Deletion of the extent of cell elongation 1 gene (ECE1) resulted in normal transition from yeast to hyphal cells during infection, but led to the inability of hyphal cells to cause epithelial damage and prevented p-MKP1/c-Fos-mediated danger responses and cytokine secretion in vitro or in two in vivo mucosal models: zebrafish swimbladders and mouse models of thrush. This evidence concerns the gene ECE1 and infection.