Candida albicans and candidalysin in inflammatory disorders and cancer

• Published in: Immunology Vol. 162; no. 1; pp. 11 - 16
• Main Authors: Ho, Jemima, Camilli, Giorgio, Griffiths, James S., Richardson, Jonathan P., Kichik, Nessim, Naglik, Julian R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.01.2021; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Animals; Candida albicans; Candida albicans - metabolism; candidalysin; Candidiasis - microbiology; Disorders; Fungal Proteins - metabolism; Fungi; gut barrier; Humans; IL‐17; Immunocompromised hosts; Inflammation - microbiology; Inflammatory diseases; mucosal disease; Mycology; Neoplasms - microbiology; Review; Toxins; Candida albicans; gut barrier; candidalysin; mucosal disease; IL-17
• ISSN: 0019-2805; 1365-2567; 1365-2567
• DOI: 10.1111/imm.13255

Summary As our understanding of mycology progresses, the impact of fungal microbes on human health has become increasingly evident. Candida albicans is a common commensal fungus that gives rise to local and systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients where it can result in mortality. However, C. albicans has also been quietly linked with a variety of inflammatory disorders, to which it has traditionally been considered incidental; recent studies may now provide new aspects of these relationships for further consideration. This review provides a novel perspective on the impact of C. albicans and its peptide toxin, candidalysin, on human health, exploring their contributions to pathology within a variety of diseases. Candida albicans infections have been linked with a variety of inflammatory diseases. The ability for C. albicans to potentiate pathology in these instances is explored in this review.