Candidalysin Is Required for Neutrophil Recruitment and Virulence During Systemic Candida albicans Infection.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Candidalysin is a cytolytic peptide toxin secreted by Candida albicans hyphae and has significantly advanced our understanding of fungal pathogenesis. Candidalysin is critical for mucosal C albicans infections and is known to activate epithelial cells to induce downstream innate immune responses that are associated with protection or immunopathology during oral or vaginal infections. Furthermore, candidalysin activates the NLRP3 inflammasome and causes cytolysis in mononuclear phagocytes. However, the role of candidalysin in driving systemic infections is unknown.

METHODS:

In this study, using candidalysin-producing and candidalysin-deficient C albicans strains, we show that candidalysin activates mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling and chemokine secretion in endothelial cells in vitro.

RESULTS:

Candidalysin induces immune activation and neutrophil recruitment in vivo, and it promotes mortality in zebrafish and murine models of systemic fungal infection.

CONCLUSIONS:

The data demonstrate a key role for candidalysin in neutrophil recruitment and fungal virulence during disseminated systemic C albicans infections.

• Authors: Marc Swidergall, Mina Khalaji, Norma V Solis, David L Moyes, Rebecca A Drummond, Bernhard Hube, Michail S Lionakis, Craig Murdoch, Scott G Filler, Julian R Naglik
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 220 Issue 9 Pg. 1477-1488 (09 26 2019) ISSN: 1537-6613 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 31401652 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press for the Infectious Diseases Society of America.

Chemical References

• Cytokines
• ECE1 protein, Candida albicans
• Fungal Proteins
• Virulence Factors

Topics

• Animals
• Candida albicans (growth & development, immunology, metabolism)
• Candidiasis, Invasive (microbiology, pathology)
• Cytokines (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Endothelial Cells (drug effects, immunology, metabolism)
• Female
• Fungal Proteins (metabolism)
• Male
• Mice, Inbred BALB C
• Neutrophil Infiltration
• Signal Transduction
• Survival Analysis
• Virulence
• Virulence Factors (metabolism)
• Zebrafish