Open AccessCandida albicans orf19.3727 encodes phytase activity and is essential for human tissue damage
Author(s) -
Paul Wai-Kei Tsang,
WingPing Fong,
LP Samaranayake
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0189219
Subject(s) - candida albicans , corpus albicans , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , biology , phytase , pathogen , yeast , biochemistry , enzyme , gene
Candida albicans is a clinically important human fungal pathogen. We previously identified the presence of cell-associated phytase activity in C . albicans . Here, we reveal for the first time, that orf19.3727 contributes to phytase activity in C . albicans and ultimately to its virulence potency. Compared with its wild type counterpart, disruption of C . albicans orf19.3727 led to decreased phytase activity, reduced ability to form hyphae, attenuated in vitro adhesion, and reduced ability to penetrate human epithelium, which are the major virulence attributes of this yeast. Thus, orf19.3727 of C . albicans plays a key role in fungal pathogenesis. Further, our data uncover a putative novel strategy for anti-Candidal drug design through inhibition of phytase activity of this common pathogen.