白念珠菌是人类极为重要的一种条件性致病真菌，其极性生长机制在侵染宿主的过程中扮演着极为重要的角色。在真菌的极性生长过程中，肌动蛋白束及肌动蛋白斑是分泌型囊泡的极性运输、顶体结构的形成及胞吞途径所必需的，与该病原菌的极性生长、形态发生及致病性紧密相关，而Sac调节因子在肌动蛋白的组装及功能方面发挥重要作用。本项目旨在对白念珠菌中的各种Sac调节因子进行鉴定，并明确其在白念珠菌极性生长及致病性方面的功能，在此基础上探索其在肌动蛋白的组装与解聚、胞吐及胞吞途径中的作用机制。不仅如此，我们将探索白念珠菌Sac调节因子与钙信号系统的相互关系，明确两者在肌动蛋白组装及极性生长过程中协同作用的机制。通过开展白念珠菌Sac调节因子功能及调控机制的研究，有望丰富白念珠菌的极性生长理论，同时发掘针对该病原菌的新型药物靶点，为临床治疗白念珠菌感染提供理论依据。

Candida albicans is one of the most important opportunistic fungi in human beings. The mechanisms to maintain polarized growth play an essential role in invasion to host tissues for this pathogen. Both actin cables and actin patches is required for polarized transport of secretory vesicles, formation of the Spitzenk?per, and endocytosis, which were closely associated with polarized growth, morphogenesis and pathogenicity in this pathogen. Sac proteins are an important group of actin regulators, functioning in assembly of actin cytoskeleton. This study aims to identify various C. albicans Sac regulators, and investigate their functions in polarized growth and pathogenicity. Based on these observations, we will further investigate the mechanisms by which these members regulate organization and disassembly of actin cytoskeleton, exocytosis and endocytosis. Moreover, we will explore the link between these regulators and the calcium signaling system. This study will shed light on the theory of C. albicans polarized growth, uncover novel targets against this pathogen, and provide the basis for treatement of C. albicans-related infections in clinical practice.