Candidalysin delivery to the invasion pocket is critical for host epithelial damage induced by Candida albicans.

The human pathogenic fungus Candida albicans is a frequent cause of mucosal infections. Although the ability to transition from the yeast to the hypha morphology is essential for virulence, hypha formation and host cell invasion per se are not sufficient for the induction of epithelial damage. Rather, the hypha-associated peptide toxin, candidalysin, a product of the Ece1 polyprotein, is the critical damaging factor.

Fungal biotin homeostasis is essential for immune evasion after macrophage phagocytosis and virulence.

Biotin is an important cofactor for multiple enzymes in central metabolic processes. While many bacteria and most fungi are able to synthesise biotin de novo, Candida spp. are auxotrophic for this vitamin and thus require efficient uptake systems to facilitate biotin acquisition during infection.

The Fungal Pathogen Does Not Depend on Surface Ferric Reductases for Iron Acquisition.

Iron acquisition is a crucial virulence determinant for many bacteria and fungi, including the opportunistic fungal pathogens and While the diverse strategies used by for obtaining iron from the host are well-described, much less is known about the acquisition of this micronutrient from host sources by - a distant relative of with closer evolutionary ties to , which nonetheless causes severe clinical symptoms in humans. Here we show that is much more restricted than in using host iron sources, lacking, for example, the ability to grow on transferrin and hemin/hemoglobin. Instead, is able to use ferritin and non-protein-bound iron (FeCl) as iron sources in a pH-dependent manner.

A Novel Hybrid Iron Regulation Network Combines Features from Pathogenic and Nonpathogenic Yeasts.

Unlabelled: Iron is an essential micronutrient for both pathogens and their hosts, which restrict iron availability during infections in an effort to prevent microbial growth. Successful human pathogens like the yeast Candida glabrata have thus developed effective iron acquisition strategies. Their regulation has been investigated well for some pathogenic fungi and in the model organism Saccharomyces cerevisiae, which employs an evolutionarily derived system.

Antifungal activity of clotrimazole against Candida albicans depends on carbon sources, growth phase and morphology.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis, a superficial infection caused predominantly by the pathogenic fungus Candida albicans, is frequently treated with clotrimazole. Some drug formulations contain lactate for improved solubility. Lactate may modify C.

Clotrimazole dampens vaginal inflammation and neutrophil infiltration in response to Candida albicans infection.

The pathology of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida albicans is associated with a nonprotective inflammatory response and is frequently treated with clotrimazole. We investigated the mechanisms by which clotrimazole resolves VVC. Low levels of clotrimazole, which do not block fungal growth, inhibit expression of a "danger response" transcription factor, c-Fos, block production of proinflammatory cytokines, and inhibit neutrophil infiltration to the site of infection.