title: Selected pathogenic characteristics of fungi from the genus Candida.
abstract: The prevalence of fungi from the genus Candida in humans is increasing, but the mere fact of their detection does not allow, in general, to diagnose a disease. In fact the development of fungal infection depends on several factors of the host-pathogen relationship. The occurrence of symptoms and the course of the disease are associated, inter alia, with general and immunological conditions of an infected person as well as the properties of strains. Differences between the strains responsible for asymptomatic and symptomatic invasion have been shown. Thus the determination of their pathogenicity parameters is an important element leading to proper identification, both mycological and clinical, which allows for the implementation of therapeutic intervention. There are several virulence factors that are essential for surviving in host's organism and play important role in each phase of fungal infection. This review provides an update on selected pathogenicity features: formation of hyphae and/or pseudohyphae, phenotypic switching, tropic reactions and biofilm production.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology and Medical Parasitology, Medical University of Lodz, Hallera sq. 1, 90-647 Lodz, Poland. barbara.modrzewska@umed.lodz.pl
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Modrzewska
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kurnatowski
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology*; D015966:Gene Expression Regulation, Fungal; D006801:Humans; D025301:Hyphae