Candida albicans: a historical overview of investigations into an important human pathogen

In recent decades, the study of the opportunistic pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans, has been revolutionized by genomics, transforming our understanding of its molecular biology, pathogenicity, and modes of drug resistance. In this review, our effort is to trace the historical development of C. albicans research, from early clinical observations to modern high-throughput genomic techniques. Advances in molecular biology, transcriptomics, and genome editing, including CRISPR-Cas9, have had a significant impact on the genetic tools available for studying this pathogen. The impact of whole-genome sequencing, functional genomics, and single-cell transcriptomics on the study of C. albicans, alongside the role of fungal population genomics in tracking evolutionary adaptations, have resulted in key insights. Here we discuss the ongoing challenge of antifungal resistance and the implications of new technologies in combating invasive candidiasis. As we move into a new era of precision mycology, integrating multi-omics approaches will further enhance our ability to understand and control C. albicans infections.