Blocking β‐1,6‐glucan synthesis by deleting KRE6 and SKN1 attenuates the virulence of Candida albicans

β-1,6-glucan plays a critical role in adaptive remodeling of the Candida cell wall.

“Deletion of KRE6a, which encodes β−1,6-glucan synthase, reduces echinocandin susceptibility in C. auris, further highlighting β−1,6-glucan’s critical role in adaptive remodeling.”

β-1,6-glucan appears to be a key differentiating factor in the responses of C. albicans and C. auris to caspofungin treatment.

“Thus, β-1,6-glucan, which plays a crucial role in morphogenesis, cell wall integrity, and virulence36,81,82, appears to be a key differentiating factor in the responses of C. albicans and C. auris to caspofungin treatment.”

Two contiguous genes with 57% homology to the β-1,6-glucan synthase gene KRE6 of C. albicans were identified in the C. auris B8441 genome.

“We identified in the C. auris B8441 genome two contiguous genes with 57% homology to the β-1,6-glucan synthase gene KRE6 of C. albicans82.”

KRE6 has been considered essential in C. albicans, but recent success in creating a homozygous KRE6 deletion mutant under specific conditions has raised questions about the essentiality of this gene.

“Similarly, KRE6 has been considered essential in C. albicans, but the recent success in creating a homozygous KRE6 deletion mutant under specific conditions has raised questions about the essentiality of this gene82.”

β-1,6-glucan appears to play critical roles in interacting with both mannan and chitin, as suggested by solid-state NMR results, and may exhibit different behaviors between C. albicans and C. auris in response to echinocandins.

“Another underexplored molecule is β-1,6-glucan36,82, which appears to play critical roles in interacting with both mannan and chitin, as suggested by solid-state NMR results, and may exhibit different behaviors between C. albicans and C. auris in response to echinocandins.”