Candida albicans orf19.3727 encodes phytase activity and is essential for human tissue damage

PLoS One. 2017 Dec 7;12(12):e0189219. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0189219. eCollection 2017.

Abstract

Candida albicans is a clinically important human fungal pathogen. We previously identified the presence of cell-associated phytase activity in C. albicans. Here, we reveal for the first time, that orf19.3727 contributes to phytase activity in C. albicans and ultimately to its virulence potency. Compared with its wild type counterpart, disruption of C. albicans orf19.3727 led to decreased phytase activity, reduced ability to form hyphae, attenuated in vitro adhesion, and reduced ability to penetrate human epithelium, which are the major virulence attributes of this yeast. Thus, orf19.3727 of C. albicans plays a key role in fungal pathogenesis. Further, our data uncover a putative novel strategy for anti-Candidal drug design through inhibition of phytase activity of this common pathogen.

MeSH terms

  • 6-Phytase / metabolism*
  • Candida albicans / enzymology
  • Candida albicans / genetics*
  • Candida albicans / pathogenicity
  • Open Reading Frames
  • Virulence

Substances

  • 6-Phytase

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Health and Medical Research Fund, the Food and Health Bureau of the Government of the HKSAR (Project No. 11100992 to PWKT), and partially supported by Faculty Development Scheme of the University Grants Council (UGC/FDS25/M04/15 and UGC/FDS25/M02/16 to PWKT). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.