FIG 5.
Dfr1p is essential for Candida albicans virulence in a mouse model of disseminated candidiasis. Groups of BALB/c mice (n = 6) were inoculated with ∼5 × 105 CFU of either the dfr1Δ/PTET98-DFR1 strain or the erg11Δ/PTETO-ERG11 strain via the lateral tail vein injections. The Erg11p strain was included to compare the antifungal efficacy of targeting Dfr1p with a previously validated target. The mice were monitored three times daily for 12 days, and those showing signs of distress were humanely euthanized. Mice were treated with 2 mg/g doxycycline (DOX) or mock treated with vehicle alone provided in a gel food formulation from 72 h prior to infection and throughout the duration of the experiment. The survival of each group was compared using a log rank test (*, P < 0.0003).