Candida albicans proteinases: resolving the mystery of a gene family

B Hube, J Naglik - Microbiology, 2001 - microbiologyresearch.org
Microbiology, 2001microbiologyresearch.org
Fungal infections of mucosal surfaces are extremely common, debilitating and often
recurring diseases, which are frequently caused by the yeast Candida albicans.
Furthermore, in the severely immunocompromised host, C. albicans may also cause
deepseated or even life-threatening systemic infections. In order to colonize, infect and
evade host defence mechanisms, C. albicans possesses a repertoire of virulence attributes.
In particular, the secreted aspartic proteinases (Saps), encoded by the SAP gene family with …
Fungal infections of mucosal surfaces are extremely common, debilitating and often recurring diseases, which are frequently caused by the yeast Candida albicans. Furthermore, in the severely immunocompromised host, C. albicans may also cause deepseated or even life-threatening systemic infections. In order to colonize, infect and evade host defence mechanisms, C. albicans possesses a repertoire of virulence attributes. In particular, the secreted aspartic proteinases (Saps), encoded by the SAP gene family with ten members, appear to play a major role in C. albicans virulence. The SAP family is differentially regulated and distinct members are expressed under a variety of laboratory growth conditions and during experimental
Microbiology Research