Identificación, caracterización y ensamblaje de nuevos componentes manoproteicos de la pared celular de C. albicans

C. albicans is the specie most often found as a human pathogen and is therefore the most studied and used as a research model in relation to other species. Furthermore, the incidence of infections caused by Candida has increased in recent years, showing a significant increase in parallel morbidity and mortality as a result of these infections. The fungal cell wall is the outer structure of the cell responsible for their rigidity, their characteristic morphology and involved in recognition and adhesion to specific host tissues. It is considered an important differentiating feature between human and fungal eukaryotic cells, making it an ideal target for selective attack with drugs which cause less toxicity for patients. Mannoproteins are an essential component of the cell wall structure and are responsible for key functions such as assembly, remodeling, transfers information to the kernel, etc.., Hence the interest of their study. The present work aims to study the following aspects of a better understanding of the biology of the cell wall of C. albicans: (i) identify new proteins using different technologies to those used in previous studies, and specifically those that are released by reducing agents and / or weak alkaline solutions, (ii) identify proteins wall or lack of stress conditions chemical and osmotic, or mutants deficient in any specific protein in the cell wall and (iii) a detailed study Idenfied proteins. In this section we will study in detail the biochemical characteristics of the antigen recognized by the antibody 3H8.