Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 8, 2026
08:02
Th17 Inflammation Model of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Immunodeficient Mice
Published on: February 18, 2015
Candida tropicalis in human disease.
Louis Yi Ann Chai1, David W Denning, Peter Warn
1Department of Medicine, National University Hospital, Singapore.
Critical Reviews in Microbiology
|October 2, 2010
Summary
Candida tropicalis causes significant human disease, especially in tropical regions. Awareness and appropriate treatment are crucial due to its virulence and potential for antifungal resistance.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Tropical Medicine
Background:
- Candida tropicalis is a frequent cause of human candidiasis, particularly in tropical climates.
- It shares virulence factors with Candida albicans and poses a significant threat to immunocompromised individuals, especially those who are neutropenic.
- The incidence of invasive disease caused by C. tropicalis varies geographically, contributing between 3% and 66% of candidemia cases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To highlight the clinical significance and pathogenic traits of Candida tropicalis.
- To inform healthcare professionals about treatment options and the potential for antifungal resistance.
- To increase awareness of this pathogen in regions where it is prevalent.
Main Methods:
- Literature review and synthesis of existing data on Candida tropicalis epidemiology, pathogenicity, and treatment.
- Analysis of geographic variations in candidemia caused by C. tropicalis.
- Review of current treatment guidelines and antifungal susceptibility patterns.
Main Results:
- Candida tropicalis demonstrates significant virulence, particularly in neutropenic patients, often leading to hematogenous spread to peripheral organs.
- First-line treatments for candidemia and invasive candidiasis include amphotericin B or echinocandins, with extended-spectrum triazoles as alternatives.
- While primary fluconazole resistance is rare, it can be induced upon exposure.
Conclusions:
- Physicians in endemic areas must be vigilant regarding Candida tropicalis infections.
- Understanding the pathogen's characteristics and resistance patterns is vital for effective patient management.
- Further research may be needed to fully elucidate the geographic and clinical impact of C. tropicalis.
Related Concept Videos
01:20Candidiasis
Candidiasis is a fungal infection caused by opportunistic species of Candida. It can affect various anatomical sites, including the skin, oral cavity, nails, and genitourinary tract. Among its forms, vaginal candidiasis is the most common type of mucosal infection. It typically results from the overgrowth of Candida albicans in the vaginal mucosa. Under normal conditions, C. albicans exists as a commensal organism within the vaginal microbiota, regulated by the dominance of lactobacilli, which...
01:22American Trypanosomiasis
Chagas disease, or American trypanosomiasis, is a vector-borne parasitic infection caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, a flagellated protozoan (kinetoplastid) of the family Trypanosomatidae. The disease is endemic in Latin America, although cases are increasingly reported worldwide due to human migration. Transmission most commonly occurs when feces of infected triatomine bugs contaminate bite wounds or mucosal surfaces; additional routes include congenital, transfusional, transplant-related, and oral...
01:18Trichomoniasis
Trichomonas vaginalis is a flagellated protozoan parasite and the causative agent of trichomoniasis, one of the most prevalent non-viral sexually transmitted infections in the United States. This extracellular parasite primarily colonizes the lower genitourinary tract in women—particularly the vagina—and in men, the urethra and prostate. Its structural and functional adaptations enable its survival, motility, and pathogenicity within the host environment.Structural Features and Host EntryT.
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...
01:27Cryptococcal Meningitis
Cryptococcal meningitis is a life-threatening opportunistic infection predominantly associated with HIV/AIDS, accounting for over 100,000 deaths annually worldwide. However, it also affects individuals with other forms of immunosuppression, including those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy, organ transplant recipients, patients with innate immunodeficiencies, and individuals with hematological disorders. The infection is caused mainly by Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii,...
01:28Toxoplasmosis
Toxoplasmosis, a zoonotic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii, poses significant public health challenges globally due to its high seroprevalence and varied clinical manifestations. As an obligate intracellular parasite, T. gondii can infect all warm-blooded vertebrates, but felids are its only definitive hosts, shedding unsporulated oocysts into the environment. Humans typically acquire the infection through ingestion of tissue cysts in undercooked meat or oocysts from...