Insights into Candida Lipids

Although lipid metabolic pathways are fairly well established in yeast, our knowledge of lipid compositional profile, particularly in pathogenic species, is rather limited. Fungal lipids are important on two accounts; first, they possess lipids, particularly sphingolipids, which are unique to Candida species and are absent in mammalian host hence are novel drug targets. Second, the functionality of some of the multidrug resistance (MDR) export proteins is dependent upon optimal lipid environment implying their role in clinical drug resistance. The comprehensive high-throughput lipidomics combined with genetic approaches applied to human pathogenic diploid C. albicans has started providing insight into mysteries surrounded around this important class of biomolecules. Recent studies already revealed functional interactions between lipids, virulence, and MDR determinants in Candida. This chapter reviews some of the recent advances in the field and highlights the role of lipids involved in cross talks between different cellular circuits that impact the acquisition of MDR in Candida.