{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "5ab9db4f7d94446bb0b65b6eae14fdca", "timestamp": "2026-08-23T10:58:34.413Z", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/5ab9db4f7d94446bb0b65b6eae14fdca.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/5ab9db4f7d94446bb0b65b6eae14fdca"}}, "title": "Proline catabolism is a key factor facilitating Candida albicans pathogenicity.", "authors": [{"family": "Silao", "given": "Fitz Gerald S", "initials": "FGS"}, {"family": "Jiang", "given": "Tong", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Bereczky-Veress", "given": "Biborka", "initials": "B"}, {"family": "K\u00fchbacher", "given": "Andreas", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Ryman", "given": "Kicki", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Uwamohoro", "given": "Nathalie", "initials": "N"}, {"family": "Jenull", "given": "Sabrina", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Nogueira", "given": "Filomena", "initials": "F"}, {"family": "Ward", "given": "Meliza", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Lion", "given": "Thomas", "initials": "T"}, {"family": "Urban", "given": "Constantin F", "initials": "CF"}, {"family": "Rupp", "given": "Steffen", "initials": "S"}, {"family": "Kuchler", "given": "Karl", "initials": "K"}, {"family": "Chen", "given": "Changbin", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Peuckert", "given": "Christiane", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Ljungdahl", "given": "Per O", "initials": "PO", "orcid": "0000-0002-6625-3540", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/683fcaec33bf44159f021fde794c746c.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2023-11-00", "journal": {"title": "PLoS Pathog", "issn": "1553-7374", "volume": "19", "issue": "11", "pages": "e1011677", "issn-l": "1553-7366"}, "abstract": "Candida albicans, the primary etiology of human mycoses, is well-adapted to catabolize proline to obtain energy to initiate morphological switching (yeast to hyphal) and for growth. We report that put1-/- and put2-/- strains, carrying defective Proline UTilization genes, display remarkable proline sensitivity with put2-/- mutants being hypersensitive due to the accumulation of the toxic intermediate pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C), which inhibits mitochondrial respiration. The put1-/- and put2-/- mutations attenuate virulence in Drosophila and murine candidemia models and decrease survival in human neutrophils and whole blood. Using intravital 2-photon microscopy and label-free non-linear imaging, we visualized the initial stages of C. albicans cells infecting a kidney in real-time, directly deep in the tissue of a living mouse, and observed morphological switching of wildtype but not of put2-/- cells. Multiple members of the Candida species complex, including C. auris, are capable of using proline as a sole energy source. Our results indicate that a tailored proline metabolic network tuned to the mammalian host environment is a key feature of opportunistic fungal pathogens.", "doi": "10.1371/journal.ppat.1011677", "pmid": "37917600", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC10621835"}, {"db": "pii", "key": "PPATHOGENS-D-23-01138"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-20T12:44:55.325Z", "modified": "2026-08-20T12:44:55.391Z"}