well as the potential they may hold to serve as targets for new antifungal strategies. Ultimately, gaining a better understanding of C. albicans post-transcriptional mechanisms will significantly improve our knowledge of how morphogenesis and virulence are controlled in fungal pathogens and open new avenues for the development of novel and more effective antifungals.
Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Health Science, Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Drive, MC: 7758, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA. kadosh@uthscsa.edu.
David
0000-0001-7237-8481
D
Kadosh
D017398:Alternative Splicing / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D020871:RNA Stability / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D014158:Transcription, Genetic / Q000187:drug effects
D000935:Antifungal Agents
Alternative transcript localization; Antifungal strategies; C. albicans; Morphogenesis; Translational control; Virulence; mRNA stability