Discovery of a "white-gray-opaque" tristable phenotypic switching system in candida albicans: roles of non-genetic diversity in host adaptation.

ABSTRACT: Non-genetic phenotypic variations play a critical role in the adaption to environmental changes in microbial organisms. Candida albicans, a major human fungal pathogen, can switch between several morphological phenotypes. This ability is critical for its commensal lifestyle and for its ability to cause infections. Here, we report the discovery of a novel morphological form in C. albicans, referred to as the "gray" phenotype, which forms a tristable phenotypic switching system with the previously reported white and opaque phenotypes. White, gray, and opaque cell types differ in a number of aspects including cellular and colony appearances, mating competency, secreted aspartyl proteinase (Sap) activities, and virulence. Of the three cell types, gray cells exhibit the highest Sap activity and

SUBMITTER: Tao L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3972085 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature