Nanoscale adhesion forces between the fungal pathogen Candida albicans and macrophages

Abstract

The development of fungal infections is tightly controlled by the interaction of fungal pathogens with host immune cells. While the recognition of specific fungal cell wall components by immune receptors has been widely investigated, the molecular forces involved are not known. In this Communication, we show the ability of single-cell force spectroscopy to quantify the specific adhesion forces between the fungal pathogen Candida albicans and macrophages. The Candida-macrophage adhesion force is strong, up to B3000 pN, and corresponds to multiple cumulative bonds between lectin receptors expressed on the macrophage membrane and mannan carbohydrates on the fungal cell surface.Adhesion force signatures show constant force plateaus, up to 4100 lm long, reflecting the extraction of elongated tethers from the macrophage membrane, a phenomenon which may increase the duration of intercellular adhesion. Adhesion strengthens with time, suggesting that the macrophage membrane engulfs the pathogen quickly after initial contact, leading to its internalization.The force nanoscopy method developed here holds great promise for understanding and controlling the early stages of microbeimmune interactions.

Green synthesis, physio-chemical characterization and anti-candidal function of a biocompatible chitosan gold nanocomposite as a promising antifungal therapeutic agent

“…18 More importantly, C. albicans causes lifethreatening infections in immunocompromised patients who suffer from immune dysfunction. 19 Since last century, C. albicans has played an indispensable role in health care-related infections. 20,21 Therefore, it is in higher priority to discover nontoxic as well as nonresistant antifungal agents against C. albicans.…”

β-(1,3)-Glucan Unmasking in Some Candida albicans Mutants Correlates with Increases in Cell Wall Surface Roughness and Decreases in Cell Wall Elasticity

“…Furthermore, functionalized AFM tips have been used to characterize the manner in which macrophages bind to C. albicans cells. Binding was shown to depend on mannose binding lectins from macrophages, although the precise lectins and their contributions were not identified, and binding is impacted by the flexible nature of the macrophage membrane (46).…”

Optical and force nanoscopy in microbiology

“…These mechanical responses may play a role in host colonization by increasing the adhesion lifetime of bacteria. In another study, the adhesion forces between C. albicans and macrophages were found to involve multiple specific molecular bonds between lectin receptors on the macrophage membrane and mannan carbohydrates on the fungal cell surface 147 . Furthermore, an innovative method combining multiparametric imaging with single bacterial probes was developed to map simultaneously the topography and adhesion properties of human skin at high spatiotemporal resolution 148 .…”