Candidalysin

Candidalysin is a cytolytic 31-amino acid α-helical peptide toxin found in the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans. As such, Candidalysin is a rare fungal example of a classical virulence factor. Hyphal morphogenesis in C. albicans is associated with damage to host epithelial cells; during this process Candidalysin is released.[1]

C. albicans produces the protein Ece1 (extent of cell elongation 1) during the formation of hyphae.[2] Cleavage of Ece1 at arginine/lysine residues by Kex2 and Kex1 releases several peptides, including the toxin Candidalysin. Consequently, Candidalysin is also known as Ece1-III62–92K. C. albicans strains missing Candidalysin do not damage epithelial cells and are said to be avirulent with respect to mucosal infections. The toxin is also responsible for the activation and propagation of a cellular immune response.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Wilson, Duncan; Naglik, Julian R.; Bernhard Hube (2016). "The Missing Link between Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis and Host Cell Damage". PLOS Pathogens. 12: e1005867. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1005867. PMC 5072684. PMID 27764260.
  2. ↑ Birse CE, Irwin MY, Fonzi WA, Sypherd PS (1993). "Cloning and characterization of ECE1, a gene expressed in association with cell elongation of the dimorphic pathogen Candida albicans". Infect. Immun. 61 (3648–3655): 3648–55. PMC 281060. PMID 8359888.
  3. ↑ Moyes, David L.; Wilson, Duncan; Richardson, Jonathan P.; et. al. (April 2016). "Candidalysin is a fungal peptide toxin critical for mucosal infection". Nature. 532: 64–68. doi:10.1038/nature17625. PMC 4851236. PMID 27027296.


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