Identification of 10 genes on Candida albicans chromosome 5 that control surface exposure of the immunogenic cell wall epitope ß-glucan and cell wall remodeling in caspofungin-adapted mutants.

ABSTRACT

IMPORTANCE Candida infections are often fatal in immuno-compromised individuals, resulting in many thousands of deaths per year. Caspofungin has proven to be an excellent anti-Candida drug and is now the frontline treatment for infections. However, as expected, the number of resistant cases is increasing; therefore, new treatment modalities are needed. We are determining metabolic pathways leading to decreased drug susceptibility in order to identify mechanisms facilitating evolution of clinical resistance. This study expands the understanding of genes that modulate drug susceptibility and reveals new targets for the development of novel antifungal drugs.