Morphology and virulence in C. albicans: Determining what role KRE5 gene has in the filamentation process of Candida albicans

Presenter Information

Sneh KoulFollow

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.

This document is currently not available here.

COinS
 
Mar 2nd, 10:45 AM Mar 2nd, 12:00 PM

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.