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Calcineurin is required for Candida albicans to survive calcium stress in serum.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Blankenship, JR; Heitman, J
Published in: Infect Immun
September 2005

The calcium-activated protein phosphatase calcineurin plays a critical role in the virulence of Candida albicans. Previous studies demonstrated that calcineurin is not required for the yeast-hypha dimorphic transition, host cell adherence, or host cell injury, which are all established virulence attributes of this organism. Calcineurin is, however, essential for survival in serum and disseminated infection. Here we identify the component of serum that is toxic to calcineurin mutant cells. Proteins, peptides, lipids, and other hydrophobic components were all excluded as essential toxic elements. Upon testing of small molecules present in serum, we discovered that calcineurin protects cells from stress caused by the endogenous levels of calcium ions present in serum. These studies illustrate how calcineurin functions in a calcium homeostatic pathway that enables a common human commensal to survive passage through the hostile environment of the bloodstream to establish deep-seated infections and cause disease.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Infect Immun

DOI

ISSN

0019-9567

Publication Date

September 2005

Volume

73

Issue

9

Start / End Page

5767 / 5774

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Zinc
  • Trans-Activators
  • Serum
  • Microbiology
  • Iron
  • Cattle
  • Candida albicans
  • Calcium
  • Calcineurin Inhibitors
  • Calcineurin
 

Citation

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Blankenship, J. R., & Heitman, J. (2005). Calcineurin is required for Candida albicans to survive calcium stress in serum. Infect Immun, 73(9), 5767–5774. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.73.9.5767-5774.2005
Blankenship, Jill R., and Joseph Heitman. “Calcineurin is required for Candida albicans to survive calcium stress in serum.Infect Immun 73, no. 9 (September 2005): 5767–74. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.73.9.5767-5774.2005.
Blankenship JR, Heitman J. Calcineurin is required for Candida albicans to survive calcium stress in serum. Infect Immun. 2005 Sep;73(9):5767–74.
Blankenship, Jill R., and Joseph Heitman. “Calcineurin is required for Candida albicans to survive calcium stress in serum.Infect Immun, vol. 73, no. 9, Sept. 2005, pp. 5767–74. Pubmed, doi:10.1128/IAI.73.9.5767-5774.2005.
Blankenship JR, Heitman J. Calcineurin is required for Candida albicans to survive calcium stress in serum. Infect Immun. 2005 Sep;73(9):5767–5774.

Published In

Infect Immun

DOI

ISSN

0019-9567

Publication Date

September 2005

Volume

73

Issue

9

Start / End Page

5767 / 5774

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Zinc
  • Trans-Activators
  • Serum
  • Microbiology
  • Iron
  • Cattle
  • Candida albicans
  • Calcium
  • Calcineurin Inhibitors
  • Calcineurin