Aim: To investigate the role of SDH2 in Candida albicans filamentation and virulence.
Materials & methods: Caenorhabditis elegans and mouse candidiasis models were used to assess the virulence of a sdh2Δ/Δ mutant. Various hypha-inducing media were used to evaluate the hyphal development of C. albicans. DCFH-DA was used to measure intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) levels.
Results: The sdh2Δ/Δ mutant was avirulent in the C. elegans model, hypovirulent in a murine candidiasis model, and defective to form filaments both in vitro and in vivo. Intracellular ROS level increased in the sdh2Δ/Δ mutant, and the filamentation defects of sdh2Δ/Δ were rescued by decreasing intracellular ROS.
Conclusion: SDH2 plays an important role in C. albicans filamentation and virulence probably through affecting intracellular ROS. [Formula: see text].
Keywords: Candida albicans; morphogenesis; succinate dehydrogenase; virulence.