Work

Titration of C-5 Sterol Desaturase Activity Reveals Its Relationship to Candida albicans Virulence and Antifungal Susceptibility Is Dependent upon Host Immune Status

Year: 2022

Type: article

Abstract: . However, such null mutants are less frequently identified in azole-resistant clinical isolates than other resistance mechanisms, and previous studies have reported conflicting outcomes regarding antifungal resistance of these mutants in animal models of infection. The results of this study clearly establish a direct correlation between the level of Erg3p activity and the antifungal efficacy of fluconazole within a susceptible mammalian host. In addition, low levels of Erg3p activity are apparently more advantageous for C. albicans survival of azole therapy than complete loss of function. These findings suggest a more nuanced but more important role for Erg3p as a determinant of the clinical efficacy of the azole antifungals than previously appreciated. A revised model of the relationship between Erg3p activity, host immunity, and the antifungal susceptibility of C. albicans is proposed.

Source: mBio

DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00115-22