Project description:In this study, we compared transcriptomic changes in four serial isolates of Candida parapsilosis from a single patient over three time points (90 minutes, 8 hours and 24 hours) and two growth conditions (biofilm and planktonic). The later serial isolates have increased fitness and are resistant to echinocandins compared to the initial strain. Using RNA-Seq, we identified strain-specific changes in expression of specific biological processes and cellular components including fungal-type cell wall and transmembrane transport.
2025-12-31 | GSE298776 | GEO
Project description:Candida parapsilosis Complex from clinical
Project description:We exposed Candida parapsilosis clinical isolate #12108 to YPD plate supplemented with 8µg/ml of tunicamycin. We randomly selected 18 adaptors. We did sequencing of these adaptors.
Project description:We exposed Candida parapsilosis clinical isolate #12108 to YPD plate supplemented with 40ng/ml of aureobasidin A. We randomly selected 18 adaptors. We did sequencing of these adaptors.
Project description:Candida parapsilosis is a major human fungal pathogen, with recent global outbreaks driven by drug-resistant (DR-Cp) isolates that are difficult to eradicate and associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, the microbiological traits underlying the persistence of these outbreak strains remain poorly understood. Here, we show that DR-Cp isolates responsible for prolonged outbreaks across multiple countries exhibit a striking low-biofilm-producing (LBP) phenotype. Unexpectedly, LBP strains (29T and 49B) display enhanced stress tolerance, cell wall masking, and immune evasion, leading to resistance against neutrophil and macrophage killing and increased survival in immune cell-rich organs during systemic infection. Genome-wide transcriptomic profiling revealed extensive metabolic and regulatory rewiring in LBP strains. Together, our findings challenge the prevailing view that robust biofilm formation underlies Candida outbreak persistence and instead reveal that host immune pressure selects for biofilm attenuation as an adaptive strategy promoting long-term persistence. These insights redefine how C. parapsilosis adapts during healthcare-associated outbreaks and inform infection control strategies by shifting attention toward non-environmental reservoirs.
Project description:Candida parapsilosis is a major human fungal pathogen, with recent global outbreaks driven by drug-resistant (DR-Cp) isolates that are difficult to eradicate and associated with poor clinical outcomes. However, the microbiological traits underlying the persistence of these outbreak strains remain poorly understood. Here, we show that DR-Cp isolates responsible for prolonged outbreaks across multiple countries exhibit a striking low-biofilm-producing (LBP) phenotype. Unexpectedly, LBP strains display enhanced stress tolerance, cell wall masking, and immune evasion, leading to resistance against neutrophil and macrophage killing and increased survival in immune cell-rich organs during systemic infection. Genome-wide transcriptomic profiling revealed extensive metabolic and regulatory rewiring in LBP strains, while whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of a global isolate collection demonstrated that the LBP phenotype has arisen independently multiple times. Functional genetic analyses identified a previously uncharacterized transcription factor whose mutation markedly reduces biofilm formation but simultaneously enhances fitness during host immune interactions. Together, our findings challenge the prevailing view that robust biofilm formation underlies Candida outbreak persistence and instead reveal that host immune pressure selects for biofilm attenuation as an adaptive strategy promoting long-term persistence. These insights redefine how C. parapsilosis adapts during healthcare-associated outbreaks and inform infection control strategies by shifting attention toward non-environmental reservoirs.
Project description:Members of the genus Candida, such as C. albicans and C. parapsilosis, are important human pathogens. Other members of this genus, previously believed to carry minimal disease risk, are increasingly recognised as important human pathogens, particularly because of variations in susceptibilities to widely used anti-fungal agents. Thus, rapid and accurate identification of clinical Candida isolates is fundamental in ensuring timely and effective treatments are delivered. Rapid Evaporative Ionisation Mass Spectrometry (REIMS) has previously been shown to provide a high-throughput platform for the rapid and accurate identification of bacterial and fungal isolates. In comparison to commercially available matrix assisted laser desorption ionisation time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF), REIMS based methods require no preparative steps nor time-consuming cell extractions. Here, we report on the ability of REIMS-based analysis to rapidly and accurately identify 153 clinical Candida isolates to species level. Both handheld bipolar REIMS and high-throughput REIMS platforms showed high levels of species classification accuracy, with 96% and 100% of isolates classified correctly to species level respectively. In addition, significantly different (FDR corrected P value < 0.05) lipids within the 600 to 1000 m/z mass range were identified, which could act as species-specific biomarkers in complex microbial communities.
2017-11-01 | MTBLS383 | MetaboLights
Project description:Whole genome sequencing of Candida parapsilosis isolates
Project description:<p><em>Candida</em> species are the most common cause of opportunistic fungal infections. Rapid identification and novel approaches for the characterization of these fungi are of great interest to improve the diagnosis and the knowledge about their pathogenic properties. This study aimed to characterize clinical isolates of <em>Candida</em> spp. by proteomics (MALDI-TOF MS) and metabolomics (<sup>1</sup>H-NMR), and to correlate their metabolic profiles with <em>Candida</em> species, source of infection and different virulence associated parameters. In particular, 49 <em>Candida</em> strains from different sources (blood, n = 15; vagina, n = 18; respiratory tract, n = 16), belonging mainly to <em>C. albicans</em> complex (61%), <em>C. glabrata</em> (20%) and <em>C. parapsilosis</em> (12%) species were used. Several extracellular and intracellular metabolites showed significantly different concentrations among isolates recovered from different sources of infection, as well as among different <em>Candida</em> species. These metabolites were mainly related to the glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, nucleic acid synthesis and amino acid and lipid metabolism. Moreover, we found specific metabolic fingerprints associated with the ability to form biofilm, the antifungal resistance (i.e. caspofungin and fluconazole) and the production of secreted aspartyl proteinase. In conclusion, <sup>1</sup>H-NMR-based metabolomics can be useful to deepen <em>Candida</em> spp. virulence and pathogenicity properties.</p>