Bidirectional Stimulation of the White-Opaque Transition of Candida albicans by Ultraviolet Irradiation

Authors:
  • JAJulia Anderson
    Julia Anderson
  • JWJane Wilson
    Jane Wilson
  • DSDavid R. Soll
    David R. Soll
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Abstract
Most strains of Candida albicans are capable of switching spontaneously and at high frequency between a number of phenotypes distinguishable by colony morphology. The switching frequency of Candida albicans strain WO-1 between two predominant phenotypes, ‘white’ and ‘opaque’, and a minor phenotype, ‘fuzzy’, increased dramatically with low doses of ultraviolet irradiation that killed less than 20% of the population. The ultraviolet irradiation effect continued to be expressed over many generations as evidenced by stimulated sectoring. Ultraviolet irradiation stimulated switching in both the white-to-opaque and opaque-to-white direction, suggesting that a common mechanism functions in both directions.