Alterations in the mitochondrial genome of Candida albicans in microaerophilia, anaerobiosis and thermal variation

• Grant number: 13/08457-0
• Support type: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Effective date (Start): March 01, 2014
• Effective date (End): March 31, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Genetics
• Principal Investigator: Marcelo Ribeiro da Silva Briones
• Grantee: Thais Fernanda Bartelli
• Home Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

This project aims to study the effects of the concomitant reduction of oxygen tension and temperature increase in the mitochondrial genome of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans, concerning variations in its topology, number of copies, integrity and nucleotide sequence. In nosocomial infections, the patient is often infected by yeasts present on abiotic surfaces such as catheters. Yeasts form biofilms on these surfaces where the oxygen tension is the same as the atmospheric level and the temperature around 23 ° C. By passing from the catheter into the patient's body, these yeasts face smaller oxygen tension and higher temperature of 37 ° C. The effects of these changes in growth conditions have been studied separately in nonpathogenic yeast such as the Saccharomyces genus, but have never been studied simultaneously in the pathogenic yeast Candida. In nonpathogenic yeast, it has been shown to increase anaerobic adaptation involving reduction in the number of mitochondria and changes in mitochondrial DNA topology. With respect to temperature rise, the heat shock proteins response are well characterized. Our hypothesis is that the synergistic response to increased temperature and decreased oxygen tension should cause changes in mitochondrial DNA, which in turn may interfere with mitochondrial function. These changes have important implications for further epidemiological studies and infection of Candida spp. since recent studies shows significant participation of the organelle in modulation of virulence and drug resistance in yeast.

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

FERREIRA BRUNO, DANIELLE DO CARMO; BARTELLI, THAIS FERNANDA; BRIONES, MARCELO R. S. Genome Sequence of a Staphylococcus epidermidis Strain (GTH12) Associated with Candida albicans SC5314 Cultured under Hypoxia at 37 degrees C in Glycerol for 12 Weeks. MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 6, n. 25 JUN 2018. Web of Science Citations: 0.

BARTELLI, THAIS F.; BRUNO, DANIELLE C. F.; BRIONES, MARCELO R. S. Evidence for Mitochondrial Genome Methylation in the Yeast Candida albicans: A Potential Novel Epigenetic Mechanism Affecting Adaptation and Pathogenicity?. FRONTIERS IN GENETICS, v. 9, MAY 29 2018. Web of Science Citations: 0.

BARTELLI, THAIS FERNANDA; FERREIRA BRUNO, DANIELLE DO CARMO; BRIONES, MARCELO R. S. Whole-Genome Sequences and Annotation of the Opportunistic Pathogen Candida albicans Strain SC5314 Grown under Two Different Environmental Conditions. MICROBIOLOGY RESOURCE ANNOUNCEMENTS, v. 6, n. 5 FEB 2018. Web of Science Citations: 2.