[Pathogenicity of Candida albicans]

Abstract

Candida albicans has an advantage on other fungal opportunists, being the only fungus among the normal microbial flora on human mucosa. The potential factors of virulence of C.albicans are essentially responsible for the persistence of the yeast on mucosal surfaces. If the normal regeneration of epithelia is impeded. C.albicans may invade the mucosa. It may penetrate deeply into the host during granulocytopenia or cellular immunodeficiency, apparently using mechanisms of mimicry and the activity of secretory hydrolases.