Scientific project, 30 hp
Biomedical Laboratory Science Programme, 180 hp Autumn 2017
The Interaction of Candidalysin and
Human Neutrophils
Department of Clinical Microbiology Biomedical Laboratory Science programme
Scientific project, 30 hp
Course coordinator: Ylva Hedberg Fransson
ylva.hedberg.fransson@umu.se
Opponent:
Mari Norgren
Examiner:
Ylva Hedberg Fransson
Date of pass:
2018 02 19
Supervisor
Abstract
Fungal infections are a major cause of human disease and mortality worldwide. The fungi Candida
albicans is an innocuous member of the human microbiome, but is also known to cause life threatening
invasive infections, especially in immune-compromised individuals. Human neutrophils build the first line of defence regarding fungal infections, either by engulfing the microorganism or releasing neutrophil extracellular traps (NET). C. albicans hyphae are known to trigger NET formation. Recently, a new peptide toxin, candidalysin, was identified in C. albicans hyphae, which can lyse multiple cell types. The aim of the study was to investigate the interaction between candidalysin and human neutrophils, and to investigate which signalling mechanisms in neutrophils were triggered by candidalysin to release NET. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that candidalysin was able to induce NET formation within 120 min, and the ideal reaction time was 240 to 300 min. Additional results indicated that candidalysin most likely influenced a pathway that involved Syk, PI3K, AKT, mTOR, and NF-κB to trigger neutrophils to release NET. However, these findings require further investigation.