<i>Candida albicans—</i>The Virulence Factors and Clinical Manifestations of Infection
2021
Jasminka Talapko | Martina Juzbašić | Tatjana Matijević | Emina Pustijanac | Sanja Bekić | Ivan Kotris | Ivana Škrlec
<i>Candida albicans</i> is a common commensal fungus that colonizes the oropharyngeal cavity, gastrointestinal and vaginal tract, and healthy individuals’ skin. In 50% of the population, <i>C. albicans</i> is part of the normal flora of the microbiota. The various clinical manifestations of <i>Candida</i> species range from localized, superficial mucocutaneous disorders to invasive diseases that involve multiple organ systems and are life-threatening. From systemic and local to hereditary and environmental, diverse factors lead to disturbances in <i>Candida</i>’s normal homeostasis, resulting in a transition from normal flora to pathogenic and opportunistic infections. The transition in the pathophysiology of the onset and progression of infection is also influenced by <i>Candida</i>’s virulence traits that lead to the development of candidiasis. Oral candidiasis has a wide range of clinical manifestations, divided into primary and secondary candidiasis. The main supply of <i>C. albicans</i> in the body is located in the gastrointestinal tract, and the development of infections occurs due to dysbiosis of the residential microbiota, immune dysfunction, and damage to the muco-intestinal barrier. The presence of <i>C. albicans</i> in the blood is associated with candidemia–invasive <i>Candida</i> infections. The commensal relationship exists as long as there is a balance between the host immune system and the virulence factors of <i>C. albicans</i>. This paper presents the virulence traits of <i>Candida albicans</i> and clinical manifestations of specific candidiasis.
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