Candida albicans

C. albicans is a encapsulated, diploid and polymorphic fungus. Two main morphologies are well recognized, one is budding unicellular yeast form and second is filamentous hyphal form. Many cell shape morphologies are there in between these forms termed as 'pseudohyphae'. It is an opportunistic pathogen which lives in the mucous membranes of the human mouth and intestine as a part of gut flora, vaginal tract, skin and other mucus membranes. When its population goes beyond to control due to the weak immune system, it weakens the intestinal wall, penetrates through into the bloodstream and releases toxic byproducts throughout the body.

Characteristics
Shape and Size
unicellular, oval-shaped diploid fungus, 10 to 12 µm in diameter
Genome Information
Candida albicans SC5314, Size 27.56 Mb, GC% 33.4, Protein 14,217, Gene 14,213 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/genome/?term=Candida+albicans
Food Source
contaminated water
Pathological Factor
andida albicans secrete 3 main classes of hydrolases: proteases, phospholipases and lipases. It is proposed that these hydrolases help facilitate the pathogen s active penetration into host cells and the uptake of extracellular nutrients from the environment. For its pathogenicity, its ovoid-shaped budding yeast and parallel-walled true hyphae forms are the most important. Als3 proteins can function as invasins that help with the invasion of C. albicans into host epithelial and endothelial cells. Another important invasin gene is Ssa1, which normally codes for heat-shock proteins.
Disease
Candidiasis
Symptoms
Creamy, white, painful patches inside the mouth, Cracking at the corners of the mouth, genital infection humans mainly in femals
Affected Body Organs
oral organs, vagina, throat

Classification
Kingdom Fungi
Division Ascomycota
Class Saccharomycetes
Order Saccharomycetales
Family Debaryomycetaceae
Genus Candida
Species C. Albicans