Role of Candida albicans MBP1 in Yeast Pathogenesis

Abstract

The yeast species Candida albicans is the most commonly isolated yeast in human disease and systemic C. albicans infections account for nearly 60% of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. To infect host tissue, the unicellular yeast-like form switches to the tissue invading, multicellular filamentous or hyphal form. This yeast to hyphae conversion contributes significantly to the pathogenesis of C. albicans and genes involved in this conversion are putative targets for new antifungal drugs. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Mbp1 in this morphological conversion.