Sensing the environment: response of Candida albicans to the X factor

Virulence of the fungal human pathogen Candida albicans is also attributed to its ability to switch reversibly between yeast and hyphal growth forms. Morphogenesis in this yeast is influenced by the composition of the environment, activating sensors, which consequently play an important role in fungal pathogenicity. This review summarizes some of the main environmental sensors, their ligands and downstream signaling pathways in C. albicans. We will focus on proteins localized in the plasma membrane and on the interaction between cells and their environment. This will underline the convergence of several environmental signals onto the mitogen-activated protein kinase and protein kinase A pathways.