# Manganese homeostasis modulates glucan and chitin unmasking in the opportunistic yeast Candida albicans

## TL;DR

This study shows how manganese affects the cell wall of Candida albicans, influencing immune recognition and stress resistance.

## Contribution

The novel role of manganese in modulating fungal cell wall antigens and stress resistance is revealed.

## Key findings

- Manganese deficiency alters cell wall structure and unmasking of β-glucan and chitin in Candida albicans.
- Manganese modulates glucanase activity to control β-glucan exposure, independent of the calcineurin pathway.
- Unmasking of cell wall components reduces phagocytosis by macrophages, impacting immune evasion.

## Abstract

Candida albicans is a commensal fungus and also the most prevalent human fungal pathogen. The ability of this opportunistic yeast to acquire and maintain homeostatic levels of manganese (Mn), particularly in the metal-limited host environment, is an important determinant of its fitness. Recent studies have underscored the importance of Mn acquisition through members of Smf transporters, in C. albicans virulence and its ability to withstand various stresses. In the present study, we undertook transcriptional profiling in the mutant of the Mn transporter Smf12 under restricted Mn availability to identify processes that are directly impacted by impaired Mn uptake. Our analysis revealed that smf12 displayed a transcriptional pattern suggestive of a cell wall defect, with many transcripts associated with cell wall biogenesis being differentially regulated. smf12 together with smf11, a mutant of the closest homolog of Smf12, exhibited hypersensitivity to cell wall stressors and an altered cell wall ultrastructure. The smf mutants also exhibited unmasking of both β-glucan and chitin, which unexpectedly resulted in a decreased rate of phagocytosis by macrophages, suggesting impaired recognition or internalization. Furthermore, we showed that Mn-mediated unmasking of β-glucan required modulation of glucanase activity and was not mediated through the calcineurin pathway. This study uncovers a novel role for Mn in maintaining cell wall integrity and modulating the exposure of fungal antigenic determinants, further emphasizing the critical role of this metal in supporting the opportunistic nature of C. albicans.