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Full-Text Articles in Genetics and Genomics
Flavodoxin-Like Proteins Protect Candida Albicans From Oxidative Stress And Promote Virulence, Lifang Li, Shamoon Naseem, Sahil Sharma, James B. Konopka
Flavodoxin-Like Proteins Protect Candida Albicans From Oxidative Stress And Promote Virulence, Lifang Li, Shamoon Naseem, Sahil Sharma, James B. Konopka
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Faculty Publications
The fungal pathogen Candida albicans causes lethal systemic infections in humans. To better define how pathogens resist oxidative attack by the immune system, we examined a family of four Flavodoxin-Like Proteins (FLPs) in C. albicans. In agreement with previous studies showing that FLPs in bacteria and plants act as NAD(P)H quinone oxidoreductases, a C.albicans quadruple mutant lacking all four FLPs (pst1Δ, pst2Δ, pst3Δ, ycp4Δ) was more sensitive to benzoquinone. Interestingly, the quadruple mutant was also more sensitive to a variety of oxidants. Quinone reductase activity confers important antioxidant effects because resistance …
N-Acetylglucosamine Regulates Virulence Properties In Microbial Pathogens, Shamoon Naseem, James B. Konopka
N-Acetylglucosamine Regulates Virulence Properties In Microbial Pathogens, Shamoon Naseem, James B. Konopka
Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology Faculty Publications
There is growing evidence that the sugar N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) plays diverse roles in cell signaling pathways that impact the virulence properties of microbes and host cells. GlcNAc is already well known as a ubiquitous structural component at the cell surface that forms part of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan, cell wall chitin in fungi and parasites, and extracellular matrix glycosaminoglycans of animal cells. Chitin and peptidoglycan have been previously linked to cell signaling as they can stimulate responses in plant and animal host cells [1–3]. Recent studies now indicate that GlcNAc released from these polymers can also …