Candidalysin biology and activation of host cells

• Published in: mBio Vol. 16; no. 6; p. e0060324
• Main Authors: Lortal, Léa, Lyon, Claire M., Sprague, Jakob L., Sonnberger, Johannes, Paulin, Olivia K. A., Wickramasinghe, Don N., Richardson, Jonathan P., Hube, Bernhard, Naglik, Julian R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Society for Microbiology 11.06.2025
• Subjects: Animals; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - genetics; Candida albicans - immunology; Candida albicans - metabolism; Candida albicans - pathogenicity; candidalysin; Candidiasis - immunology; Candidiasis - microbiology; Epithelial Cells - immunology; Epithelial Cells - microbiology; fungal infection; Fungal Proteins - genetics; Fungal Proteins - immunology; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; immune mechanisms; Immunity, Innate; Macrophages - immunology; Macrophages - microbiology; Minireview; Mycology; Neutrophils - immunology; Neutrophils - microbiology; toxins; Candida albicans; fungal infection; candidalysin; immune mechanisms; toxins
• ISSN: 2150-7511; 2150-7511
• DOI: 10.1128/mbio.00603-24

is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening systemic infections and distressing mucosal infections. A major breakthrough in understanding pathogenicity was the discovery of candidalysin, the first cytolytic peptide toxin identified in a human pathogenic fungus. Secreted by hyphae and encoded by the gene, this 31-amino acid peptide integrates into and permeabilizes host cell membranes, causing damage across diverse cell types. Beyond its cytolytic activity, candidalysin can trigger potent innate immune responses in epithelial cells, macrophages, and neutrophils. Additionally, candidalysin plays a key role in nutrient acquisition during infection. This review explores the biology of candidalysin, its role in host cell activation, and extends the discussion to non-candidalysin Ece1p peptides, shedding light on their emerging significance.