Journal article
Intravital Imaging of Candida albicans Identifies Differential In Vitro and In Vivo Filamentation Phenotypes for Transcription Factor Deletion Mutants
mSphere, Vol.6(3), pp.e0043621-e0043621
06/30/2021
DOI: 10.1128/mSphere.00436-21
PMID: 34160243
Abstract
Candida albicans is an important cause of human fungal infections. A widely studied virulence trait of C. albicans is its ability to undergo filamentation to hyphae and pseudohyphae. Although yeast, pseudohyphae, and hyphae are present in pathological samples of infected mammalian tissue, it has been challenging to characterize the role of regulatory networks and specific genes during
filamentation. In addition, the phenotypic heterogeneity of C. albicans clinical isolates is becoming increasingly recognized, while correlating this heterogeneity with pathogenesis remains an important goal. Here, we describe the use of an intravital imaging approach to characterize C. albicans filamentation in a mammalian model of infection by taking advantage of the translucence of mouse pinna (ears). Using this model, we have found that the
and
filamentation phenotypes of different C. albicans isolates can vary significantly, particularly when
filamentation is compared to solid agar-based assays. We also show that the well-characterized transcriptional regulators Efg1 and Brg1 appear to play important roles both
and
. In contrast, Ume6 is much more important
than
. Finally, strains that are dependent on Bcr1 for
filamentation are able to form filaments
in its absence. This intravital imaging approach provides a new approach to the systematic characterization of this important virulence trait during mammalian infection. Our initial studies provide support for the notion that the regulation and initiation of C. albicans filamentation
is distinct from
induction.
Candida albicans is one of the most common causes of fungal infections in humans. C. albicans undergoes a transition from a round yeast form to a filamentous form during infection, which is critical for its ability to cause disease. Although this transition has been studied in the laboratory for years, methods to do so in an animal model of infection have been limited. We have developed a microscopy method to visualize fluorescently labeled C. albicans undergoing this transition in the subcutaneous tissue of mice. Our studies indicate that the regulation of C. albicans filamentation during infection is distinct from that observed in laboratory conditions.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Intravital Imaging of Candida albicans Identifies Differential In Vitro and In Vivo Filamentation Phenotypes for Transcription Factor Deletion Mutants
- Creators
- Rohan S Wakade - University of Iowa, Stead Family Department of PediatricsManning Huang - Carnegie Mellon UniversityAaron P Mitchell - University of GeorgiaMelanie Wellington - University of Iowa, Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)Damian J Krysan - University of Iowa, Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Publication Details
- mSphere, Vol.6(3), pp.e0043621-e0043621
- DOI
- 10.1128/mSphere.00436-21
- PMID
- 34160243
- ISSN
- 2379-5042
- eISSN
- 2379-5042
- Grant note
- R01 AI146103 / NIAID NIH HHS R01 AI133409 / NIAID NIH HHS
- Language
- English
- Date published
- 06/30/2021
- Academic Unit
- Microbiology and Immunology; Stead Family Department of Pediatrics; Infectious Disease (Pediatrics)
- Record Identifier
- 9984297330302771
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