Table 1.
Key C. albicans-associated virulence factors
| Immune resistance and adaptation | ||
|---|---|---|
| Adhesion/invasion | Associated genes | Function |
| ALS1 | Adhesin | |
| ALS3 | Adhesin | |
| SSA1 | AMP binding protein | |
| HWP | Hyphal-associated GPI-linked protein | |
| AlA1 | Fibronectin-binding adhesin | |
| MNT1 and MNT2 | Involved in O-glycosylation | |
| INT1 | Integrin-like protein involved in adhesion | |
| Phenotypic switch | Associated genes | Function |
| CPH1 | Transcription factor | |
| EFG1 | Transcription factor | |
| INT1 | Filamentation inducer | |
| TUP1 | Filamentation inducer | |
| CZF1 | Hyphal growth | |
| TEC1 | Filamentation inducer | |
| Proteases | Associated genes | Function |
| Secreted aspartyl proteinases (SAP1-10) | Secreted proteases | |
| Phospholipases (PLB1-4) | Phospholipases that cause disruption of host membranes | |
| Lipases (LIP1–10) | Lipases | |
| Nutrient acquisition | Associated genes | Function |
| RBT5 | Heme-binding protein | |
| CSA1-2 | Heme-binding proteins | |
| PGA7 | Heme-binding protein | |
| ZRT1 | Zinc transporter | |
| PRA1 | Zinc acquisition | |
| Environmental adaptation | ||
| Biofilm formation | Associated genes | Function |
| BCR1 | Transcription factor | |
| TEC1 | Transcription factor | |
| EFG1 | Transcription factor | |
| MKC1 | Maintains cellular integrity and cell wall biogenesis | |
| pH sensing | Associated genes | Function |
| PHR1-2 | pH regulated genes that contribute to cell wall assembly and morphogenesis | |
| RIM101 | pH response pathway | |
| DFG16 | Plasma membrane receptor | |
| RIM21 | Plasma membrane receptor | |
| Thigmotropism | Associated genes | Function |
| CCH1 | Calcium channel | |
| MID1 | Calcium channel | |
| RSR1 | Hyphal orientation | |
| Stress response | Associated genes | Function |
| GPP1-2 | Glycerol biosynthesis | |
| SOD | Superoxide dismutase | |
| CTA1 | Catalase | |
| YNB1 | Nitrosative stress response | |
| HOG1 | Osmotic, oxidative and thermal stress response | |
| HSP genes | Heat shock and oxidative stress | |
| Drug resistance | ||
| Associated genes | Function | |
| CDR1 and CDR2 | Transporter of the ATP binding cassette superfamily | |
| TAC1 | Involved in the regulation of CDR1 | |
| MRR1 | Multidrug resistance regulator involved in the control of MDR1 | |
| FKS | Encodes the β-(1,3)-d-glucan synthase involved in echinocandin resistance | |
| MSH2 | DNA mismatch repair ATPase | |
| HSP90 | Heat shock chaperone | |
| UPC2 | Transcription factor associated with azole resistance | |
| ERG3 | Sterol desaturase associated with azole and AMB resistance | |
| ERG11 | Cytochrome P450 protein involved in demethylation of lanosterol, which upon modification it confers resistance to azoles | |
| ERG6 | Methyltransferase, which converts zymosterol to fecosterol and is important for azole and AMB resistance | |
| FCY2 | Cytosine permease involved in 5-FC resistance | |
| FCY1 | Cytosine deaminase involved in 5-FC resistance | |
| Immune evasion | ||
| Associated genes | Function | |
| PRA1 | Complement binding protein | |
| CRZ1 | Transcription factor. Crz1-dependent pathway activation induces lactate-induced β-glucan masking | |
| ACE | Transcription factor. Ace2 activation is involved in the network of lactate-induced β-glucan masking | |
| XOG1 | Exoglucanase involved in immune evasion | |
| ECE1 | Expressed in association with hyphae. Protein precursor of candidalysin | |