Open AccessProduction of pyruvate by Candida albicans : proposed role in virulence
Author(s) -
Saeed Fawzia A
Publication year - 2000
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/j.1574-6968.2000.tb09258.x
Subject(s) - candida albicans , virulence , myeloperoxidase , microbiology and biotechnology , phagocytosis , virulence factor , corpus albicans , biology , antimicrobial , immunology , biochemistry , inflammation , gene
Proposed herein is a mechanism for virulence by Candida albicans based upon this organism's ability to produce high levels of pyruvate, potentially resulting in localized tissue ketosis and undermining the normal defensive function of neutrophil myeloperoxidase. Neutrophils, a key component of our innate defense against microbial infections, seem to play a particularly important role protecting us against fungal agents such as C. albicans . In this regard, it is myeloperoxidase which is central to many of the antimicrobial properties of neutrophils. We have previously shown that metabolic ketones inactivate myeloperoxidase and impair phagocytosis. Thus, production of pyruvate by C. albicans may indeed be a significant virulence factor.