Over the course of the past decade, there have been remarkable advances in the study of human pathogenic fungi. These developments have taken place throughout a wide range of disciplines, and have come as the result of newly available genome sequences of pathogens such as candida albicans and other model fungi. In Candida Albicans: Methods and Protocols, expert researchers explore these exciting new insights, focusing on the study of medically important fungi and Candida spp in particular. Chapters examine critical aspects of molecular methods, providing information on reporter gene assays, transformation, gene expression in vivo, and methods for large-scale gene disruption. At the same time, the work includes in-depth descriptions of disease models of candidiasis, facts about strain identification, and guidelines on the preparation of samples for proteomic investigations and tandem affinity purification. Composed in the highly successful "Methods in Molecular Biology¿" series format, each chapter contains a brief introduction, step-by-step methods, a list of necessary materials, and a Notes section which shares tips on troubleshooting and avoiding known pitfalls.Authoritative and cutting edge, Candida Albicans: Methods and Protocols is an invaluable source of methods for investigators in the exhilarating fields of medical and molecular mycology.

Provides current methods for experimentation with Candida albicans

Candida Albicans: Methods and Protocols Table of Contents Preface Contributors Immunogical methods 1. Isolation of dendritic cells (DC) from human blood for in vitro interaction studies with fungal antigens T. Sreevalsan. 2. Detection and quantitiaton of anti-fungal SlgA antibodies in body fluids Michael F. Cole 3. Phagocytosis and killing assays for Candida species Chen Du and Richard Calderone 4. Immunization protocols for use in animal models of candidiasis Esther Segal and Hana Sandovsky-Losica. Virulence and biofilms 5. Penetration of antifungal agents through Candida biofilms L. Julia Douglas 6. Candidal bioflm analysis in the artificial throat using FISH Bastiaan P. Krom Kevin Buijssen, Henk J Bussceher, and Henny C. van der Mei. 7. Conditions for optimal Candida biofilm development in microtiter plates Bastiaan P. Krom, Jesse Cohen, Gail McElhaney-Feser, Henk Busscher, Henny C, van der Mei and Ronald Cihlar. Virulence measurements: In vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo 8. Animal models of candidiasis Cornelius J. Clancy, Shaoji Cheng and Minh Hong Nguyen. 9. Candida albicans gene expression in an in vivo infection model Michael Kruppa 10. In vitro and ex vivo assays of virulence in Candida albicans Richard Calderone Strain typing and identification 11. Biotyping of Candida albicans and other fungi by yeast killer toxins sensitivity Luciano Polonelli and Stefania Conti 12. DNA fingerprinting Candida species Claude Pujol and David R. Soll Genomics and Proteomics. 13. The application of tandem affinity purification to Candida albicans Chris Blackwell and Jeremy D. Brown. 14. Preparation of samples for proteomic analysis of the Candida albicans cell wall Neeraj Chauhan 15. Reporter Gene assays in Candida albicans Joy Sturtevant 16. Genetic Transformation of Candida albicans Ana M. Ramon and William A. Fonzi 17. Large-scale gene disruption using the UAU1 Cassette Clarissa J.Nobile and Aaron P Mitchell Appendix: Standard growth media and common techniques for use with Candida albicans Neeraj Chauhan and Michael Kruppa