Gene regulation and host adaptation mechanisms in Candida albicans

The yeast Candida albicans is a harmless member of the normal microflora on the mucosal surfaces of most healthy persons, but it can cause severe opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients. To become a successful human commensal and pathogen, C. albicans has evolved host adaptation mechan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:International journal of medical microbiology 2001-05, Vol.291 (2), p.183-188
Main Authors: Staib, Peter, Wirsching, Stephanie, Strauß, Anja, Morschhäuser, Joachim
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adaptation, Physiological
Bacteriology
Biological and medical sciences
Candida albicans
Candida albicans - genetics
Candida albicans - pathogenicity
Candidiasis - microbiology
Candidiasis - physiopathology
drug resistance
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal
gene regulation
Genetic Variation
Genetics
Humans
in vivo expression technology
Microbiology
microevolution
Mycology
Pathogenicity, host-agent relations, miscellaneous strains, epidemiology
phase variation
Phenotype
phenotypic switching
virulence
Virulence - genetics
virulence factors
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Summary:The yeast Candida albicans is a harmless member of the normal microflora on the mucosal surfaces of most healthy persons, but it can cause severe opportunistic infections in immunosuppressed patients. To become a successful human commensal and pathogen, C. albicans has evolved host adaptation mechanisms on different levels. The regulated expression of virulence and other genes in response to environmental signals allows an optimal adaptation to new host niches during the course of an infection. In addition, C. albicans is able to switch between different cell types in a reversible and apparently random fashion. Phenotypic switching involves the coordinated regulation of phase-specific genes, and the resulting generation of selected, pre-programmed cell types may represent an additional strategy to adapt to certain host environments. Finally, C. albicans produces genetically altered variants at a high rate. This microevolution ensures survival when the pathogen encounters new adverse conditions, as exemplified by the development of stable drug-resistant variants under the selection pressure caused by antimycotic therapy. Thus, rather than the possession of single dominant virulence factors, it is its remarkable versatility that makes C. albicans the most important fungal pathogen of humans.
ISSN:1438-4221
1618-0607
DOI:10.1078/1438-4221-00114