Into the Wild: A Look at Candida albicans Outside the Clinical Setting

Candida albicans is a yeast extensively studied for its role in the human microbiota and as a crucial opportunistic pathogen. Despite a vast body of information about this organism, its ecology in natural habitats remains poorly understood. Most studies suggest that C. albicans is typically isolated only from endothermic hosts or human-associated substrates. However, several reports have demonstrated the presence of C. albicans in environmental samples such as rivers, soils, and plant materials. In this mini-review, we present studies that have isolated C. albicans from natural environments and discuss the importance of expanding research efforts to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the ecology of this yeast.