Discovery of a "White-Gray-Opaque" Tristable Phenotypic Switching System in Candida Albicans: Roles of Non-Genetic Diversity in Host Adaption

ABSTRACT: The capacity of the commensal yeast Candida albicans to grow in several forms, referred to as phenotypic plasticity, is critical for its survival, and abilities to thrive and cause infection in the human host. In this study, we report a novel phenotype of C. albicans, referred as the “gray” phenotype. The gray cell type, together with the previously discovered “white” and “opaque” cell types, forms a tristable phenotypic switching system. The three phenotypes differ in cellular and colony appearance, global transcriptional profiles, secreted aspartyl proteinase (Sap) activities and virulence in different infection models. The addition of the gray cell type to the phenotypic transition systems may enhance fitness and confers an adaptive advantage for C. albicans in the host. We further demo

ORGANISM(S): Candida albicans

SUBMITTER: guanghua huang 

PROVIDER: E-GEOD-53671 | biostudies-arrayexpress |

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-arrayexpress