Farnesol as a quorum-sensing molecule in Candida albicans

Abstract

Farnesol is one of the quorum sensing molecules of Candida albicans. In this report, we discuss the effects of farnesol on: 1. growth of Candida albicans in vitro and in vivo; 2. the incorporation of biomolecules into the cell wall of Candida albicans; and 3. cytokine expression by the immune system. Our results indicate genes of Candida albicans expressed at an early stage of quorum-sensing. Half of these genes are known and two-thirds of known genes are up-regulated by two types of transcription factors.