| Summary: | One of the most important questions in microbiology nowadays, is how apparently harmless, commensal yeasts like <i>Candida</i> spp. can cause a rising number of infections. The occurrence of the disease requires firstly the attachment to the host cells, followed by the invasion of the tissue. The adaptability translates into a rapid ability to respond to stress factors, to take up nutrients or to multiply under different conditions. By forming complex intracellular networks such as biofilms, <i>Candida</i> spp. become not only more refractive to antifungal therapies but also more prone to cause disease. The inter-microbial interactions can enhance the virulence of a strain. <i>In vivo</i>, the fungal cells face a multitude of challenges and, as a result, they develop complex strategies serving one ultimate goal: survival. This review presents the virulence factors of the most important <i>Candida</i> spp., contributing to a better understanding of the onset of candidiasis and raising awareness of the highly complex interspecies interactions that can change the outcome of the disease.
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