THE ROLE OF BACTERIA AND ß-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS IN CANDIDA ALBICANS INFECTION

Candida albicans has been ranked among the top four most common causes of hospital-acquired bloodstream infection worldwide. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is a well-known yet poorly understood risk factor for invasive C. albicans infection. Recently, peptidoglycan (PGN) subunits have been reported as potent inducers of C. albicans hyphal growth. Here, we report that β-lactam antibiotics cause bacteria to release large quantities of hyphal-inducing PGN subunits into the environment, including culture media and the GI tract of mice. Of high importance, massive hyphal growth in the GI tract of treated mice due to the β-lactam antibiotic-induced release of PGN subunits also increases the chance of systemic spread of C. albicans. Together, the findings strongly suggest that β-lactam antibiotics increase the risk of invasive C. albicans infection by causing bacteria to release large quantities of hyphal-inducing PGN subunits, revealing a mechanism underlying the major risk factor of invasive C. albicans infection.

Author dc:creator

• TAN CHEW TENG

• C. albicans, bacterial peptidoglycan, β-lactam antibiotics, hyphal growth, systemic infection