title: Candida albicans specializations for iron homeostasis: from commensalism to virulence.
abstract: Candida albicans is a fungal commensal-pathogen that persistently associates with its mammalian hosts. Between the commensal and pathogenic lifestyles, this microorganism inhabits host niches that differ markedly in the levels of bioavailable iron. A number of recent studies have exposed C. albicans specializations for acquiring iron from specific host molecules in regions where iron is scarce, while also defending against iron-related toxicity in regions where iron occurs in surfeit. Together, these results point to a central role for iron homeostasis in the evolution of this important human pathogen.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology & Immunology, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0414, San Francisco, CA 94143-0414, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0414, San Francisco, CA 94143-0414, United States. Electronic address: Suzanne.Noble@ucsf.edu.
authors.forename: Suzanne M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Noble
mesh_terms: D002176:Candida albicans / Q000378:metabolism*; D006706:Homeostasis; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism*; D013559:Symbiosis; D014774:Virulence
chemical_list: D007501:Iron