Cell wall of Candida albicans: its functions and its impact on the host.

Abstract

The purpose of this chapter is to summarize and critically compare current ideas about the cell wall of Candida albicans, its functions in the microorganism, and its impact on the host. Candida albicans is an important human commensal that has received much attention as a model for studies of cell biology and microbial opportunism (164). This review deals mostly with the second aspect, as it is of great relevance for medical mycologists. Thus the role of cell wall components in morphogenesis, pathogencity, and immunity receives the focus here, although at times more basic questions concerning cell wall chemistry and organization of wall constituents are addressed, especially when the answers to these questions are pertinent to understanding the pathogenicity of the microorganism and the host response. Those who wish to know more about the basic aspects of cell biology and wall biosynthesis may consult a number of excellent reviews elsewhere (13,33,55,84,86,100,165,168,183,192,196,201,202,230). The growing interest in C. albicans and related pathogens has led to a dramatic increase in publications on Candida biopathology, and when writing this review selection was inevitably based on personal assessments and ideas.