RT Journal Article
T1 Trk1-mediated potassium uptake contributes to cell-surface properties and virulence of Candida glabrata
A1 Llopis Torregrosa, Vicent
A1 Monteoliva Díaz, Lucía
A1 Vaz, Catarina
A1 Ryman, Kicki
A1 Engstrom, Ylva
A1 Gacser, Attila
A1 Gil, Concha
A1 Ljungdahl, Per O.
A1 Sychrová, Hana
AB The absence of high-affinity potassium uptake in Candida glabrata, the consequence of the deletion of the TRK1 gene encoding the sole potassium-specific transporter, has a pleiotropic effect. Here, we show that in addition to changes in basic physiological parameters (e.g., membrane potential and intracellular pH) and decreased tolerance to various cell stresses, the loss of high affinity potassium uptake also alters cell-surface properties, such as an increased hydrophobicity and adherence capacity. The loss of an efficient potassium uptake system results in diminished virulence as assessed by two insect host models, Drosophila melanogaster and Galleria mellonella, and experiments with macrophages. Macrophages kill trk1Δ cells more effectively than wild type cells. Consistently, macrophages accrue less damage when co-cultured with trk1Δ mutant cells compared to wild-type cells. We further show that low levels of potassium in the environment increase the adherence of C. glabrata cells to polystyrene and the propensity of C. glabrata cells to form biofilms.
PB Frontiers Media
SN 2045-2322
YR 2019
FD 2019-05-17
LK https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/13378
UL https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14352/13378
LA eng
NO EC FP7-PEOPLE-2013-ITN
NO Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MINECO)
NO Swedish Research Council
NO Swedish Cancer Society
DS Docta Complutense
RD 6 abr 2025