, commonly referred to as Candida yeast, is a well-known fungus that can cause a variety of illnesses in humans, including thrush and Candida esophagitis. Yeast are single-celled fungi that are able to change their形态, or morphology, in response to environmental conditions. This morphological flexibility is crucial for their survival and pathogenicity within the host.
Candida albicans yeast cells can exist in three main morphological forms: yeast, pseudohyphae, and hyphae. Yeast are oval-shaped and can exhibit both axial and bipolar budding patterns. They are typically found in cultures grown on rich media, and their growth is not easily disrupted by nutritional stress. In contrast, pseudohyphae areelongated, attached cells that resemble yeast but have constrictions at the septaljunctions. They are often observed when Candida is grown in systems with limited nutrients or when it encounters host immune defenses. Lastly, hyphae are multi-branched filaments that grow towards the tips of filaments, allowing菌sspread rapidly across surfaces.
Morphological changes during the yeast-to-pseudohyphae-to-hyphae developmental sequence are tightly regulated by a network of transcription factors and environmental cues, such as glucose concentration,温度, and pH. In this minireview, we summarize the known morphological features of Candida yeast species and their roles in pathogenesis. Furthermore, we explore the evolution of the yeast-to-pseudohyphae-to-hyphae model, as well as the co-evolution of fungal morphology and virulence.
