Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes
Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus have been co-isolated from several biofilm-associated diseases, including those related to medical devices. This association confers advantages to both microorganisms, resulting in detrimental effects on the host. To elucidate this phenomenon, the present s...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Current Research in Microbial Sciences |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666517424000993 |
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| author | Betsy Verónica Arévalo-Jaimes Eduard Torrents |
| author_facet | Betsy Verónica Arévalo-Jaimes Eduard Torrents |
| author_sort | Betsy Verónica Arévalo-Jaimes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus have been co-isolated from several biofilm-associated diseases, including those related to medical devices. This association confers advantages to both microorganisms, resulting in detrimental effects on the host. To elucidate this phenomenon, the present study investigated colony changes derived from non-physical interactions between C. albicans and S. aureus. We performed proximity assays by confronting colonies of the yeast and the bacteria on agar plates at six different distances for 9-10 days. We found that colony variants of S. aureus originated progressively after prolonged exposure to C. albicans proximity, specifically in response to pH neutralization of the media by the fungi. The new phenotypes of S. aureus were more virulent in a Galleria mellonella larvae model compared to colonies grown without C. albicans influence. This event was associated with an upregulation of RNA III and agrA expression, suggesting a role for α-toxin. Our findings indicate that C. albicans enhances S. aureus virulence by inducing the formation of more aggressive colonies. This highlights the importance of understanding the intricate connection between environmental responses, virulence and, fitness in S. aureus pathogenesis. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-20ebaf2e88824b2199adf23864a88f2a |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2666-5174 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Current Research in Microbial Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-20ebaf2e88824b2199adf23864a88f2a2025-08-20T02:19:55ZengElsevierCurrent Research in Microbial Sciences2666-51742024-01-01710031610.1016/j.crmicr.2024.100316Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypesBetsy Verónica Arévalo-Jaimes0Eduard Torrents1Bacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac Street 10, 08037, Barcelona, Spain; Microbiology Section, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal Street 647, 08028, Barcelona, SpainBacterial infections and antimicrobial therapies group, Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac Street 10, 08037, Barcelona, Spain; Microbiology Section, Department of Genetics, Microbiology and Statistics, Faculty of Biology, University of Barcelona, Diagonal Street 647, 08028, Barcelona, Spain; Corresponding author at: Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC), Baldiri Reixac Street 10, 08037, Barcelona, SpainCandida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus have been co-isolated from several biofilm-associated diseases, including those related to medical devices. This association confers advantages to both microorganisms, resulting in detrimental effects on the host. To elucidate this phenomenon, the present study investigated colony changes derived from non-physical interactions between C. albicans and S. aureus. We performed proximity assays by confronting colonies of the yeast and the bacteria on agar plates at six different distances for 9-10 days. We found that colony variants of S. aureus originated progressively after prolonged exposure to C. albicans proximity, specifically in response to pH neutralization of the media by the fungi. The new phenotypes of S. aureus were more virulent in a Galleria mellonella larvae model compared to colonies grown without C. albicans influence. This event was associated with an upregulation of RNA III and agrA expression, suggesting a role for α-toxin. Our findings indicate that C. albicans enhances S. aureus virulence by inducing the formation of more aggressive colonies. This highlights the importance of understanding the intricate connection between environmental responses, virulence and, fitness in S. aureus pathogenesis.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666517424000993Galleria mellonellaPolymicrobial interactionsInterkingdom interactionsSynergistic effectsProximity assayAgr system |
| spellingShingle | Betsy Verónica Arévalo-Jaimes Eduard Torrents Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes Current Research in Microbial Sciences Galleria mellonella Polymicrobial interactions Interkingdom interactions Synergistic effects Proximity assay Agr system |
| title | Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes |
| title_full | Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes |
| title_fullStr | Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes |
| title_full_unstemmed | Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes |
| title_short | Candida albicans enhances Staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes |
| title_sort | candida albicans enhances staphylococcus aureus virulence by progressive generation of new phenotypes |
| topic | Galleria mellonella Polymicrobial interactions Interkingdom interactions Synergistic effects Proximity assay Agr system |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666517424000993 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT betsyveronicaarevalojaimes candidaalbicansenhancesstaphylococcusaureusvirulencebyprogressivegenerationofnewphenotypes AT eduardtorrents candidaalbicansenhancesstaphylococcusaureusvirulencebyprogressivegenerationofnewphenotypes |