Avirulence of Candida albicans auxotrophic mutants in a rat model of oropharyngeal candidiasis

• Published in: FEMS microbiology letters Vol. 126; no. 2; pp. 177 - 180
• Main Authors: Cole, Michael F., Bowen, William H., Zhao, Xiao‐jiong, Cihlar, Ronald L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK Blackwell Publishing Ltd 15.02.1995; Blackwell
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - genetics; Candida albicans - pathogenicity; Candidiasis, Oral - microbiology; Disease Models, Animal; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Human mycoses; Hyposalivation; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Mutation; Mycology; Mycoses; Mycoses of the respiratory system; Pathogenesis; Pathogenicity, host-agent relations, miscellaneous strains, epidemiology; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Virulence; Virulence factor; Candida albicans; Animal model; Auxotrophy; Candidiasis; Mycosis; Rat; Pathogenesis; Virulence; Rodentia; Oropharynx; Fungi; Infection; Vertebrata; Mammalia; Fungi Imperfecti; Mutation; Nutritional status; Thallophyta
• ISSN: 0378-1097; 1574-6968
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-6968.1995.tb07413.x

The virulence of Candida albicans strain SC5413 and two isogenic derivatives have been investigated in a rat model of oropharyngeal candidiasis. The results demonstrate that both mutant strains are avirulent in this animal model while the parental strain readily initiates infection. Avirulence is not related to altered growth characteristics or the inability of the strains to undergo yeast‐to‐hyphal morphogenesis. The potential importance of nutritional sufficiency as a virulence factor as well as the possibility of utilizing such strains in the development of an in vitro expression technology system for Candida albicans is discussed.