The Role of ALS6 in Interactions Between Candida albicans and Enterobacter
Abstract
Candida albicans is a common fungal organism that normally lives in the human body but can cause infections when the immune system is weakened or when the normal microbiota balance is disrupted. These co-infections are important because they are difficult to treat and are increasingly associated with drug resistance. Recent research has shown that Candida often interacts with bacteria during infection, which can increase its ability to attach to host cells and cause disease. Enterobacter species are frequently found alongside Candida in clinical samples, but the specific genes involved in this interaction are not well understood. This project investigates the role of the C. albicans adhesin gene ALS6 in mediating interactions between Candida and Enterobacter, with the hypothesis that ALS6 contributes to cell adhesion and may enhance colonization. To investigate, we began by comparing the growth of hyphal-locked and wild-type Candida albicans in the presence and absence of Enterobacter. Hyphal-locked Candida co-cultured with Enterobacter showed the greatest level of adhesion compared to wild-type Candida and monoculture conditions. Based on this observation, members of the Candida ALS gene family (ALS1–ALS6) were individually examined. Attachment patterns of Candida strains lacking each ALS gene were compared to those of wild-type Candida. Among these, the ALS6 deletion strain demonstrated notably reduced attachment, particularly in the presence of Enterobacter, suggesting that ALS6 may play a key role in mediating the interaction between Candida albicans and Enterobacter. These findings may provide an understanding of polymicrobial interactions during infections as well as identifying potential targets for therapeutics.
Start Time
15-4-2026 9:00 AM
End Time
15-4-2026 12:00 PM
Room Number
Culp Ballroom 316
Poster Number
28
Presentation Type
Poster
Presentation Subtype
Posters - Competitive
Presentation Category
Health
Student Type
Undergraduate Student
Faculty Mentor
Sean Fox
The Role of ALS6 in Interactions Between Candida albicans and Enterobacter
Culp Ballroom 316
Candida albicans is a common fungal organism that normally lives in the human body but can cause infections when the immune system is weakened or when the normal microbiota balance is disrupted. These co-infections are important because they are difficult to treat and are increasingly associated with drug resistance. Recent research has shown that Candida often interacts with bacteria during infection, which can increase its ability to attach to host cells and cause disease. Enterobacter species are frequently found alongside Candida in clinical samples, but the specific genes involved in this interaction are not well understood. This project investigates the role of the C. albicans adhesin gene ALS6 in mediating interactions between Candida and Enterobacter, with the hypothesis that ALS6 contributes to cell adhesion and may enhance colonization. To investigate, we began by comparing the growth of hyphal-locked and wild-type Candida albicans in the presence and absence of Enterobacter. Hyphal-locked Candida co-cultured with Enterobacter showed the greatest level of adhesion compared to wild-type Candida and monoculture conditions. Based on this observation, members of the Candida ALS gene family (ALS1–ALS6) were individually examined. Attachment patterns of Candida strains lacking each ALS gene were compared to those of wild-type Candida. Among these, the ALS6 deletion strain demonstrated notably reduced attachment, particularly in the presence of Enterobacter, suggesting that ALS6 may play a key role in mediating the interaction between Candida albicans and Enterobacter. These findings may provide an understanding of polymicrobial interactions during infections as well as identifying potential targets for therapeutics.
