LINKAGE OF ADHESION, FILAMENTOUS GROWTH, AND VIRULENCE IN CANDIDA-ALBICANS TO A SINGLE-GENE, INT1

Adhesion and the ability to form filaments are thought to contribute t o the pathogenicity of Candida albicans, the leading cause of fungal d isease in immunocompromised patients. Int1p is a C. albicans surface p rotein with limited similarity to vertebrate integrins. INT1 expressio n in Saccharomyces cerevisiae was sufficient to direct the adhesion of this normally nonadherent yeast to human epithelial cells, Furthermor e, disruption of INT1 in C. albicans suppressed hyphal growth, adhesio n to epithelial cells, and virulence in mice, Thus, INT1 links adhesio n, filamentous growth, and pathogenicity in C. albicans and Int1p may be an attractive target for the development of antifungal therapies.