Candida albicans and the principle of opportunism. An essay

Abstract

The terms 'opportunism' and 'opportunist' have been used for many years in various fields encompassing politics, social science, economics, and life sciences. However these terms are still ill-defined. The inter-relationship between the various meanings in different given contexts is discussed under the special aspect of micro-organisms, and in particular Candida albicans, which together with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, is most often addressed as an opportunist or suspected of opportunism.