Alternative Candida albicans lifestyles: growth on surfaces.
Candida albicans, an opportunistic fungal pathogen, causes a wide variety of human diseases such as oral thrush and disseminated candidiasis. Many aspects of C. albicans physiology have been studied during liquid growth, but in its natural environment, the gastrointestinal tract of a mammalian host, the organism associates with surfaces. Growth on a surface triggers several behaviors, such as biofilm formation, invasion, and thigmotropism, that are important for infection. Recent discoveries have identified factors that regulate these behaviors and revealed the importance of these behaviors for pathogenesis.
Kumamoto
Carol A
CA
Department of Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts 02111, USA. carol.kumamoto@tufts.edu
Vinces
Marcelo D
MD
D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D025301:Hyphae / Q000254:growth & development*; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D013499:Surface Properties
D005656:Fungal Proteins