Expression of SAP8 increases at 25 °C compared with expression levels at physiological AZD2014 nmr temperatures. This differential expression of SAP genes suggests that Sap isoenzymes may play different roles in the invasion of host cells.[20, 55] The expression of SAPs is correlated with other virulence determinants in the pathogenicity of C. albicans. SAP1–SAP3 are involved in promoting adhesion to buccal epithelial

cells. SAP1–SAP3 and SAP8 are all expressed at a higher level when C. albicans undergoes phenotypic switching from the white-to-opaque phenotype.[63, 64] Mutations in SAP1–SAP3 have resulted in decreased virulence in mouse models.[63] SAP4–SAP6 are necessary for survival and escape Selleckchem Ku0059436 from macrophages, and SAP4–SAP6 triple mutants are eliminated more effectively after phagocytosis.[65] Sap6 appears to contribute principally to liver tissue damage and other parenchymal organs.[41] Further research has indicated increased expression of SAP genes, especially SAP 5, 6 and 9 mRNA transcripts in sessile cells compared with planktonic cells.[66, 67] Many experiments have been conducted since the 1980s to prove a correlation between the levels of enzymatic activity and the degree of virulence of a strain.[20, 37, 68-73] A study comparing

the virulence of mutants with single or multiple deletions in the SAP genes, especially SAP1–SAP6, to wild-type strains in different models of infection, revealed that mutants with deletions in SAP1, SAP2, or SAP3 were less virulent in a rat model of candidial vaginitis, whereas mutants lacking SAP4-SAP6 did not have a detectable virulence defect under these conditions.[52] Evidence that Sap enzymes play a role in Candida spp. pathogenicity is observed in strains with low virulence when

there is a deficiency in Sap enzyme production.[20, 52] In vivo expression of C. albicans SAP1–SAP8 genes was analysed in colonised patients and in patients infected with oral and vaginal candidiasis. SAP2 and SAP5 were the most common genes expressed in both colonised and infected Acetophenone patients. SAP1 and SAP3 were equally expressed, but were more closely associated with vaginal candidiasis. SAP4 and SAP6 are expressed more frequently during oral and vaginal infections, compared with carriers. The expression of SAP7 and SAP8 correlates with oral and vaginal infections rather than with carriers.[74] Results from a study by Schaller et al. [57, 69] detected expression of SAP1–SAP3 and SAP6 by RT-PCR in a model of vaginal candidiasis based on reconstituted human epithelia (RHE), but no expression of SAP4 and SAP5. The study also suggested that SAP1–SAP3 are required to maintain wild-type levels of tissue damage in this model. The role of the Saps during infection of RHE was also demonstrated by a reduction in tissue damage caused by the wild-type strain of C.