From commensal to pathogen: Candida albicans

Abstract

The attributes that allow Candida albicans to be a successful human commensal overlap with its ability to cause opportunistic disease. The ways in which C. albicans successfully transitions from a commensal to a pathogen involve many aspects of its growth and interaction with the host, including the host recognition of and response to the various cell types that characterise this fungal species. We discuss the factors that are important for commensal growth, stress responses, the role of the cell wall in immune recognition, attachment to and interactions with epithelial cells, and interactions with immune cells as key aspects of the commensal-pathogenic life style of this fungus.