Mapping the mutual transcriptional responses during Candida albicans and human macrophage interactions by dual RNA-sequencing

Candida albicans is the leading human fungal pathogen that can cause mucosal and systemic fungal infections. Host phagocytes are the primary immune defense against invading fungal pathogens including C. albicans. To better understand the host-pathogen interaction between C. albicans and host phagocytes, we utilized a human macrophage model of THP-1 macrophages and examined the mutual transcriptomic response of C. albicans and host macrophages by dual RNA-sequencing. Both C. albicans and macrophages displayed marked changes in their transcriptional profiles post 2 h coincubation. We show that C. albicans responds to human macrophages differently than its known response to murine macrophages. C. albicans displays upregulation of its translational machinery and downregulation of glyoxylate and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle upon macrophage phagocytosis. C. albicans triggered strong induction of genes associated with cell surface-mediated signaling and proinflammatory response in THP-1 macrophages. Finally, our data reveal that IL-1β and TNF signaling are central in mounting a proinflammatory response against C. albicans via MAP kinase, and chemokines and cytokines mediated signaling. Overall, current work uncovers the mutual responses of C. albicans and human macrophages towards each other presenting a better understanding of their interaction during C. albicans infections.