Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 28, 2026
11:58
The Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans - A Versatile In Vivo Model to Study Host-microbe Interactions
Published on: October 18, 2017
10.0K
Experimental Evolution of Pathogenic Candida spp.: Insights into Adaptive Processes and Evolutionary Dynamics
Gonçalo Sousa1, Inês Correia1, Ana Rita Bezerra1
1Institute of Biomedicine-iBiMED, Department of Medical Sciences, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
Microorganisms
|February 27, 2026
Summary
Experimental evolution reveals how pathogenic Candida species adapt and develop antifungal resistance through genome plasticity. Understanding these adaptive mechanisms is crucial for combating drug-resistant fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Mycology
- Evolutionary Biology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Pathogenic *Candida* species are opportunistic fungi causing diverse infections.
- Rapid adaptation and antifungal resistance are key to their success as pathogens.
- Experimental evolution offers insights into real-time adaptive processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review experimental evolution studies in pathogenic *Candida* species.
- To focus on genome plasticity, adaptation to host stress, and antifungal resistance.
- To identify research gaps and inform antifungal strategies.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on experimental evolution in *Candida*.
- Analysis of studies focusing on genome plasticity (aneuploidy, LOH, CNV).
- Examination of research on antifungal resistance dynamics, particularly to azoles.
Main Results:
- Genome plasticity significantly drives rapid adaptation in *Candida*.
- Experimental evolution has elucidated mechanisms of azole resistance.
- Fewer studies explore resistance to echinocandins and polyenes.
Conclusions:
- Broader species coverage and investigation of diverse antifungal classes are needed.
- Evaluating combined therapies is critical for improved antifungal strategies.
- Understanding adaptive dynamics is essential to combat drug-resistant *Candida* infections.
Related Concept Videos
01:16Transduction
2.1K
Among the three main modes of HGT—transformation, conjugation, and transduction—transduction is unique in that it is mediated by bacteriophages, or bacterial viruses.Transduction occurs in two ways. Generalized transduction occurs during the lytic cycle of a bacteriophage infection. In this process, bacteriophages infect bacterial cells, replicate within them, and ultimately cause cell lysis, releasing newly assembled virions. Occasionally, random fragments of the bacterial genome...
2.1K
01:15Diversity of Protists I
1.5K
Excavata is a diverse group of protists that includes both chemoorganotrophic and phototrophic species, with some thriving in anaerobic environments. Among the key groups within Excavata are diplomonads and parabasalids, which are flagellated protists that lack mitochondria and chloroplasts. These microorganisms typically inhabit anoxic environments, such as the intestines of animals, where they exist either symbiotically or as parasites, relying on fermentation for energy production. Some...
1.5K
00:36Viral Mutations
40.1K
A mutation is a change in the sequence of bases of DNA or RNA in a genome. Some mutations occur during replication of the genome due to errors made by the polymerase enzymes that replicate DNA or RNA. Unlike DNA polymerase, RNA polymerase is prone to errors because it is not capable of “proofreading” its work. Viruses with RNA-based genomes, like HIV, therefore accrue mutations faster than viruses with DNA-based genomes. Because mutation and recombination provide the raw material...
40.1K
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
615
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...
615
01:15Natural Selection and Adaptation
1.5K
Natural selection, a fundamental concept in evolutionary biology, is the mechanism by which evolution is driven, favoring organisms that are best adapted to their environments. This process enhances their chances of survival and reproduction. Adaptation, a key outcome of this process, involves genetic modifications that optimize an organism's functionality under specific environmental challenges, such as extreme cold or thinner air at high altitudes.
Beyond physical adaptations,...
Beyond physical adaptations,...
1.5K
02:39Gene Flow
38.4K
Gene flow is the transfer of genes among populations, resulting from either the dispersal of gametes or from the migration of individuals.
38.4K