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Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) forms part of the normal human gut microbiota but can cause life-threatening invasive infections in immune-compromised individuals. C. glabrata displays high resistance to common azole antifungals, which necessitates new treatments. In this investigation, we identified five C. glabrata deletion mutants (∆ada2, ∆bas1, ∆hir3, ∆ino2 and ∆met31) from a library of 196 transcription factor mutants that were unable to grow and activate an immune response in Drosophila larvae. This highlighted the importance of these transcription factors in C. glabrata infectivity. Further ex vivo investigation into these mutants revealed the requirement of C. glabrata ADA2 for oxidative stress tolerance. We confirmed this observation in vivo whereby growth of the C. glabrata Δada2 strain was permitted only in flies with suppressed production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Conversely, overexpression of ADA2 promoted C. glabrata replication in infected wild type larvae resulting in larval killing. We propose that ADA2 orchestrates the response of C. glabrata against ROS-mediated immune defenses during infection. With the need to find alternative antifungal treatment for C. glabrata infections, genes required for survival in the host environment, such as ADA2, provide promising potential targets.

Original publication

DOI

10.1534/g3.118.200182

Type

Journal article

Journal

G3 (Bethesda, Md.)

Publication Date

04/05/2018

Volume

8

Pages

1637 - 1647

Addresses

Cell Biology, Development and Genetics Laboratory, Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, OX1 3QU UK.

Keywords

Gastrointestinal Tract, Animals, Drosophila, Candida glabrata, Candidiasis, Reactive Oxygen Species, Fungal Proteins, Transcription Factors, Gene Deletion, Larva, Phenotype, Gene Library, Host-Pathogen Interactions