ABSTRACTCandida albicansgrows within a wide range of host niches, and this adaptability enhances its success as a commensal and as a pathogen. The telomere-associatedTLOgene family underwent a recent expansion from one or two copies in other CUG clade members to 14 expressed copies inC. albicans. This correlates with increased virulence and clinical prevalence relative to those of otherCandidaclade species. The 14 expressedTLOgene family members have a conserved Med2 domain at the N terminus, suggesting a role in general transcription. The C-terminal half is more divergent, distinguishing three clades: clade α and clade β have no introns and encode proteins that localize primarily to the nucleus; clade γ sometimes undergoes splicing, and the gene products localize within the mitochondria as well as the nuclei. Additionally,TLOα genes are generally expressed at much higher levels than areTLOγ genes. We propose that expansion of theTLOgene family and the predicted role of Tlo proteins in transcription regulation provideC. albicanswith the ability to adapt rapidly to the broad range of different environmental niches within the human host.
Differential activation of a Candida albicans virulence gene family during infection