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Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) increases in vitro germ-tube formation and phospholipase B1 mRNA expression in Candida albicans

Mycoscience volume 53, pages 36–39 (2012)Cite this article

Abstract

Candida albicans is a commensal yeast in humans that disseminates in immunocompromised persons. Its spreading is modulated by melanin, hormones, or some neurotransmitters, among other factors. The neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is used by bacteria, plants, and fungi as a carbon and nitrogen source. In this article, the in vitro effect of different doses of GABA on germ-tube formation and expression of phospholipase B1 (PLB1) mRNA in two Candida albicans strains was investigated. Results demonstrated that GABA increases both germ-tube formation and PLB1 mRNA expression in the two Candida strains in a dose-dependent manner, which suggests that GABA promotes the growth of C. albicans.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Joseph Doshner-Maute for correcting the English version of the manuscript. The authors have no conflict of interest. We declare that all experiments in this paper comply with the current laws of Mexico.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Inmunobiología, Departamento de Biología. Facultad de Química, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico, D.F., Mexico

    María Guadalupe Reyes-García & Fernando García-Tamayo

  2. Laboratorio de Micología Médica Molecular, Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, 04510, Mexico, D.F., Mexico

    Francisca Hernández-Hernández

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  1. María Guadalupe Reyes-García
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  2. Francisca Hernández-Hernández
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  3. Fernando García-Tamayo
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Correspondence to María Guadalupe Reyes-García.

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Reyes-García, M.G., Hernández-Hernández, F. & García-Tamayo, F. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) increases in vitro germ-tube formation and phospholipase B1 mRNA expression in Candida albicans . Mycoscience 53, 36–39 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10267-011-0130-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10267-011-0130-7

Keywords

  • Germ tubes
  • Neurotransmitter
  • RT-PCR
  • Virulence factors
  • Yeasts