Fluidic Force Microscopy Demonstrates That Homophilic Adhesion by Candida albicans Als Proteins Is Mediated by Amyloid Bonds between Cells.

ABSTRACT: The fungal pathogen Candida albicans frequently forms drug-resistant biofilms in hospital settings and in chronic disease patients. Cell adhesion and biofilm formation involve a family of cell surface Als (agglutinin-like sequence) proteins. It is now well documented that amyloid-like clusters of laterally arranged Als proteins activate cell-cell adhesion under mechanical stress, but whether amyloid-like bonds form between aggregating cells is not known. To address this issue, we measure the forces driving Als5-mediated intercellular adhesion using an innovative fluidic force microscopy platform. Strong cell-cell adhesion is dependent on expression of amyloid-forming Als5 at high cell surface density and is inhibited by a short antiamyloid peptide. Furthermore, there is greatly attenuated

SUBMITTER: Dehullu J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6638552 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature