Expression of Growth Form Factors during Morphogenesis in Candida albicans

Abstract

The transition of Candida albicans from unicellular yeast form to filamentous form i.e, pseudohyphae and hyphae is referred to as morphogenesis. C.albicans has the ability to respond to environmental conditions and accordingly changing its cell morphology. Three main morphological forms of C.albicans are unicellular yeast, pseudohyphae and hyphae. Environmental factors are important in selectively favouring yeast or hyphal form, most important being the growth medium, incubation temperature and external pH value. Cell morphology in C.albicans is associated with changes in the expression of specific factors that are expressed exclusively in particular growth form. These growth form factors are an important target in the investigation of morphogenesis in C. albicans and in the discovery of antifungal drugs that targets the specific growth form of C. albicans.