Damage to the host
The mechanism by which Candida albicans damages host cells has been considered to be multi-factorial, and presumed to rely on a combination of adhesion, invasion, hyphal extension, turgor pressure and the secretion of hydrolytic enzymes. Although toxin production by C. albicans has long been postulated and the culture supernatants of C. albicans hyphae shown to exhibit haemolytic activity, the mechanism underlying C. albicans ability to lyse host cells has remained elusive. It is clear, however, that hyphae are essential for adhesion, invasion and damage. Thus, damage is caused by hyphae and/or a hyphal associated factor. However, the exact molecular mechanisms by which C. albicans destroys these host cells has remained enigmatic.
We have identified a peptide toxin, secreted by C. albicans, which has remarkable similarities with melittin – the major component of bee venom. By deleting the encoding gene and in vitro synthesis of the fragment, we have shown that this peptide is, in itself, essential and sufficient for the lysis of host cells. In collaboration with Dr Julian Naglik, Kings College London/UK, and Dr Thomas Gutsmann, Forschungszentrum Borstel/Germany, we are now examining the mechanism by which this potent C. albicans cytolysin disrupts host cell integrity.

(2019) Recent trends in molecular diagnostics of yeast infections: from PCR to NGS. FEMS Microbiol Rev 43(5), 517-547. Details PubMed
(2019) The Candida albicans exotoxin Candidalysin promotes alcohol-associated liver disease. J Hepatol , Details PubMed
(2019) The Itaconate Pathway Is a Central Regulatory Node Linking Innate Immune Tolerance and Trained Immunity. Cell Metab [Accepted] Details PubMed
(2019) CARD9+ microglia promote antifungal immunity via IL-1β- and CXCL1-mediated neutrophil recruitment. Nat Immunol 20(5), 559-570. Details PubMed
(2019) Disruption of membrane integrity by the bacteria-derived antifungal jagaricin. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 63(9), pii: e00707-19. Details PubMed
(2019) Keeping Candida commensal - How lactobacilli antagonize pathogenicity of Candida albicans in an in vitro gut model. Dis Model Mech 12(9), pii: dmm039719. Details PubMed
(2019) Frontline Science: Endotoxin-induced immunotolerance is associated with loss of monocyte metabolic plasticity and reduction of oxidative burst. J Leukoc Biol [Accepted] Details PubMed
(2019) Candidalysin activates innate epithelial immune responses via epidermal growth factor receptor. Nat Commun 10(1), 2297. Details PubMed
(2019) Effects of histatin 5 modifications on antifungal activity and kinetics of proteolysis. Protein Sci , Details PubMed
(2019) RNAi as a Tool to Study Virulence in the Pathogenic Yeast Candida glabrata. Front Microbiol 10, 1679. Details PubMed
(2019) A Genome-Wide Functional Genomics Approach Identifies Susceptibility Pathways to Fungal Bloodstream Infection in Humans. J Infect Dis [Accepted] Details PubMed
(2019) A systems genomics approach identifies SIGLEC15 as a susceptibility factor in recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis. Sci Transl Med [Accepted] Details PubMed
(2019) Candidalysin: discovery and function in Candida albicans infections. Curr Opin Microbiol 52, 100-109. Details PubMed
(2019) Host-Pathogen Interactions during Female Genital Tract Infections. Trends Microbiol , pii: S0966-842X(19)30190-8. (Review) Details PubMed
(2019) Candidalysin is required for neutrophil recruitment and virulence during systemic Candida albicans infection. J Infect Dis 220(9), 1477-1488. Details PubMed
(2019) Integrity under stress: Host membrane remodelling and damage by fungal pathogens. Cell Microbiol 21(4), e13016. Details PubMed Open Access
(2018) Candida albicans-induced epithelial damage mediates translocation through intestinal barriers. mBio 9(3), e00915-18. Details PubMed Open Access
(2018) Adjunctive interferon-γ immunotherapy in a pediatric case of Aspergillus terreus infection. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis [Accepted] Details PubMed
(2018) Bis-guanylhydrazones as efficient anti-Candida compounds through DNA interaction. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 102(4), 1889-1901. Details PubMed
(2018) Processing of Candida albicans Ece1p is critical for Candidalysin maturation and fungal virulence. MBio 9(1), pii: e02178-17. Details PubMed Open Access
(2017) Candidalysin drives epithelial signaling, neutrophil recruitment, and immunopathology at the vaginal mucosa. Infect Immun , pii: IAI.00645-17. Details PubMed
(2016) Candidalysin is a fungal peptide toxin critical for mucosal infection. Nature 532(7597), 64-68. Details PubMed Open Access
(2016) The missing link between Candida albicans hyphal morphogenesis and host cell damage. PLOS Pathog 12(10), e1005867. (Review) Details PubMed
(2014) Epithelial invasion outcompetes hypha development during Candida albicans infection as revealed by an image-based systems biology approach. Cytometry A 85(2), 126-139. Details PubMed
(2014) Distinct roles of Candida albicans-specific genes in host-pathogen interactions. Eukaryot Cell 13(8), 977-989. Details PubMed
(2011) The Candida albicans-specific gene EED1 encodes a key regulator of hyphal extension. PLOS One 6(4), e18394. Details PubMed
(2011) Host-pathogen interactions and virulence-associated genes during Candida albicans oral infections. Int J Med Microbiol 301(5), 417-422. (Review) Details PubMed
(2011) From attachment to damage: defined genes of Candida albicans mediate adhesion, invasion and damage during interaction with oral epithelial cells. PLOS One 6(2), e17046. Details PubMed Open Access