A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> Species
Many pathogenic <i>Candida</i> species possess the ability to undergo a reversible morphological transition from yeast to filamentous cells. In <i>Candida albicans</i>, the most frequently isolated human fungal pathogen, multiple lines of evidence strongly suggest that this t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2020-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Fungi |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/1/13 |
| _version_ | 1828390739517636608 |
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| author | David Kadosh Vasanthakrishna Mundodi |
| author_facet | David Kadosh Vasanthakrishna Mundodi |
| author_sort | David Kadosh |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Many pathogenic <i>Candida</i> species possess the ability to undergo a reversible morphological transition from yeast to filamentous cells. In <i>Candida albicans</i>, the most frequently isolated human fungal pathogen, multiple lines of evidence strongly suggest that this transition is associated with virulence and pathogenicity. While it has generally been assumed that non-<i>albicans Candida</i> species (NACS) are less pathogenic than <i>C. albicans</i>, in part, because they do not filament as well, definitive evidence is lacking. Interestingly, however, a recent study suggests that filamentation of NACS is associated with reduced, rather than increased, pathogenicity. These findings, in turn, challenge conventional views and suggest that there are fundamental evolutionary differences in the morphology−pathogenicity relationship in <i>C. albicans</i> vs. NACS. The findings also raise many new and intriguing questions and open new avenues for future research, which are discussed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:51:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-4554a4b8f96c439a9b39e10e867b8322 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2309-608X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-10T06:51:16Z |
| publishDate | 2020-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Fungi |
| spelling | doaj.art-4554a4b8f96c439a9b39e10e867b83222022-12-22T01:58:33ZengMDPI AGJournal of Fungi2309-608X2020-01-01611310.3390/jof6010013jof6010013A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> SpeciesDavid Kadosh0Vasanthakrishna Mundodi1Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., MC: 7758, San Antonio, TX 78229, USADepartment of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, 7703 Floyd Curl Dr., MC: 7758, San Antonio, TX 78229, USAMany pathogenic <i>Candida</i> species possess the ability to undergo a reversible morphological transition from yeast to filamentous cells. In <i>Candida albicans</i>, the most frequently isolated human fungal pathogen, multiple lines of evidence strongly suggest that this transition is associated with virulence and pathogenicity. While it has generally been assumed that non-<i>albicans Candida</i> species (NACS) are less pathogenic than <i>C. albicans</i>, in part, because they do not filament as well, definitive evidence is lacking. Interestingly, however, a recent study suggests that filamentation of NACS is associated with reduced, rather than increased, pathogenicity. These findings, in turn, challenge conventional views and suggest that there are fundamental evolutionary differences in the morphology−pathogenicity relationship in <i>C. albicans</i> vs. NACS. The findings also raise many new and intriguing questions and open new avenues for future research, which are discussed.https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/1/13<i>candida</i> speciesmorphologypathogenesisyeastfilaments |
| spellingShingle | David Kadosh Vasanthakrishna Mundodi A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> Species Journal of Fungi <i>candida</i> species morphology pathogenesis yeast filaments |
| title | A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> Species |
| title_full | A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> Species |
| title_fullStr | A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> Species |
| title_full_unstemmed | A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> Species |
| title_short | A Re-Evaluation of the Relationship between Morphology and Pathogenicity in <i>Candida</i> Species |
| title_sort | re evaluation of the relationship between morphology and pathogenicity in i candida i species |
| topic | <i>candida</i> species morphology pathogenesis yeast filaments |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2309-608X/6/1/13 |
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