Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 2, 2026

Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis
08:52

Live-cell Video Microscopy of Fungal Pathogen Phagocytosis

Published on: January 9, 2013

Adaptation, adhesion and invasion during interaction of Candida albicans with the host--focus on the function of cell

Ekkehard Hiller1, Martin Zavrel, Nicole Hauser

  • 1Institute for Interfacial Engineering, University of Stuttgart, Nobelstr. 12, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany.

International Journal of Medical Microbiology : IJMM
|May 17, 2011
PubMed

Insights

Opportunistic fungal infections, like Candida, pose a significant risk to immune-suppressed patients. This review details host-pathogen systems to study Candida albicans interactions and host immune responses.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Immunology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Infectious diseases are re-emerging as a significant health concern.
  • Medical advancements lead to an increasing population of immune-suppressed individuals.
  • Immune-suppressed patients are highly susceptible to opportunistic infections, such as Candida infections.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the host-pathogen dynamics between Candida albicans and host defense systems.
  • To understand the adaptation of Candida albicans to various epithelial surfaces.
  • To explore the role of pattern recognition receptors in the innate immune response to Candida infections.

Main Methods:

  • Development of host-pathogen interaction systems.
  • Studying Candida albicans adaptation to different epithelia.
  • Investigating pattern recognition receptors as sensors of the innate immune system.

Main Results:

  • Established systems allow for the study of host-pathogen interactions.
  • Insights into Candida albicans adaptation mechanisms.
  • Understanding of innate immune system's recognition of Candida.

Conclusions:

  • Host-pathogen interaction systems are crucial for studying opportunistic infections.
  • Further research is needed to understand the balance between host immunity and Candida albicans colonization or disease.
  • This work provides a foundation for developing strategies to combat Candida infections in vulnerable populations.

More Related Videos

Determination of Biofilm Initiation on Virus-infected Cells by Bacteria and Fungi12:33

Determination of Biofilm Initiation on Virus-infected Cells by Bacteria and Fungi

Published on: July 6, 2016

Related Concept Videos

Candidiasis01:20

Candidiasis

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...
Cell Adhesion in Plants01:14

Cell Adhesion in Plants

Plants have rigid cell walls that are made up of cell wall polysaccharides that mediate cell-cell adhesion. The primary cell walls of plants consist of two independent and interacting polysaccharide networks: a pectin matrix that embeds the second network comprising cellulose and hemicelluloses.
Pectins are complex heteropolymers mainly composed of negatively-charged α-D-glucopyranosyl uronic acid and some neutral glycosyl residues such as α-L-rhamnopyranose, α-L-arabinofuranose, and...
Colonisation of Pathogens01:25

Colonisation of Pathogens

Pathogen colonization of host tissues is a critical step in the development of infectious diseases. Various pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa, have evolved complex strategies to attach to, invade, and persist within host environments. These mechanisms enable pathogens to establish infections, evade immune responses, and resist antimicrobial treatments.Attachment to Host CellsIn bacteria, colonization typically begins with adherence to host epithelial...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved in a...
Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions01:20

Cell Adhesion Molecules - Types and Functions

Cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are pivotal to multicellularity and the coordinated functioning of tissues and organ systems. They enable physical interactions between cells and provide mechanical strength to tissues. They also function as receptors for signal transmission across the plasma membrane. The CAMs are broadly classified into four families - integrins, cadherins, selectins, and immunoglobulin-like CAMs (IgCAMs).
CAM Families
The Integrin family of proteins is primarily  involved in a...
Archaeal Cell Wall01:29

Archaeal Cell Wall

Archaeal cell walls are structurally and compositionally distinct from their bacterial counterparts, lacking the characteristic peptidoglycan layer found in most bacteria. Instead, archaeal cell walls exhibit remarkable diversity, utilizing materials such as pseudomurein, polysaccharides, and proteins to construct their protective outer layers. This structural flexibility is closely tied to archaea's ecological adaptability.S-Layers: The Common Archaeal Cell WallThe S-layer is the most...