Ura-status-dependent adhesion of Candida albicans mutants

Gene disruptions in the diploid opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans are usually created using multiple rounds of targeted integration called the 'ura-blaster' method. Resulting heterozygous and homozygous nul l mutants can be auxotrophic (Ura-) or prototrophic (Ural) for uracil biosy nthesis. Here we demonstrate that the Ura-status of otherwise isogenic muta nts affected the adhesion of C albicans. Moreover the effect of Ura-status on adhesion was also dependent on the null mutant background, the nature of the underlying surface and the carbon source for growth. Therefore the Ura -status is not neutral in determining adhesive properties of C albicans mut ants that are generated via the ura-blaster protocol. (C) 2001 Federation o f European Microbiological Societies. Published by Elsevier Science B.V. Al l rights reserved.