Universidade do Minho. Escola de Engenharia (EEng)
Abstract
Over the last years Candida species, including Candida
albicans, Candida dubliniensis, Candida glabrata,
Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida
tropicalis, have emerged as significant pathogens. This
work aimed at bringing insights into Candida species
world by the analyses of compounds released into the
extracellular medium namely extracellular DNA
(eDNA) and alcohol compounds. Concerning eDNA,
our results present evidence that this is a key element
of the C. albicans biofilm extracellular matrix,
contributing to biofilm integrity and antifungal
resistance. With respect to extracellular alcohols, the
results presented herein show that Candida species
secrete a cohort of alcohols that are able to regulate
their virulence traits (in vitro and in vivo). Taken
together, these studies represent an important
contribution to our understanding of the composition of
the extracellular milieu of Candida species and its
relationship with the regulation of Candida biology,
opening the possibility of the development of new
treatment and/ or diagnostic strategies to combat
candidiasis