NEW HAPLOID MODEL OF CANDIDA ALBICANS IN MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DRUG DISCOVERY

TRUONG NHAT QUYNH THUYEN

Publication

NEW HAPLOID MODEL OF CANDIDA ALBICANS IN MOLECULAR GENETICS AND DRUG DISCOVERY

TRUONG NHAT QUYNH THUYEN

Abstract

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen, killing more than 400,000 people worldwide annually. Despite tremendous efforts placed on C. albicans research, the mechanisms behind the pathogenesis and drug resistance of this pathogen remain unclear. In this study, we have constructed and validated the use of the newly discovered C. albicans haploid model in molecular biology and drug discovery. The haploids demonstrated essential characteristics of an ideal model organism such as cultivability, stability, genetic simplicity, and reproducibility. The molecular techniques such as forward and reverse genetics, OMICs, and induction of spontaneous drug resistance mutations were successfully employed to the haploid models. Subsequent experiments on the haploids discovered new molecular insights in drug responses and pathogenesis of C. albicans. This work serves as a proof-of-concept for the feasibility of using the haploid model in C. albicans research. Studies in this thesis could benefit millions of patients suffering from candidiasis.