FIG 4.

C. albicans arginases family members are required for full virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model and in a mouse model (Mus musculus) of systemic infection. (A) Survival rate of G. mellonella larvae infected with 8 × 10⁴ cells of C. albicans. Virulence of the wild-type strain and car1Δ single, gbu1Δ agt1Δ double, and gbu1Δ agt1Δ car1Δ triple null mutant strain and of the associated reintegrant control strain was followed for 7 days in a Galleria infection model. Reduced virulence was documented for the gbu1Δ agt1Δ car1Δ triple mutant. (B) Virulence of the wild-type, triple null mutant, and reintegrant strains in a 3-day mouse model of systemic infection. Mice were infected with 7.4 × 10⁴ to 7.9 × 10⁴ CFU/g through lateral tail vein infection and sacrificed after 3 days, and the kidney burden (log₁₀ CFU/g), percent weight loss, and outcome score (based on both kidney burden and weight loss) were calculated. (**, P < 0.01; *, P < 0.05).