Candida albicans Recovered From Persistent Candidemia Exhibits Enhanced Virulence Traits

Autor(es)

Ribeiro, Felipe de Camargo ; Kemmerich, Karoline Kristina ; Goncale, Juliana Caparroz ; Junqueira, Juliana Campos ; Mannan, Mohammad ; Nabeela, Sunna ; Colombo, Arnaldo Lopes ; Uppuluri, Priya

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: Journal of Infectious Diseases; v. N/A, p. 10-pg., 2025-01-21.

Resumo

Candida albicans catheter-related candidemia is largely driven by microbial adhesion and biofilm formation on central venous catheters. Cells that disperse from these biofilms can enter the bloodstream, spread to distant organs, and sustain the cycle of infection. In this study, we investigated the virulence potential of C. albicans isolates obtained from the blood of catheterized patients experiencing persistent candidemia, comparing them to isolates that were cleared from the bloodstream early in the infection. Our results show that isolates persisting in the bloodstream for 4 days or longer, despite antifungal treatment, exhibited enhanced adherence, filamentation, and biofilm formation in vitro, along with increased expression of key virulence-related genes. Notably, cells dispersed from second-generation biofilms formed by these persistent isolates displayed even more pronounced pathogenic characteristics, including improved immune evasion. Furthermore, in vivo experiments using Galleria mellonella revealed that persistent isolates were significantly more virulent than their nonpersistent counterparts. Candida albicans may enhance its pathogenic traits within the host during persistent candidemia, and these traits appear to be heritable across cell generations. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 21/00527-5 - Mecanismos de virulência e patogenicidade expressos por cepas de Candida spp. ao longo de episódios de Candidemia persistente
• Beneficiário: Felipe de Camargo Ribeiro
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Brasil - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 22/01975-4 - Avaliação das características de virulência de células dispersas de biofilmes formados por isolados clínicos de Candida albicans responsáveis por candidemia persistente
• Beneficiário: Felipe de Camargo Ribeiro
• Modalidade de apoio: Bolsas no Exterior - Estágio de Pesquisa - Pós-Doutorado
• Processo FAPESP: 17/02203-7 - Rede multidisciplinar internacional para caracterização de aspectos microbiológicos e da história natural de Infecções Fúngicas Invasivas (IFI) por espécies do gênero Candida
• Beneficiário: Arnaldo Lopes Colombo
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Temático
• Processo FAPESP: 21/10599-3 - Instituto Paulista de Resistência aos Antimicrobianos (Projeto ARIES)
• Beneficiário: Arnaldo Lopes Colombo
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Centros de Pesquisa, Inovação e Difusão - CEPIDs