Chapters authored
The Cell Wall of Candida albicans: A Proteomics View
Candida species are a natural commensal of humans and when the immune system is compromised it can cause candidiasis. C. albicans is the main etiological agent of candidiasis, representing nearly 60% of the total cases worldwide. The cell wall provides protection against several physical and chemical aggressions and is responsible for the different shapes displayed by C. albicans. The cell wall is not a static structure, but a dynamic one, having great plasticity to allow different cell morphologies, molecular remodeling and changes in the cell wall composition as a result from adaptation to the surrounding environment. It is mainly composed of chitin, β-glucan and mannoproteins. Therefore, the cell wall components are putative targets for the discovery and development of new drugs. The cell wall reprograming in response to several conditions, including a host carbon source, blood, serum, high temperature, acidic environment, and morphogenesis, have a direct impact on the mannoprotein content and might be involved in adherence, drug resistance and virulence of C. albicans. In this chapter, we performed an analysis of the proteins that have been identified in the C. albicans cell wall by our group and others, which allowed the identification of proteins from different intracellular compartments.
Part of the book: Candida Albicans