Effect of calcium ion uptake on Candida albicans morphology

Title: Effect of calcium ion uptake on Candida albicans morphology.
Personal Authors: Holmes, A. R., Cannon, R. D., Shepherd, M. G.
Author Affiliation: Experimental Oral Biology Unit, School of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
Editors: No editors
Document Title: FEMS Microbiology Letters

Abstract:

In liquid culture using a synthetic medium, added magnesium but not calcium was required for exponential growth of C. albicans yeast cells. However, medium without added divalent cations supported 2-3 generations of yeast growth or germ tube induction. The addition of calcium ions (1.0 mM) at any stage during the induction of germ tube formation caused reversion to a yeast mode of growth, in contrast to the effect of zinc and cobalt ions which were toxic to all growth. Inhibition of germ tube formation by calcium was not observed in the presence of either magnesium (10 µM) or manganese (100 µM). The presence of either of these ions caused inhibition of 45Ca uptake in yeast cultures.

It is concluded that unrestricted calcium uptake results in the specific inhibition of C. albicans mycelial growth, indicating a critical role for calcium in the regulation of C. albicans morphogenesis.




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