The exploitation of host iron sources by Candida albicans during oral infection [Elektronische Ressource] / von Ricardo Sergio Couto de Almeida

The Exploitation of Host Iron Sources by Candida albicans during Oral Infection Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) vorgelegt dem Rat der Biologisch-Pharmazeutischen Fakultät der Friedrich-Schiller- Universität Jena von Master of Science Ricardo Sergio Couto de Almeida geboren am 29. November 1976 in Lins, Brasilien Jena, Juli 2008 Table of Contents Table of Contents 1. Summary/Zusammenfassung 1 1.1. Summary 1 1.2. Zusammenfassung 3 5 2. Introduction 2.1. Iron and iron homeostasis in the host 5 2.1.1. The role of iron in biological systems 5 2.1.2. Iron proteins: haemoglobin, transferrin, lactoferrin and ferritin 5 2.1.3. Cellular iron uptake and storage 8 2.2. Iron and microbial infection 10 2.2.1. The importance of iron for infection: iron limitation and iron 10 overload 2.2.2. Iron sources and strategies used by pathogens 11 2.3. Candida albicans 12 2.3.1. The Genus Candida 12 2.3.2. The polymorphic fungus C. albicans 13 2.3.3. Growth and genetics of C. albicans 13 2.3.4. The pathogenic fungus C. albicans 14 2.4. C. albicans virulence factors 15 2.4.1. Hyphal formation 15 2.4.2. Adhesion 17 2.4.3. Secreted hydrolases 18 2.4.4. pH sensing 19 2.4.5. Iron uptake 19 2.5. The three known iron uptake systems of C. albicans 20 2.5.1. Iron reductive pathway 20 2.5.2.Siderophore uptake 21 2.5.3.