Project description:Investigation of centromeres in the pathogenic yeast Candida parapsilosis, shows that the location of two centromeres are polymorphic within this species. The centromeres consist of large inverted repeats (IRs), surrounding unique sequences. New (neo) centromeres have emerged in one C. parapsilosis isolate even though the original CEN location is undamaged. The neocentromeres do not contain IRs, and have no obvious sequence features.
Project description:Whole genome microarrays were used to compare the transcriptional profile of Candida parapsilosis bcr1 knockout to wild type cells.
Project description:Candida parapsilosis has emerged as a frequent cause of invasive candidiasis with increasing evidence of unique biological features relative to C. albicans. As it adapts to conditions within a mammalian host, rapid changes in gene expression are necessary to facilitate colonization and persistence in this environment. Adhesion of the organism to biological surfaces is a key first step in this process and is the focus of this study. Building on previous observations showing the importance of a member of the ALS gene family in C. parapsilosis adhesion, three clinical isolates were cultured under two conditions that mimic the mammalian host and promote adhesion, incubation at 37°C in tissue culture medium 199 or in human plasma. Transcriptional profiles using RNA-seq were obtained in these adhesion-inducing conditions and compared to profiles following growth in yeast media that suppress adhesion to identify gene expression profiles associated with adhesion. Overall gene expression profiles among the three strains were similar in both adhesion inducing conditions and distinct from adhesion suppressing conditions. Pairwise analysis among the three growth conditions identified 133 genes that were differentially expressed at a cutoff of +/- 4-fold, with the most upregulated genes significantly enriched in iron acquisition and transmembrane transport, while the most downregulated genes were enriched in oxidation-reduction processes. Gene family enrichment analysis identified gene families with diverse function that may have an important role in this important step for colonization and disease.