Open Access17‐β‐Estradiol upregulates the stress response in Candida albicans: Implications for microbial virulence
Author(s) -
O'Connor C.,
Essmann M.,
Larsen B.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
infectious diseases in obstetrics and gynecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.656
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1098-0997
pISSN - 1064-7449
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1098-0997(1998)6:4<176::aid-idog7>3.0.co;2-v
Subject(s) - candida albicans , virulence , corpus albicans , menadione , oxidative stress , heat shock protein , hsp70 , heat shock , microbiology and biotechnology , in vivo , chemistry , biology , biochemistry , gene
Objective The influence of 17‐β‐estradiol on the stress response of Candida albicans was studied. Methods The survival of clinical isolates of C. albicans treated with 17‐β‐estradiol after heat and oxidative stress was measured by viable plate counts. Cellular proteins were analyzed via SDS‐PAGE. Results The heat stress response induced by 17‐β‐estradiol in C. albicans grown at 25° C protected the organisms against the lethal temperature of 48.5° C, as shown by viable plate counts. 17‐β‐estradiol also enhanced protection of C. albicans against oxidative stress (menadione exposure). SDS‐PAGE analysis of cytoplasmic extracts revealed proteins induced by 17‐β‐estradiol were similar to those induced by heat. Conclusion 17‐β‐estradiol enhances survival of C. albicans under heat and oxidative stresses. The proteins induced by 17‐β‐estradiol are probably heat shock proteins. Because heat shock proteins are considered to be virulence factors, 17‐β‐estradiol may function to promote in vivo survival. Infect. Dis. Obstet. Gynecol. 6:176–181, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.