Pathogenesis of the candida parapsilosis complex in the model host caenorhabditis elegans

Ana Carolina Remondi Souza, Beth Burgwyn Fuchs, Viviane de Souza Alves, Elamparithi Jayamani, Arnaldo Lopes Colombo, Eleftherios Mylonakis

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Scopus citations

Abstract

Caenorhabditis elegans is a valuable tool as an infection model toward the study of Candida species. In this work, we endeavored to develop a C. elegans-Candida parapsilosis infection model by using the fungi as a food source. Three species of the C. parapsilosis complex (C. parapsilosis (sensu stricto), Candida orthopsilosis and Candida metapsilosis) caused infection resulting in C. elegans killing. All three strains that comprised the complex significantly diminished the nematode lifespan, indicating the virulence of the pathogens against the host. The infection process included invasion of the intestine and vulva which resulted in organ protrusion and hyphae formation. Importantly, hyphae formation at the vulva opening was not previously reported in C. elegans-Candida infections. Fungal infected worms in the liquid assay were susceptible to fluconazole and caspofungin and could be found to mount an immune response mediated through increased expression of cnc-4, cnc-7, and fipr-22/23. Overall, the C. elegans-C. parapsilosis infection model can be used to model C. parapsilosis host-pathogen interactions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number401
JournalGenes
Volume9
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 8 2018

Keywords

  • Caenorhabditis elegans
  • Candida parapsilosis
  • Host-pathogen interaction
  • Hyphae
  • Invertebrate infection model

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Genetics
  • Genetics(clinical)

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