Love at First Bind: Decoding the Candida-Enterobacter Attachment Affair
Abstract
Polymicrobial interactions play a crucial role in combatting infections in today's healthcare system. The fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, and bacteria, Enterobacter, both exist normally in the human microbiota, having the chance to become opportunistic causes of co-infections. C. albicans have a unique characteristic of being a dimorphic fungus that can switch from a yeast to a hyphal form. These hyphal filaments increase the likelihood of allowing them to become invasive into host tissues, play a role in drug resistance, along with being imperative for biofilm formation and attachment. Enterobacter cloacae is a gram-negative bacterium that is part of a group of pathogens that are predominantly multidrug resistant and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. A study examining VA patient populations found that Enterobacter was the third most common co-infection with C. albicans. Our lab has previously discovered that E. cloacae adhere to C. albicans hyphae and inhibits Candida growth. This project aims to investigate these polymicrobial interactions and identify the genetic elements involved in Candida-Enterobacter attachment. To examine this attachment, we established the optimal binding time for C. albicans and E. cloacae to be at four hours of co-incubation. Prior work from our laboratory examined attachment between the wild type strains of Candida and Enterobacter compared to both the Candida agglutination like sequences (ALS) mutants and our own transposon library Enterobacter mutants. With these results, we were able to narrow down which mutants appeared to have contributing factors. Further attachment assays will be performed to quantify results, as well as sequencing the disrupted genes. Investigating this interaction is important due to the increase in antibiotic and antifungal resistance and their ability to coexist in biofilms, which leads to reduced treatment efficacy. Understanding their contribution to common healthcare infections could lead to a complex interpretation of diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.
Start Time
15-4-2026 9:00 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 12:00 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
50
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Subtype
Posters - Competitive
Presentation Category
Science, Technology, and Engineering
Student Type
Graduate and Professional Degree Students, Residents, Fellows
Faculty Mentor
Sean Fox
Love at First Bind: Decoding the Candida-Enterobacter Attachment Affair
Culp Ballroom 316
Polymicrobial interactions play a crucial role in combatting infections in today's healthcare system. The fungal pathogen, Candida albicans, and bacteria, Enterobacter, both exist normally in the human microbiota, having the chance to become opportunistic causes of co-infections. C. albicans have a unique characteristic of being a dimorphic fungus that can switch from a yeast to a hyphal form. These hyphal filaments increase the likelihood of allowing them to become invasive into host tissues, play a role in drug resistance, along with being imperative for biofilm formation and attachment. Enterobacter cloacae is a gram-negative bacterium that is part of a group of pathogens that are predominantly multidrug resistant and a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. A study examining VA patient populations found that Enterobacter was the third most common co-infection with C. albicans. Our lab has previously discovered that E. cloacae adhere to C. albicans hyphae and inhibits Candida growth. This project aims to investigate these polymicrobial interactions and identify the genetic elements involved in Candida-Enterobacter attachment. To examine this attachment, we established the optimal binding time for C. albicans and E. cloacae to be at four hours of co-incubation. Prior work from our laboratory examined attachment between the wild type strains of Candida and Enterobacter compared to both the Candida agglutination like sequences (ALS) mutants and our own transposon library Enterobacter mutants. With these results, we were able to narrow down which mutants appeared to have contributing factors. Further attachment assays will be performed to quantify results, as well as sequencing the disrupted genes. Investigating this interaction is important due to the increase in antibiotic and antifungal resistance and their ability to coexist in biofilms, which leads to reduced treatment efficacy. Understanding their contribution to common healthcare infections could lead to a complex interpretation of diagnostic approaches and therapeutic strategies.
