Fig 4. Survival of the selected clinical isolates in complement active, Factor H depleted human serum.

The selected clinical C. albicans isolates and the reference strain SC5314 strain were cultivated in YPD medium overnight at 30°C. Then the yeast cells (1x10⁴/ml) were incubated in complement active, Factor H depleted human serum (10%) for 60 min at 37°C. At start (time 0) and after 60 min incubation, aliquots were removed and the number of live yeast cells was determined by plating on the YPD agar plate, which then were cultivated for 2 days at 30°C. Survival yeast number at time 0 was set 100%. The mean values of each group, i.e. the low, medium or high Gpm1/Pra1 expressing isolates are indicated by the crossed circle in the middle of each group. Data shown represent the mean values ± SD of three separate independent experiments. Pra1 surface levels affect fungal adhesion and invasion to human endothelial cells.