Sfp1 Contributes to Fluconazole Responses and Virulence in Candida albicans

Abstract

Candida albicans is an important human fungal pathogen. Previous studies have shown that the transcription factor Sfp1 is involved in regulation of various biological processes in C. albicans, including cell wall maintenance, biofilm formation, oxidative stress responses, and carbon source adaptation. In this study, we further identified a novel role for Sfp1 in the response to antifungal drugs and virulence. The SFP1 deletion mutant exhibited increased resistance to fluconazole, and this phenotype was associated with altered ergosterol content and enhanced drug efflux pump activity. In addition, the effect of SFP1 deletion on fluconazole resistance was associated with alterations in mitochondrial function and calcium homeostasis. Finally, deletion of the SFP1 gene resulted in attenuated virulence and affected fluconazole efficacy in a mouse model of infection. Together, our study provides new insights into the role of Sfp1 in C. albicans and highlights the complex mechanisms underlying fungal adaptation to antifungal drug stress.