{
  "id": 14976398,
  "title": "Coordinated GlcNAc transport couples nutrient acquisition to invasive growth and virulence in Candida albicans",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/16/coordinated-glcnac-transport-couples-nutrient-acquisition-to-invasive",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-10-16T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.15.759338v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Candida albicans, a common gut bacterium and harmful fungal pathogen, adjusts its invasion tactics from colonization to infection based on environmental clues. Among these signals, N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), a common carbohydrate in the gut from both host and microbial origins, acts as a key stimulant for hyphal growth and harmful characteristics. The method by which C. albicans integrates GlcNAc uptake with these pathogenic reactions, yet, is not completely clear. In this study, researchers have discovered Hgt1, a usual glucose transporter, functioning also as a GlcNAc transporter in conjunction with the GlcNAc-specific transporter Ngt1 to enhance fungal growth and harmful capabilities. When both Hgt1 and Ngt1 are deleted simultaneously, it seriously affects GlcNAc-induced hyphal development and harmful-associated gene expression. Mechanically, Hgt1 enables the initial uptake of GlcNAc, stimulating Ngt1 activation and subsequent potent hyphal development, shown by postponed Ngt1 expression and hyphal creation in cells lacking Hgt1. These results reveal a synchronized uptake process involving two transporters that respond differently to enable C. albicans to efficiently react to GlcNAc presence. Significantly, decreasing GlcNAc uptake weakens fungal spread to distant body parts and related host inflammatory responses in a mouse model of gut colonization when GlcNAc is added. Overall, this study uncovers an unknown way in which C. albicans combines sugar transport to trigger pathogenicity driven by nutrients, emphasizing GlcNAc uptake as a possible goal for curbing fungal harm and overall spread.",
  "summary": "Candida albicans is a prevalent gut commensal and opportunistic fungal pathogen whose transition from intestinal colonization to invasive infection is influenced by environmental cues. N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc), abundant in the gut from host and microbial sources, serves not only as a carbon source but also as a potent signal that promotes hyphal morphogenesis and virulence. However, how C.…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}