Title Information
Title
Leveraging Organoid Models to Study Candida-Host Interactions and Candidalysin-Dependent Damage in Vulvovaginal and Systemic Candidiasis.
Type of Resource (primo)
dissertations
Name: Personal
Name Part
Khalil, Aseel Khalil Hussein
Role
Role Term: Text
creator
Name: Personal
Name Part
Bennett, Richard
Role
Role Term: Text
Advisor
Name: Personal
Name Part
Jamieson, Amanda
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Personal
Name Part
Vaishnava, Shipra
Role
Role Term: Text
Reader
Name: Corporate
Name Part
Brown University. Biology and Medicine: Biotechnology
Role
Role Term: Text
sponsor
Origin Information
Copyright Date
2025
Physical Description
Extent
, 45 p.
digitalOrigin
born digital
Note: thesis
Thesis (Sc. M.)--Brown University, 2025
Genre (aat)
theses
Abstract
Given the widespread nature of vulvovaginal candidiasis, understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying its pathogenesis and systemic spread could inform therapeutic development. This study uses vaginal and colon epithelial organoid models to assess transcriptional and inflammatory responses of mammalian hosts to Candida albicans and its secreted toxin, candidalysin. Due to the limitations of three-dimensional organoids in examining infectious disease, we optimize their use for the study of Candida-host interactions by generating vaginal epithelial organoid-derived monolayers. RNA-seq analysis reveals an upregulation in hypoxic-stress that was corroborated by a perturbation of oxygen consumption rates following infection with C. albicans within the vaginal epithelia. Through a variety of in vitro cell viability assays, we show that candidalysin facilities adhesion, cell death, and can compromise barrier integrity. This data highlights the potential translational role of Candidalysin as a therapeutic target in the treatment of candidiasis and the appeal of organoid models in identifying novel respiration-related phenotypes.
Subject (fast) (authorityURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast", valueURI="http://id.worldcat.org/fast/00832383")
Topic
Biology
Subject
Topic
infectious disease
Language
Language Term (ISO639-2B)
English
Record Information
Record Content Source (marcorg)
RPB
Record Creation Date (encoding="iso8601")
20250707