Mycology

·         C. albicans is part of the normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract, mouth, and genital surfaces. Notwithstanding, C. albicans causes severe disease particularly in those patients with compromised immunity. It is generally thought that when C. albicans is unable to adhere to mucosa it is nonpathogenic and that production of germ tubes or hyphae plays a major role in colonization and infection of the mucosal epithelial cells by allowing direct penetration of these cells with specific hydrolytic enzymes. While other mutations such as temperature intolerance, metabolic alterations, and structural substitutions may affect the ability of Candida to survive, these changes would not affect adherence.