FLO8 deletion leads to azole resistance by upregulating CDR1 and CDR2 in Candida albicans

Publication date: Available online 23 August 2019Source: Research in MicrobiologyAuthor(s): L.I. Wen-Jing, L.I.U. Jin-Yan, Ce SHI, Yue ZHAO, Ling-ning MENG, Fang Wu, X.I.A.N.G. Ming-JieAbstractCandida albicans has the ability to switch reversibly between budding yeast, filamentous, pseudohypha, and hyphal forms, a process in which the transcription factor Flo8 plays an important role. This ability is important for the virulence and pathogenicity of Candida albicans. To determine whether Flo8 plays a role in the regulation of drug sensitivity, we constructed a FLO8 null mutant flo8/flo8 from the parental strain SN152 and a Flo8-overexpressing strain, flo8/flo8::FLO8. The susceptibility of the isolates to antifungal agents was then evaluated using the agar dilution and broth microdilution methods. Expression of drug resistance-related genes by the isolates was investigated by real-time PCR. The flo8/flo8 mutation isolates exhibited increased resistance to fluconazole, voriconazole, and itraconazole compared with the wild-type and drug sensitivity was restored by FLO8 overexpression (flo8/flo8::FLO8). Of seven drug resistance-related genes, the FLO8 null mutation resulted in increased CDR1 and CDR2 expression (1.60-fold and 5.27-fold, respectively) compared with SN152, while FLO8 overexpression resulted in decreased CDR1 expression (0.63-fold). These results suggest that Flo8 is involved in the susceptibility of Candida albicans to antifungal azoles, with FLO8 deletion leading t...
Source: Research in Microbiology - Category: Microbiology Source Type: research