Candida albicans-Enothzlml Cell Interactions: a Key Step in the Pathogenesis of Systemic Candidiasis

摘要

Candida albicans is a normal commensal organism of the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract, and vagina. Under certain circumstances, C. albicans is capable of causing host damage (or disease) leading to oral, vaginal, cutaneous, or systemic candidiasis. The latter is a serious infection with a high mortality range of 33 to 54 and high morbidity in those who survive (76). In fact, in recent years, systemic candidal infections have become the fourth most frequent cause of nosoco-mial bloodstream infections in the United States, giving rise to an enormous associated personal and economic cost (79). Systemic candidiasis involves the hematogenous spread of C. albicans to multiple organs, including the brain, kidneys, heart, liver, and lungs (62).