Mathematical modeling of the Candida albicans yeast to hyphal transition reveals novel control strategies.

ABSTRACT: Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, is a significant cause of human infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. Phenotypic plasticity between two morphological phenotypes, yeast and hyphae, is a key mechanism by which C. albicans can thrive in many microenvironments and cause disease in the host. Understanding the decision points and key driver genes controlling this important transition and how these genes respond to different environmental signals is critical to understanding how C. albicans causes infections in the host. Here we build and analyze a Boolean dynamical model of the C. albicans yeast to hyphal transition, integrating multiple environmental factors and regulatory mechanisms. We validate the model by a systematic comparison to prior experiments,

SUBMITTER: Wooten DJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8031856 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature