Adhesion Mechanisms in Candida albicans Infections
Summary
Candida albicans adheres to host tissues through a multifaceted interplay of cell surface proteins, biophysical properties and environmental cues. Central to this process are adhesins, specialised mannoproteins anchored in the cell wall that recognise host receptors such as fibronectin, laminin and serum albumin. Morphological switching between yeast and hyphal forms enhances adhesive capacity, with hypha-specific adhesins promoting biofilm maturation on mucosal surfaces and indwelling devices. Cell surface hydrophobicity modulates the initial physical encounter, favouring stable attachment under diverse shear forces. Once established, microenvironmental conditions—pH, temperature, pressure and nutrient availability—further refine membrane lipid composition and adhesin expression, fine-tuning interaction strength. These adhesion events are critical not only for colonisation and biofilm formation but also for immune evasion, as firm attachment shields fungal cells from phagocytosis and antifungal agents. A comprehensive understanding of adhesion mechanisms offers pathways to novel anti-adhesive therapies and improved clinical management of candidiasis.
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Adhesion Mechanisms in Candida albicans Infections publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in adhesion mechanisms in candida albicans infections across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Adhesin: A cell surface protein that mediates attachment to host tissues or biomaterials.
Biofilm: A structured microbial community adherent to a surface and encased in an extracellular matrix.
Hyphae: Filamentous, invasive growth form of C. albicans associated with tissue penetration and strong adhesion.
Mannoprotein: Glycoprotein component of the fungal cell wall bearing mannose-rich oligosaccharides essential for adhesion.
Cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH): A measure of cell wall lipid and protein composition influencing initial attachment dynamics.
References
- Role of Cell Surface Hydrophobicity in the Pathogenesis of Medically-Significant Fungi. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology (2021).
- Yeast Nanometric Scale Oscillations Highlights Fibronectin Induced Changes in C. albicans. Fermentation (2020).
- Chemical definition of an epitope/adhesin molecule on Candida albicans.. Journal of Biological Chemistry (1993).
- Microenvironment Responsive Modulations in the Fatty Acid Content, Cell Surface Hydrophobicity, and Adhesion of Candida albicans Cells. Journal of Fungi (2018).
- Candida albicans exhibit two classes of cell surface binding sites for serum albumin defined by their affinity, abundance and prospective role in interkingdom signalling. PLOS ONE (2021).
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