Rapid Phenotypic and Genotypic Diversification After Exposure to the Oral Host Niche in Candida albicans.

ABSTRACT: In vitro studies suggest that stress may generate random standing variation and that different cellular and ploidy states may evolve more rapidly under stress. Yet this idea has not been tested with pathogenic fungi growing within their host niche in vivo Here, we analyzed the generation of both genotypic and phenotypic diversity during exposure of Candida albicans to the mouse oral cavity. Ploidy, aneuploidy, loss of heterozygosity (LOH), and recombination were determined using flow cytometry and double digest restriction site-associated DNA sequencing. Colony phenotypic changes in size and filamentous growth were evident without selection and were enriched among colonies selected for LOH of the GAL1 marker. Aneuploidy and LOH occurred on all chromosomes (Chrs)

SUBMITTER: Forche A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6028260 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature