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Microbiology

Fungus produces a toxic surprise

Nature volume 532, pages 41–42 (2016)Cite this article

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A protein fragment released by filaments of the fungus Candida albicans destroys host cells. This is the first demonstration that human fungal pathogens other than moulds can release toxic peptides. See Article p.64

The fungus Candida albicans, a common cause of infection in mucosal tissues, forms long filaments called hyphae, comprised of tubular cells, that are required for virulence in animals1. Hyphal-associated adhesion proteins bind to host tissue, which is then degraded by hydrolytic enzymes. However, until now, no hyphal toxin that damages host cells has been identified. Because of this, the fungus is considered to be an 'accidental' pathogen that benignly inhabits our mucosal tissues, causing tissue damage by happenstance rather than design. That view must now change drastically. On page 64 of this issue, Moyes et al.2 reveal a mechanism through which hyphae actively wage war on our cells — the production of a toxin that the authors call Candidalysin.

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Figure 1: A toxic relationship.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aaron P. Mitchell is in the Department of Biological Sciences, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, USA.,

    Aaron P. Mitchell

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  1. Aaron P. Mitchell
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Correspondence to Aaron P. Mitchell.

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Mitchell, A. Fungus produces a toxic surprise. Nature 532, 41–42 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature17319

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