Investigating the transcriptome of Candida albicans in a dual-species Staphylococcus aureus biofilm mode

Short, B., Delaney, C., McKloud, E., Brown, J. L. , Kean, R., Litherland, G. J., Williams, C., Martin, S. L., MacKay, W. G. and Ramage, G. (2021) Investigating the transcriptome of Candida albicans in a dual-species Staphylococcus aureus biofilm mode. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology, 11, 791523. (doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.791523)

[img] Text
257911.pdf - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

2MB

Abstract

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen found throughout multiple body sites and is frequently co-isolated from infections of the respiratory tract and oral cavity with Staphylococcus aureus. Herein we present the first report of the effects that S. aureus elicits on the C. albicans transcriptome. Dual-species biofilms containing S. aureus and C. albicans mutants defective in ALS3 or ECE1 were optimised and characterised, followed by transcriptional profiling of C. albicans by RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). Altered phenotypes in C. albicans mutants revealed specific interaction profiles between fungus and bacteria. The major adhesion and virulence proteins Als3 and Ece1, respectively, were found to have substantial effects on the Candida transcriptome in early and mature biofilms. Despite this, deletion of ECE1 did not adversely affect biofilm formation or the ability of S. aureus to interact with C. albicans hyphae. Upregulated genes in dual-species biofilms corresponded to multiple gene ontology terms, including those attributed to virulence, biofilm formation and protein binding such as ACE2 and multiple heat-shock protein genes. This shows that S. aureus pushes C. albicans towards a more virulent genotype, helping us to understand the driving forces behind the increased severity of C. albicans-S. aureus infections.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Short, Mr Bryn and Brown, Dr Jason and Ramage, Professor Gordon and McKloud, Emily and Kean, Mr Ryan and Williams, Dr Craig and Delaney, Mr Christopher and MacKay, Mr William and Litherland, Dr Gary
Authors: Short, B., Delaney, C., McKloud, E., Brown, J. L., Kean, R., Litherland, G. J., Williams, C., Martin, S. L., MacKay, W. G., and Ramage, G.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Infection & Immunity
College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
Journal Name:Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Publisher:Frontiers Media
ISSN:2235-2988
ISSN (Online):2235-2988
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2021 Short, Delaney, McKloud, Brown, Kean, Litherland, Williams, Martin, MacKay and Ramage
First Published:First published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology 11: 791523
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record

Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
173112Understanding processes and mechanisms affecting the oral microbiome using OMICs approachesGordon RamageBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)BB/P504567/1Med - Dental School