Host-Pathogen Interaction. The Candida albicans - Macrophage Model.Candida albicans is a pathogenic opportunistic fungus which can be found as a component of the usual flora in human mucoses. This commensalist balance can be fragile, though. In the case of immunosuppressed patients, Candida cells can overproliferate and become pathogenic. Cells in yeast form may produce hyphae, then penetrate tissues and eventually may cause invasive candiasis. At present, the frequency of this fatal opportunistic mycosis continues to be distressing and, unfortunately, resolution is hindered by the reduced effectiveness and serious side-effects of the few currently available drugs, the appearance of antifungal-drug resistance, and the lack of accurate and prompt diagnostic procedures. To address proteomics studies involving the way Candida interacts with immune cells is thus essential in order to improve our comprehension of the process of infection and represents the primary step of investigation that could lead to the development of diagnosis methods, vaccines and antifungal drugs |
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Data Origin and Experimental Data ObtentionProteomic experimental techniques have quickly evolved in the last few years. While 2D-PAGE is still one of the most widely used methods to separate complex protein mixtures, the combination of this and other protein separation techniques like chromatography together with mass spectrometry based protein identification end up with the obtention of vast data sets that have to be adequately stored in order to enable a subsequent efficient mining. The experiments leading to sample preparation are set up and performed at Microbiology Dpt. II - Unit I (UCM) and the protein identification process is carried out at the UCM-PCM Proteomic Unit. |
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