Morphology and virulence in C. albicans: Determining what role KRE5 gene has in the filamentation process of Candida albicans
Advisor Information
Dr. Jill Blankenship
Location
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
2-3-2018 10:45 AM
End Date
2-3-2018 12:00 PM
Abstract
Candida albicans is a human fungal pathogen that causes candidiasis, a potentially lethal systemic disease. The morphology of C. albicans is an important factor for pathogenesis, and the ability to transition between forms is essential for disease. A recent study in our lab identified a number of genes that are vital for the switch between yeast like form, including the glucosyltransferase gene KRE5. A number of pathways are known to regulate filamentation and KRE5 has a previously unknown role in one of these pathways. To determine which pathway it belongs to, 7 genes were overexpressed within in the kre5Δ/Δ mutant strain which are downstream components of the known filamentation-regulatory pathways. The overexpressed genes were cleaved from the plasmid backbone through digestion followed by transformation of these overexpressed gene in kre5Δ/Δ mutant strain. A colony PCR was run in order to determine if the overexpressed construct inserted into the genomic DNA in the right location. Positive transformants have been collected for each over expression construct, but colony PCR has not identified correct placement of the over expression construct. These transformants will then be tested in various types of media to determine if filamentation was restored in the mutant cells.
Morphology and virulence in C. albicans: Determining what role KRE5 gene has in the filamentation process of Candida albicans
Dr. C.C. and Mabel L. Criss Library
Candida albicans is a human fungal pathogen that causes candidiasis, a potentially lethal systemic disease. The morphology of C. albicans is an important factor for pathogenesis, and the ability to transition between forms is essential for disease. A recent study in our lab identified a number of genes that are vital for the switch between yeast like form, including the glucosyltransferase gene KRE5. A number of pathways are known to regulate filamentation and KRE5 has a previously unknown role in one of these pathways. To determine which pathway it belongs to, 7 genes were overexpressed within in the kre5Δ/Δ mutant strain which are downstream components of the known filamentation-regulatory pathways. The overexpressed genes were cleaved from the plasmid backbone through digestion followed by transformation of these overexpressed gene in kre5Δ/Δ mutant strain. A colony PCR was run in order to determine if the overexpressed construct inserted into the genomic DNA in the right location. Positive transformants have been collected for each over expression construct, but colony PCR has not identified correct placement of the over expression construct. These transformants will then be tested in various types of media to determine if filamentation was restored in the mutant cells.