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Updated: May 7, 2026

Visualization of Candida albicans in the Murine Gastrointestinal Tract Using Fluorescent In Situ Hybridization
Published on: November 5, 2019
Candida albicans specializations for iron homeostasis: from commensalism to virulence
1Department of Microbiology & Immunology, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0414, San Francisco, CA 94143-0414, United States; Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, 513 Parnassus Avenue, Box 0414, San Francisco, CA 94143-0414, United States.
Abstract:
Candida albicans is a fungal commensal-pathogen that persistently associates with its mammalian hosts. Between the commensal and pathogenic lifestyles, this microorganism inhabits host niches that differ markedly in the levels of bioavailable iron. A number of recent studies have exposed C. albicans specializations for acquiring iron from specific host molecules in regions where iron is scarce, while also defending against iron-related toxicity in regions where iron occurs in surfeit. Together, these results point to a central role for iron homeostasis in the evolution of this important human pathogen.
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