Ura-status-dependent adhesion of Candida albicans mutants

Abstract

Gene disruptions in the diploid opportunistic human fungal pathogen Candida albicans are usually created using multiple rounds of targeted integration called the 'ura-blaster' method. Resulting heterozygous and homozygous null mutants can be auxotrophic (Ura(-)) or prototrophic (Ura(+)) for uracil biosynthesis. Here we demonstrate that the Ura-status of otherwise isogenic mutants affected the adhesion of C. albicans. Moreover the effect of Ura-status on adhesion was also dependent on the null mutant background, the nature of the underlying surface and the carbon source for growth. Therefore the Ura-status is not neutral in determining adhesive properties of C. albicans mutants that are generated via the ura-blaster protocol.