Fig. 1

Uncovering the virulence and pathogenic potential of Candida albicans colonizing the airways of patients with cystic fibrosis.

An overview of the experimental pipeline based on the functionalized CF-related in vitro and in vivo assays. a Clinical C. albicans isolates were selectively isolated from the sputum of paediatric patients with CF and characterised in vitro. The phenotypic profile of six CF isolates was assessed in SCFM2 and compared with that in several standard media used to simulate the different environmental signals that the fungus may encounter in the human body. b Reporter strains expressing GFP under the control of the ECE1 promoter and ECE1 deletion mutants were constructed and used to evaluate virulence traits under three CF-relevant atmospheric conditions in vitro. A new C. albicans infection model was established using zebrafish embryos with cftr knockdown (CFTR morphants) to assess the virulence potential of clinical CF isolates, determine their in vivo expression of the candidalysin-encoding ECE1 gene, and elucidate the role of CFTR in the host’ defence against C. albicans infections.