• Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast.
• It normally lives on human skin and inside the body, such as the mouth, throat, gut, and vagina, without causing problems.
• However, under immuno-compromised conditions such as AIDS or during cancer treatment., it becomes a life-threatening systemic infection.

Interesting Facts about Candida albicans

• It is a common member of the human gut flora, but can also survive outside the human body.
• It is detected in the gastrointestinal tract and mouth in 40–60% of healthy adults.

Why in news?

• A newly identified gene,CSA6, found in Candida albicans can hold the key to preventing the fungal infection Candidiasis.

Source

1. Medical News Today