Candida albicans infection of Caenorhabditis elegans induces antifungal immune defenses.

ABSTRACT: Candida albicans yeast cells are found in the intestine of most humans, yet this opportunist can invade host tissues and cause life-threatening infections in susceptible individuals. To better understand the host factors that underlie susceptibility to candidiasis, we developed a new model to study antifungal innate immunity. We demonstrate that the yeast form of C. albicans establishes an intestinal infection in Caenorhabditis elegans, whereas heat-killed yeast are avirulent. Genome-wide, transcription-profiling analysis of C. elegans infected with C. albicans yeast showed that exposure to C. albicans stimulated a rapid host response involving 313 genes (124 upregulated and 189 downregulated, ~1.6% of the genome) many of which encode antimicrobial, secreted or detoxification proteins. Int

SUBMITTER: Pukkila-Worley R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3121877 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature