Candida Albicans Biofilm development and its genetic control

The human commensal Candida albicans is the leading fungal colonizer of implanted medical devices and a frequent cause of nosocomial infections (1,2). Several Candida species, including C. albicans, are part of the mucosal flora of most healthy individuals and reside in the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. These organisms are thus poised to cause infection when a suitable niche becomes available. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics is an additional risk factor for Candida infections, probably because bacterial competitors that are eliminated would otherwise keep fungal populations in check. The extreme resistance of biofilm cells to antifungal therapy is a further complication, and often the infected device has to be removed and replaced to prevent recurrent infection (1). Here, we focus mainly on biofilm formation by C. albicans, the most intensively studied of the Candida species.