Modelling the Effects of Farnesol and CO2 on the cAMP Pathway Regulating Morphogenesis in Candida albicans

Mareta W. Ardyani

Candida albicans is reported to be the predominant cause of invasive fungal infections. Morphogenesis is named as one of the main factors making this organism an effective pathogen. Among several different signaling cascades governing morphogenesis in C. albicans, the cAMP pathway is reported to be the most crucial, with most signals being regulated through the adenylyl cyclase, Cyr1p. Here we present two mathematical models which investigate the roles of a quorum sensing molecule, farnesol, in inhibiting the cAMP pathway and CO₂ in activating it: Model 1, where farnesol directly degrades cAMP and Model 2, where farnesol triggers the dissociation of the complex Cyr1p~CO₂, a vital agent in cAMP production. Throughout our analysis, we demonstrate that Model 2 performs a more effective mechanism in inhibiting the cAMP pathway compared to that of Model 1. Finally, we suggest that if we could design a therapeutic molecule to treat fungal infections caused by C. albicans, the molecule should target Cyr1p~CO₂ instead of cAMP.

https://dx.doi.org/10.31873/IJEAS.6.5.2019.04