A family of secreted pathogenesis‐related proteins in Candida albicans. Issue 1 (10th December 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Röhm, M.; Lindemann, E.; Hiller, E.; Ermert, D.; Lemuth, K.; Trkulja, D.; Sogukpinar, O.; Brunner, H.; Rupp, S.; Urban, C. F.; Sohn, K.
• Is Part Of: Molecular microbiology. Volume 87:Issue 1(2013)
• Page Start: 132
• Page End: 151
• Publication Date: 2012-12-10
• Subjects: Molecular microbiology -- Periodicals; 572.829
• DOI: 10.1111/mmi.12087
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-382X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Summary</title> <p>Analysing culture supernatants of yeast and hyphal cells of <italic>Candida albicans</italic>, we found two close homologues of pathogenesis‐related (PR‐) 1 proteins, Rbe1p and Rbt4p, in the secretome. Due to sequence homology, three additional, yet not characterized open reading frames, <italic>ORF19.6200</italic>, <italic>ORF19.2787</italic> and <italic>ORF19.2336</italic>, together with <italic>RBE1</italic> and <italic>RBT4</italic> were assigned to a novel family of CaPRY proteins. In a <italic>Δ</italic><italic>rbe1</italic>/<italic>Δ</italic><italic>rbt4</italic> deletion strain, genome‐wide transcriptional analysis revealed differential transcription of only a limited set of genes implicated in virulence and oxidative stress response. Single deletion of <italic>RBE1</italic> or <italic>RBT4</italic> in a clinical <italic>C. albicans</italic> isolate resulted in a moderate but significant attenuation in virulence in a mouse model for disseminated candidiasis. However, a synergistic effect was observed in a <italic>Δ</italic><italic>rbe1</italic>/<italic>Δ</italic><italic>rbt4</italic> double deletion strain, where virulence was strongly affected. Remarkably, transcription of <italic>RBT4</italic> and <italic>RBE1</italic> was each upregulated in blastospores of <italic>Δrbe1</italic> or hyphae of <italic>Δrbt4</italic> deletion strains respectively, indicating functional complementation thereby compensating a potential virulence defect in the single deletion strains. Furthermore, the double deletion strain showed increased sensitivity to attack by polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Therefore, the crucial contribution of both <italic>C. albicans</italic> pathogenesis‐related proteins to virulence might be vested in protection against phagocyte attack.</p> </abstract>