Figure 5. White a cells induce mating projection formation in opaque α cells in a mouse skin infection model.

1×10⁷ opaque α cells (GH1349) and 1×10⁷ white “helper” cells were mixed and spotted onto the skin of newborn mice for infection. The wor1Δ/Δ mutant (SZ306w-a), WT “a” (P37005 and SZ306a) and “a/α” strains (SZ306) were used for induction of mating projections. Opaque α cells (GH1349) alone (no white “helper” control) was used as a control. Representative SEM images are shown. W, white cells; O, opaque cells; P, mating projections. Scale bar, 10 µm.