The cell wall of the human pathogen Candida glabrata governs initial host-pathogen interactions that underlie the establishment of fungal infections. With the aim of identifying species-specific features that may directly relate to its virulence, we have investigated the cell wall of C. glabrata using a multidisciplinary approach that combines microscopy imaging, biochemical studies, bioinforma...

In order to approximate and adhere to mucosal epithelial cells, Candida must traverse the overlying mucus layer. Interactions of Candida species with mucin and human buccal epithelial cells (BECs) were thus investigated in vitro. Binding of the Candida species to purified small intestinal mucin showed a close correlation with their hierarchy of virulence. Significant differences (P < 0.05) were...

Cryptococcosis is a leading cause of death among individuals with compromised T cell function. Soluble Cryptococcus neoformans mannoproteins (MP) have emerged as promising vaccine candidates due to their capacity to elicit delayed-type hypersensitivity and Th type 1-like cytokines, both critical to the clearance of this pathogenic yeast. In this study, the mechanisms responsible for the potent ...

This work is a short review of the interactions between oenological yeasts and lactic acid bacteria (LAB), especially Oenococcus oeni, the main species carrying out the malolactic fermentation (MLF). The emphasis has been placed on non-Saccharomyces effects due to their recent increased interest in winemaking. Those interactions are variable, ranging from inhibitory, to neutral and stimulatory ...

The DAN/TIR genes of Saccharomyces cerevisiae encode homologous mannoproteins, some of which are essential for anaerobic growth. Expression of these genes is induced during anaerobiosis and in some cases during cold shock. We show that several heme-responsive mechanisms combine to regulate DAN/TIR gene expression. The first mechanism employs two repression factors, Mox1 and Mox2, and an activat...

The yeast cell wall contains an unusually high number of different mannoproteins. The physiological role of most of them is unknown and gene disruptions leading to depletion of different proteins do not affect major functions of the wall. In this work the phenotype of different single and multiple cell wall protein mutants was observed at the level of individual cells. It was found that the lac...

UNLABELLED Inositol pyrophosphates (PP-IPs) comprising inositol, phosphate, and pyrophosphate (PP) are essential for multiple functions in eukaryotes. Their role in fungal pathogens has never been addressed. Cryptococcus neoformans is a model pathogenic fungus causing life-threatening meningoencephalitis. We investigate the cryptococcal kinases responsible for the production of PP-IPs (IP7/IP8)...