Abstract
Candida albicans infections and candidiasis are difficult to treat and create very serious challenge in therapeutics. In this study, based on interactive time profile microarray data of C. albicans and zebrafish in infectious process, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of C. albicans and zebrafish and the intercellular protein interaction network between host and pathogen are simultaneously constructed for the first time by dynamic interaction model, as an integrated intercellular invading and defensive cellular network in infectious process. According to the intercellular interaction network, the signal transduction pathways in regulating morphogenesis and hyphal growth of C. albicans are further investigated. For further inspection of important proteins of virulent hyphal growth as the pathogenesis of C. albicans, two stage cellular networks are also developed according to the different infection stages (adhesion and invasion) and are then compared each other to find hyphal growth subnetwork with the most changes of protein interactions (i.e. hubs) in hyphal growth. From these important protein hubs in the hyphal growth subnetwork, we can gain more insight into the pathogenic role of the hyphal development in infectious process. The important defensive proteins of zebrafish can also be obtained by using the same approach. The hyphal growth PPI network, zebrafish PPI network and host-pathogen intercellular PPI network are included as an integrated infectious protein interaction network to help us understand the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenicity of C. albicans and the defense of host to improve medical therapy and facilitate the development of new anti-fungal drugs.