Article
Candida glabrata produces a melanin-like pigment that protects against stress conditions encountered during parasitism
Registro en:
ALMEIDA-PAES, Rodrigo et al. Candida glabrata produces a melanin-like pigment that protects against stress conditions encountered during parasitism. Future microbiology, v. 16, p. 509-520, 2021
1746-0913
10.2217/fmb-2020-0228
Autor
Almeida-Paes, Rodrigo
Figueiredo-Carvalho, Maria H. G.
Silva, Leandro B. R. da
Gerfen, Gary
Araújo, Glauber R. de S.
Frases, Susana
Zancopé-Oliveira, Rosely M.
Nosanchuk, Joshua D.
Resumen
Aim: Melanin has been linked to pathogenesis in several fungi. They often produce melanin-like pigments in the presence of L-dihydroxyphenylalanine (L-DOPA), but this is poorly studied in Candida glabrata. Methods & materials: C. glabrata was grown in minimal medium with or without L-DOPA supplementation and submitted to a chemical treatment with denaturant and hot acid. Results: C. glabrata turned black when grown in the presence of L-DOPA, whereas cells grown without L-DOPA supplementation remained white. Biophysical properties demonstrated that the pigment was melanin. Melanized C. glabrata cells were effectively protected from azoles and amphotericin B, incubation at 42°C and macrophage killing. Conclusion: In the presence of L-DOPA, C. glabrata produces melanin, increases antifungal resistance and enhances host survival.