Abstract
Candida albicans is a common fungal pathogen of humans that colonizes the skin and mucosal surfaces of most healthy individuals. Until recently, little was known about the mechanisms by which mucosal antifungal defences tolerate colonizing C. albicans but react strongly when hyphae of the same microorganism attempt to invade tissue. In this Review, we describe the properties of yeast cells and hyphae that are relevant to their interaction with the host, and the immunological mechanisms that differentially recognize colonizing versus invading C. albicans.
Publication types
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Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
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Review
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Candida albicans / growth & development
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Candida albicans / physiology*
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Candidiasis / immunology
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Candidiasis / microbiology*
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Candidiasis / physiopathology
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Cell Wall / physiology
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Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / physiology
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Humans
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Hyphae / growth & development
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Hyphae / physiology
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Lectins, C-Type / physiology
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Morphogenesis / physiology
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Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins / physiology
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Signal Transduction / physiology
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Skin / immunology
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Skin / microbiology
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Toll-Like Receptors / physiology
Substances
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Lectins, C-Type
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Nod Signaling Adaptor Proteins
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Toll-Like Receptors
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Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases