Scanning electron microscope study of Candida albicans invasion of cultured human cervical epithelial cells.
The invasion of monolayer cultures of epithelial cells from the human uterine cervix by clinical isolates of Candida albicans was observed. Blastospores settle on the epithelial cells and produce germ tubes within 2 h. Hyphae penetrate the epithelial cell walls and destroy the cells, weaving in and out of the cytoplasm. No phagocytosis of yeast cells by epithelial cells was seen.
D002176:Candida albicans / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000382:microbiology*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000382:microbiology; D004848:Epithelium / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning