Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicans
ABSTRACT Biofilm and hypha formation are central to virulence of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The G1 cyclin gene HGC1 is required for hypha formation under diverse in vitro and in vivo growth conditions. Hgc1 is required for disseminated infection and is a linchpin in the argument that hyph...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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American Society for Microbiology
2023-04-01
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| Series: | mBio |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03498-22 |
| _version_ | 1797839579532754944 |
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| author | Anupam Sharma Norma V. Solis Manning Y. Huang Frederick Lanni Scott G. Filler Aaron P. Mitchell |
| author_facet | Anupam Sharma Norma V. Solis Manning Y. Huang Frederick Lanni Scott G. Filler Aaron P. Mitchell |
| author_sort | Anupam Sharma |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Biofilm and hypha formation are central to virulence of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The G1 cyclin gene HGC1 is required for hypha formation under diverse in vitro and in vivo growth conditions. Hgc1 is required for disseminated infection and is a linchpin in the argument that hyphal morphogenesis itself is required for pathogenicity. We report here that HGC1 is dispensable for hypha formation during biofilm formation both in vitro, under strong inducing conditions, and in vivo, in a mouse oropharyngeal candidiasis model. These findings are validated with two or more C. albicans isolates. Systematic screening of overexpressed cyclin genes indicates that CCN1 and CLN3 can compensate partially for Hgc1 function during biofilm growth. This conclusion is also supported by the severity of the hgc1Δ/Δ ccn1Δ/Δ double mutant biofilm defect. Our results suggest that hypha formation in biofilm is accomplished by combined action of multiple cyclins, not solely by Hgc1. IMPORTANCE The HGC1 gene encodes a cyclin that is required for virulence of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. It is required to produce the elongated hyphal filaments of free-living planktonic cells that are associated with virulence. Here, we show that HGC1 is not required to produce hyphae in the alternative growth form of a biofilm community. We observe Hgc1-independent hyphae in two infection-relevant situations, biofilm growth in vitro and biofilm-like oropharyngeal infection. Our analysis suggests that hypha formation in the biofilm state reflects combined action of multiple cyclins. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:00:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f8856a278ab24cf4b1a1150e94d41e42 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2150-7511 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T16:00:11Z |
| publishDate | 2023-04-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | mBio |
| spelling | doaj.art-f8856a278ab24cf4b1a1150e94d41e422023-04-25T13:04:57ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologymBio2150-75112023-04-0114210.1128/mbio.03498-22Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicansAnupam Sharma0Norma V. Solis1Manning Y. Huang2Frederick Lanni3Scott G. Filler4Aaron P. Mitchell5Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USALundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USADepartment of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USALundquist Institute for Biomedical Innovation at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, California, USADepartment of Microbiology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USAABSTRACT Biofilm and hypha formation are central to virulence of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. The G1 cyclin gene HGC1 is required for hypha formation under diverse in vitro and in vivo growth conditions. Hgc1 is required for disseminated infection and is a linchpin in the argument that hyphal morphogenesis itself is required for pathogenicity. We report here that HGC1 is dispensable for hypha formation during biofilm formation both in vitro, under strong inducing conditions, and in vivo, in a mouse oropharyngeal candidiasis model. These findings are validated with two or more C. albicans isolates. Systematic screening of overexpressed cyclin genes indicates that CCN1 and CLN3 can compensate partially for Hgc1 function during biofilm growth. This conclusion is also supported by the severity of the hgc1Δ/Δ ccn1Δ/Δ double mutant biofilm defect. Our results suggest that hypha formation in biofilm is accomplished by combined action of multiple cyclins, not solely by Hgc1. IMPORTANCE The HGC1 gene encodes a cyclin that is required for virulence of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. It is required to produce the elongated hyphal filaments of free-living planktonic cells that are associated with virulence. Here, we show that HGC1 is not required to produce hyphae in the alternative growth form of a biofilm community. We observe Hgc1-independent hyphae in two infection-relevant situations, biofilm growth in vitro and biofilm-like oropharyngeal infection. Our analysis suggests that hypha formation in the biofilm state reflects combined action of multiple cyclins.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03498-22biofilmCandidahyphaeregulationvirulence |
| spellingShingle | Anupam Sharma Norma V. Solis Manning Y. Huang Frederick Lanni Scott G. Filler Aaron P. Mitchell Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicans mBio biofilm Candida hyphae regulation virulence |
| title | Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicans |
| title_full | Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicans |
| title_fullStr | Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicans |
| title_full_unstemmed | Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicans |
| title_short | Hgc1 Independence of Biofilm Hyphae in Candida albicans |
| title_sort | hgc1 independence of biofilm hyphae in candida albicans |
| topic | biofilm Candida hyphae regulation virulence |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/mbio.03498-22 |
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