Open AccessBeyond the wall: C andida albicans secret(e)s to survive
Author(s) -
Sorgo Alice G.,
Heilmann Clemens J.,
Brul Stanley,
Koster Chris G.,
Klis Frans M.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
fems microbiology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.899
H-Index - 151
eISSN - 1574-6968
pISSN - 0378-1097
DOI - 10.1111/1574-6968.12049
Subject(s) - candida albicans , virulence , corpus albicans , biology , microbiology and biotechnology , pathogen , immune system , secretory protein , biofilm , secretion , bacteria , immunology , gene , genetics , biochemistry
The opportunistic fungal pathogen C andida albicans occupies various niches of the human body such as the skin and the mucosal surfaces of the gastrointestinal and urogenital tracts. It can also enter the blood stream and cause deadly, systemic infections, especially in immunocompromised patients, but also in immunocompetent individuals through inserted medical devices. To survive in these diverse host environments, C . albicans has developed specialized virulence attributes and rapidly adapts itself to local growth conditions and defense mechanisms. C andida albicans secretes a considerable number of proteins that are involved in biofilm formation, tissue invasion, immune evasion, and wall maintenance, as well as acquisition of nutrients including metal ions. The secretome of C . albicans is predicted to comprise 225 proteins. On a proteomic level, however, analysis of the secretome of C . albicans is incomplete as many secreted proteins are only produced under certain conditions. Interestingly, glycosylphosphatidylinositol proteins and known cytoplasmic proteins are also consistently detected in the growth medium. Importantly, a core set of seven wall polysaccharide‐processing enzymes seems to be consistently present, including the diagnostic marker M p65. Overall, we discuss the importance of the secretome for virulence and suggest potential targets for better and faster diagnostic methods.