The transcriptional network controlling Candida albicans biofilm formation

描述（由申请人提供）：白色念珠菌是人类消化道的正常居民。它也是人类最常见的真菌病原体，引起粘膜和全身感染，特别是在免疫功能低下的患者中。本文试图了解C。白色念珠菌协调形成生物膜-弹性的，表面相关的，有组织的细胞群。生物膜的形成是医学相关的，因为新的C。白色念珠菌感染与植入的医疗设备高度相关，这些设备为生物膜形成提供了有效的基质。我研究生物膜形成的方法是通过解剖控制这一过程的转录电路。 公共卫生相关性：C.白色念珠菌是人类最普遍的真菌病原体。它在正常人中引起浅表感染，在免疫受损的个体中引起危及生命的全身感染。本文试图了解C。白色念珠菌形成生物膜，即特别抵抗机械力和抗真菌药物的细胞群落。C.白色念珠菌生物膜在植入的医疗装置上形成，并且是新感染的主要来源。更详细地了解生物膜可能会导致预防和治疗C。白色念珠菌感染

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The yeast Candida albicans is a normal resident of the human digestive tract. It is also the most common fungal pathogen of humans, causing both mucosal and systemic infections, particularly in immune compromised patients. This proposal seeks to understand how C. albicans orchestrates the formation of biofilms - resilient, surface- associated, organized groups of cells. Biofilm formation is medically relevant because new C. albicans infections are highly correlated with implanted medical devices, which provide efficient substrates for biofilm formation. My approach to the study of biofilm formation is through dissection of the transcriptional circuitry that controls this process. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: C. albicans is the most prevalent fungal pathogen of humans. It causes superficial infections in normal humans and life threatening, systemic infections in immune compromised individuals. This proposal seeks to understand how C. albicans forms biofilms, communities of cells particularly resistant to mechanical force and antifungal drugs. C. albicans biofilms form on implanted medical devices and are a major source of new infections. Understanding biofilms in more detail may lead to improvements in preventing and treating C. albicans infections.