Disruption of ergosterol biosynthesis confers resistance to amphotericin B in Candida lusitaniae.

ABSTRACT: Candida lusitaniae is an emerging human pathogen that, unlike other fungal pathogens, frequently develops resistance to the commonly used antifungal agent amphotericin B. Amphotericin B is a member of the polyene class of antifungal drugs, which impair fungal cell membrane integrity. Here we analyzed mechanisms contributing to amphotericin B resistance in C. lusitaniae. Sensitivity to polyenes in the related fungi Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans requires the ergosterol biosynthetic gene ERG6. In an effort to understand the mechanisms contributing to amphotericin B resistance in C. lusitaniae, we isolated the ERG6 gene and created a C. lusitaniae erg6 delta strain. This mutant strain exhibited a growth defect, was resistant to amphotericin B, and was hypersensitive to other st

SUBMITTER: Young LY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC182600 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature