Lecture 18 Flashcards
What are the characteristics of Candida albicans?
Candida albicans is a yeast found in 40-80% of healthy humans.
It exists in two forms: yeast and hyphae.
Reproduces by budding.
Optimum growth temperature: 25°C.
Ferments glucose and maltose, but does not ferment lactose
What is the pathogenicity of Candida albicans?
Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen.
Becomes pathogenic when there is a change in cellular immunity.
Risk factors include malnutrition, loss of flora, and general debility.
Predisposed individuals: people with AIDS, burn patients, and pregnant women.
Infections can be acute, chronic, or episodic, with skin infections being common.
What are the virulence factors of Candida albicans?
Adhesins on the surface help the yeast bind to human cells.
Morphogenesis and phenotypic switching lead to changes in the cell-surface.
What is the morphology of Candida albicans?
Mostly oval, single yeast cells.
Forms mycelia and chain cells called pseudohyphae from budding yeasts.
Forms moist, creamy colonies on Sabouraud’s medium
What diseases and infections are caused by Candida albicans?
Infections: mouth and throat, skin and scalp, fingers, toes, and nails.
Diseases include thrush, dermatitis, and vaginitis.
These infections are becoming more prominent due to antibiotic resistance.
