New hope in deadly fungal infections

摘要

PART of the normal human flora is Candida albicans, a well known fungus that exists, in the form of yeast cells, predominantly on mucocutaneous surfaces such as the mouth, gastrointestinal tract and vaginal cavity. In conditions favourable to it, it can present as an opportunistic pathogen, producing symptoms of oral and genital thrush. It is, however, polymorphic, and under certain conditions can undergo transition to a hyphal form. Over recent decades, fungal infections have become important hospital-acquired infections, owing to the increasing number of immunocompromised patients, and those in hospital with conditions such as cancer, after organ transplantation or in neonatal units. The ability of C albicans to convert from the yeast state is critical for systemic infections, because the hyphal cells penetrate and adhere to the tissues, where they are protected from the host's phagocytes and difficult to treat with antifungal agents. They are able to aggregate into layers known as biofilms, which render them even more resistant, and the death rate from invasive candidiasis is high.