Dr. Phyllis BraunResearch in Molecular Biology
 Candida albicans is a diploid, dimorphic yeast localized or disseminated disease states in man. The cell wall of C. albicans is essential to its success as a pathogen. This organism regulates the synthesis of both internal and exterior macromolecules during growth and morphogenesis. Ultrastructural and biochemical analyses have demonstrated that the cell wall of C. albicans is a complex structure composed of predominately polysaccharides, proteins and lipids. Experiments have indicated that proteins are either loosely associated with the cell wall or covalently bound to mannan through phosphatidyl bonds. Protein localization studies demonstrate, that except for an inner, thin region containing chitin and glucan, proteins are found throughout the cell wall.
The proteins positioned on the external surface of C. albicans are composed of high molecular weight mannoproteins comprising the fibrillar layer of the cell wall. These mannoproteins appear to be responsible for diverse surface mediated activities of C. albicans such as adhesion and immunomodulation. The presence of these fibrillar mannoproteins determines the hydrophilic nature of C. albicans cells. Attenuation or alteration of the mannoprotein biosynthesis results in the exposure of otherwise concealed hydrophobic proteins. The unveiling of these proteins create the hydrophobic cell surface condition. In the lab, we have used growth temperature to obtain hydrophobic and hydrophilic yeast cell populations in vitro. Using these cells, we investigate how the different hydrophobic and hydrophilic cell wall surfaces influenced the transport of various nutrients into the cell.
Courses taught:
- BI 87 Microbiology: The Plight of Man and Microbes
- BI 170 & 171 General Biology (majors)
- BI 354 Molecular Biology
- BI 356 Immunology
- BI 357 Virology
- BI 395 & 396 Research
- BI 397 & 398 Internships
Microbe Book List
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