Preliminary study on the virulence of the CVF1 gene in Candida albicans vulvovaginal candidiasis
HU Yudie
MA Yongman
LONG Siyuan
WANG Cong
ZHANG Gongyou
DAI Li
CHEN Mo-han
LIANG Daying
HUANG Ting
PAN Weihua
LUO Gang
KANG Yingqian
Abstract：Objective To investigate whether the CVF1 gene enhances the virulence of Candida albicans in vulvovaginal candidiasis(VVC),we constructed a CVF1-deficient strain(cvf1Δ)and infected both human epidermal carcinoma A-431 cells and a murine VVC model.Methods Estrogenized mice were intravaginally inoculated with wild-type(WT,SC5314),cvf1Δ,or complemented(cvf1Δ::CVF1)strains.Vaginal symptoms were monitored,fungal loads in lavage fluid were quantified,and hyphal morphology was assessed.A-431 cells were infected with these strains to measure lactate dehydrogen-ase(LDH)release(indicating cytotoxicity),intracellular survival,and inflammatory cytokine(TNF-α,IL-6,IL-1β)levels.Results Compared to WT and cvf1Δ::CVF1-infected mice,cvf1Δ-infected mice exhibited no typical VVC symptoms(e.g.,increased yellow discharge)and had significantly reduced fungal loads,though hyphal morphology remained unaffected.In A-431 cells,cvf1Δ showed lower intracellular survival,reduced LDH release,and diminished induction of TNF-α,IL-6,and IL-1β versus WT and cvf1Δ::CVF1.Conclusion CVF1 is a critical virulence gene in C.albicans-mediated VVC,gov-erning fungal persistence,host damage,and proinflammatory responses.
Keywords：Candida albicansCVF1vulvovaginal candidiasisvirulence factorhuman epidermoid carcinoma A-431 cells
Publication Date：2025-08-28
Online Publishing Date：2025-09-04(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 343-350 )