Figure 5.

Transformation of the mnn4 null mutant with additional alleles of the C. albicans MNN4-like gene family restores the C. albicans-RAW 264.7 macrophage interaction. Null mutant cells lacking either mnn4Δ (closed bars) or mnt3Δ, mnt5Δ (open bars) were transformed with expression vectors containing each of the members of the MNN4-like gene family. Cells were labeled with Acridine Orange and incubated with RAW 264.7 macrophages at a MOI 3:1 for 2.5 h at 37°C under a CO₂ atmosphere. Then, macrophages were gated by FACS system and 50,000 cells were counted/sample. Results represent macrophages interacting with at least one fluorescent fungal cell. Strains used are: NGY152 (WT), CDH15 (mnn4Δ), NGY1227 (mnt3Δ, mnt5Δ), see Table 1 for details of the other strains. The data represent means ± SD of three independent biological replicates performed by duplicate. ^*P < 0.05, compared with WT control cells. ^†P < 0.05 is a comparison with the null mutant strain.