Find in Library

<i>Candida glabrata</i> is an emerging fungal pathogen whose success depends on its ability to resist antifungal drugs but also to thrive against host defenses. In this study, the predicted multidrug transporter CgTpo4 (encoded by ORF <i>CAGL0L10912g</i>) is described as a new determinant of virulence in <i>C. glabrata</i>, using the infection model <i>Galleria mellonella</i>. The <i>CgTPO4</i> gene was found to be required for the <i>C. glabrata</i> ability to kill <i>G. mellonella</i>. The transporter encoded by this gene is also necessary for antimicrobial peptide (AMP) resistance, specifically against histatin-5. Interestingly, <i>G. mellonella’s</i> AMP expression was found to be strongly activated in response to <i>C. glabrata</i> infection, suggesting AMPs are a key antifungal defense. CgTpo4 was also found to be a plasma membrane exporter of polyamines, especially spermidine, suggesting that CgTpo4 is able to export polyamines and AMPs, thus conferring resistance to both stress agents. Altogether, this study presents the polyamine exporter CgTpo4 as a determinant of <i>C. glabrata</i> virulence, which acts by protecting the yeast cells from the overexpression of AMPs, deployed as a host defense mechanism.