Candida (genus)
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224200490
2008-07-07T19:49:22Z
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{{Taxobox
| name = ''Candida''
| image = Candida albicans.jpg
| image_width = 320px
| regnum = [[Fungi]]
| phylum = [[Ascomycota]]
| subphylum = [[Saccharomycotina]]
| classis = [[Saccharomycetes]]
| ordo = [[Saccharomycetales]]
| familia = [[Saccharomycetaceae]]
| genus = '''''Candida'''''
| genus_authority = [[Christine Marie Berkhout|Berkh.]], 1923
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
''[[Candida albicans|C. albicans]]''<br />
''[[Candida ascalaphidarum|C. ascalaphidarum]]<br/>
''[[Candida amphixiae|C. amphixiae]]''<br />
''[[Candida antarctica|C. antarctica]]''<br />
''[[Candida atlantica|C. atlantica]]<br/>
''[[Candida atmosphaerica|C. atmosphaerica]]''<br />
''[[Candida blattae|C. blattae]]'' <br/>
''[[Candida carpophila|C. carpophila]]'' <br/>
''[[Candida cerambycidarum|C. cerambycidarum]]''<br />
''[[Candida chauliodes|C. chauliodes]]''<br />
''[[Candida corydali|C. corydali]]''<br/>
''[[Candida dosseyi|C. dosseyi]]'' <br/>
''[[Candida dubliniensis|C. dubliniensis]]''<br />
''[[Candida ergatensis|C. ergatensis]]''<br/>
''[[Candida fructus|C. fructus]]''<br />
''[[Candida glabrata|C. glabrata]]''<br />
''[[Candida fermentati|C. fermentati]]<br/>
''[[Candida guilliermondii|C. guilliermondii]]''<br />
''[[Candida haemulonii|C. haemulonii]]''<br />
''[[Candida insectamens|C. insectamens]]''<br />
''[[Candida insectorum|C. insectorum]]''<br />
''[[Candida intermedia|C. intermedia]]''<br />
''[[Candida jeffresii|C. jeffresii]]''<br/>
''[[Candida kefyr|C. kefyr]]''<br />
''[[Candida krusei|C. krusei]]''<br />
''[[Candida lusitaniae|C. lusitaniae]]''<br />
''[[Candida lyxosophila|C. lyxosophila]]''<br/>
''[[Candida maltosa|C. maltosa]]''<br/>
''[[Candida membranifaciens|C. membranifaciens]]''<br />
''[[Candida milleri|C. milleri]]''<br />
''[[Candida oleophila|C. oleophila]]''<br />
''[[Candida oregonensis|C. oregonensis]]''<br />
''[[Candida parapsilosis|C. parapsilosis]]''<br />
''[[Candida quercitrusa|C. quercitrusa]]''<br/>
''[[Candida sake|C. sake]]''<br />
''[[Candida shehatea|C. shehatea]]''<br/>
''[[Candida temnochilae|C. temnochilae]]''<br />
''[[Candida tenuis|C. tenuis]]''<br />
''[[Candida tropicalis|C. tropicalis]]''<br />
''[[Candida tsuchiyae|C. tsuchiyae]]''<br />
''[[Candida sinolaborantium|C. sinolaborantium]]''<br/>
''[[Candida sojae|C. sojae]]''<br/>
''[[Candida viswanathii|C. viswanathii]]<br />
''[[Torula|C. utilis]]''<br />
}}
'''''Candida''''' is a [[genus]] of [[yeast]]s. Many species of this genus are [[endosymbiont]]s of animal hosts including humans. While usually living as [[Commensalism|commensal]]s, some ''Candida'' species have the potential to cause disease. Clinically, the most significant member of the genus is ''[[Candida albicans]]'', which can cause infections (called [[candidiasis]] or thrush) in [[human]]s and other animals, especially in [[immunocompromised]] patients.<ref name=Sherris>{{cite book | author = Ryan KJ; Ray CG (editors) | title = Sherris Medical Microbiology | edition = 4th ed. | publisher = McGraw Hill | year = 2004 | id = ISBN 0838585299 }}</ref> Many ''Candida'' species are members of [[gut flora]] in animals, including ''C. albicans'' in mammalian hosts, whereas others live as endosymbionts in insect hosts.<ref name=Nguyen>{{cite journal |author=Nguyen NH, Suh SO, Blackwell M|title=Five novel Candida species in insect-associated yeast clades isolated from
Neuroptera and other insects |journal=Mycologia|volume=99 |issue=6 |pages=842–858 |year=2007|doi=10.3852/mycologia.99.6.842}}</ref><ref name=Suh>{{cite journal |author=Suh SO, Nguyen NH, Blackwell M |title=Yeasts isolated from plant-associated beetles and other insects: seven novel Candida species near Candida albicans |journal=FEMS Yeast Res|volume=8 |issue=1 |pages=88–102 |year=2008|pmid=17986254}}</ref>
The last decade has seen the sustained medical importance of opportunistic infections due to different ''Candida'' species mainly due to the worldwide increase in the number of immunocompromised patients, who are highly susceptible to opportunistic infections.<ref name=Enfert>{{cite book | author = dEnfert C; Hube B (editors) | title = Candida: Comparative and Functional Genomics | publisher = Caister Academic Press | year = 2007 | id = ISBN 9781904455134 }}</ref> Meanwhile, the genome sequence of several ''Candida'' species has been completed, enabling the detailed investigation of some aspects of their biology with the aid of post-genomic approaches. The basic knowledge gained from these investigations of pathogenic ''Candida'', and related yeasts, can translate into innovations in the development of novel antifungal therapies, original approaches for targeted immuno-interventions, or highly sensitive diagnosis of fungal infections.<ref name=Enfert>{{cite book | author = dEnfert C; Hube B (editors) | title = Candida: Comparative and Functional Genomics | publisher = Caister Academic Press | year = 2007 | id = ISBN 9781904455134 }}</ref>
Candida antarctica is a source of industrially relevant lipases.
==Laboratory characteristics==
Grown in the [[Medical laboratory|laboratory]], ''Candida'' appears as large, round, white or cream (''albicans'' is from [[Latin]] meaning 'whitish') colonies on [[agar plate]]s.<ref name=DrFungus>{{cite web | title=Candida species | work=DoctorFungus.org | url=http://www.doctorfungus.org/thefungi/Candida_spp.htm | accessdate=2007-02-09}}</ref>
==Clinical characteristics==
Some ''Candida'' species are responsible for superficial infections such as oropharyngeal [[candidiasis]] (thrush) and vulvovaginal candidiasis (vaginal Candidiasis). In otherwise healthy individuals, these infections can be cured with [[antifungal]] medications. However, persistent and deep-seated yeast infections can be lethal in, e.g., AIDS patients.
''Candida'' are also responsible for a number of life-threatening [[opportunistic infection]]s in AIDS patients and other immunocompromised persons - including patients treated in intensive care units (ICUs), cancer patients receiving chemotherapy, and organ transplant patients.<ref name=Enfert>{{cite book | author = Enfert C, Hube B (editors) | title = Candida: Comparative and Functional Genomics | publisher = Caister Academic Press | year = 2007 | isbn = 9781904455134 }}</ref>
Another common ''Candida'' infection is oral candidiasis caused by acrylic dentures, especially in elderly denture wearers.<ref name=Darwazeh_1990>{{cite journal |author=Darwazeh A, Lamey P, Samaranayake L, MacFarlane T, Fisher B, Macrury S, MacCuish A |title=The relationship between colonisation, secretor status and in-vitro adhesion of Candida albicans to buccal epithelial cells from diabetics |journal=J Med Microbiol |volume=33 |issue=1 |pages=43–9 |year=1990 |pmid=2231671}}</ref> Colonization of the [[gastrointestinal tract]] by ''[[Candida albicans|C. albicans]]'' may result from taking antacids or antihyperacidity drugs. This colonization may interfere with absorption of [[Coenzyme Q10]].<ref name=Krone_2001>{{cite journal |author=Krone C, Elmer G, Ely J, Fudenberg H, Thoreson J |title=Does gastrointestinal ''Candida albicans'' prevent ubiquinone absorption? |journal=Med Hypotheses |volume=57 |issue=5 |pages=570–2 |year=2001 |pmid=11735312 |doi=10.1054/mehy.2001.1410}}</ref>
==Species==
Among ''Candida'' species, ''C. albicans'', which is normal constituent of the human flora, a commensal of the skin and the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts, is responsible for the majority of ''Candida'' bloodstream infections (candidemia). Yet, there is an increasing incidence of infections caused by ''C. glabrata'', which could be because it is frequently less susceptible to the currently used [[azole]] antifungals. Other medically important ''Candida'' species include ''C. parapsilosis'', ''C. tropicalis'', and ''C. dubliniensis''.<ref name=Enfert/>
Other ''Candida'' species, such as ''[[Candida oleophila|C. oleophila]]'' have been used as [[biological control]] agents in fruit.<ref name="El-Neshawy">{{cite journal | authorlink = El-Neshawy, S.M. | title = Efficacy of ''Candida oleophila'' strain 128 in preventing ''Penicillium Expansum'' infection in apricot fruit | journal = Acta Hort. | publisher = ISHS | volume = 485 | pages = 141–148 | year = 1999 | url=http://www.actahort.org/books/485/485_18.htm}}</ref>
==Other==
Alternative medicine practitioners often use the term ''Candida'' to refer to a complex with broad spectrum of symptoms, the majority of which center around gastrointestinal distress, rashes, sore gums and other miscellaneous symptoms.<ref>{{cite journal | title = Factsmart.org | url=http://www.factsmart.org/candida/can.htm}}</ref>
==References==
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[[Category:Ascomycota]]
[[Category:Yeasts]]
[[Category:Microbiology]]
[[Category:Gut flora]]
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