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CO(2) acts as a signalling molecule in populations of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans

Hall, Rebecca A., De Sordi, Luisa, Maccallum, Donna M., Topal, Husnu, Eaton, Rebecca, Bloor, James W., Robinson, Gary K., Levin, Lonny R., Buck, Jochen, Wang, Yue, and others. (2010) CO(2) acts as a signalling molecule in populations of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. PLoS Pathogens, 6 (11). e1001193. ISSN 1553-7374. (doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1001193) (KAR id:27488)

Abstract

When colonising host-niches or non-animated medical devices, individual cells of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans expand into significant biomasses. Here we show that within such biomasses, fungal metabolically generated CO(2) acts as a communication molecule promoting the switch from yeast to filamentous growth essential for C. albicans pathology. We find that CO(2)-mediated intra-colony signalling involves the adenylyl cyclase protein (Cyr1p), a multi-sensor recently found to coordinate fungal responses to serum and bacterial peptidoglycan. We further identify Lys 1373 as essential for CO(2)/bicarbonate regulation of Cyr1p. Disruption of the CO(2)/bicarbonate receptor-site interferes selectively with C. albicans filamentation within fungal biomasses. Comparisons between the Drosophila melanogaster infection model and the mouse model of disseminated candidiasis, suggest that metabolic CO(2) sensing may be important for initial colonisation and epithelial invasion. Our results reveal the existence of a gaseous Candida signalling pathway and its molecular mechanism and provide insights into an evolutionary conserved CO(2)-signalling system.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1001193
Subjects: Q Science
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Natural Sciences > Biosciences
Depositing User: Susan Davies
Date Deposited: 29 Jun 2011 16:35 UTC
Last Modified: 01 Dec 2021 17:01 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/27488 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Hall, Rebecca A..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4908-8168
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Bloor, James W..

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Robinson, Gary K..

Creator's ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2660-7778
CReDIT Contributor Roles:

Mühlschlegel, Fritz A..

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