UME6, a novel filament-specific regulator of Candida albicans hyphal extension and virulence.

ABSTRACT: The specific ability of the major human fungal pathogen Candida albicans, as well as many other pathogenic fungi, to extend initial short filaments (germ tubes) into elongated hyphal filaments is important for a variety of virulence-related processes. However, the molecular mechanisms that control hyphal extension have remained poorly understood for many years. We report the identification of a novel C. albicans transcriptional regulator, UME6, which is induced in response to multiple host environmental cues and is specifically important for hyphal extension. Although capable of forming germ tubes, the ume6Delta/ume6Delta mutant exhibits a clear defect in hyphal extension both in vitro and during infection in vivo and is attenuated for virulence in a mouse model of systemic candidiasis. We

SUBMITTER: Banerjee M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2291399 | biostudies-literature | 2008 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature