Regulation of candidalysin underlies Candida albicans persistence in intravascular catheters by modulating NETosis
Journal
PLOS Pathogens
Journal Volume
20
Journal Issue
6
ISSN
1553-7374
Date Issued
2024-06-17
Author(s)
Kuo-Yao Tseng
Yu-Ting Huang
Yu-Ting Su
An-Ni Wang
Wen-Yen Weng
Cai-Ling Ke
Yu-Chiao Yeh
Jhih-Jie Wang
Shin-Hei Du
Zi-Qi Gu
Wei-Lin Chen
Yu-Huan Tsai
DOI
10.1371/journal.ppat.1012319
Abstract
Candida albicans is a leading cause of intravascular catheter-related infections. The capacity for biofilm formation has been proposed to contribute to the persistence of this fungal pathogen on catheter surfaces. While efforts have been devoted to identifying microbial factors that modulate C. albicans biofilm formation in vitro, our understanding of the host factors that may shape C. albicans persistence in intravascular catheters is lacking. Here, we used multiphoton microscopy to characterize biofilms in intravascular catheters removed from candidiasis patients. We demonstrated that, NETosis, a type of neutrophil cell death with antimicrobial activity, was implicated in the interaction of immune cells with C. albicans in the catheters. The catheter isolates exhibited reduced filamentation and candidalysin gene expression, specifically in the total parenteral nutrition culture environment. Furthermore, we showed that the ablation of candidalysin expression in C. albicans reduced NETosis and conferred resistance to neutrophil-mediated fungal biofilm elimination. Our findings illustrate the role of neutrophil NETosis in modulating C. albicans biofilm persistence in an intravascular catheter, highlighting that C. albicans can benefit from reduced virulence expression to promote its persistence in an intravascular catheter.
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Description
Article number e1012319
Type
journal article