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Implication of Quorum Sensing System in Biofilm Formation and Virulence pp 195–204Cite as

Perspective of Quorum Sensing Mechanism in Candida albicans

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Abstract

Candida albicans a polymorphic fungus can cause wide range of disease in humans, its potential to transform between yeast to hypha form and biofilm formation is associated with its virulence. The regulated expression of virulence genes plays a critical role during pathogenesis and immune evasion. The synchronized expression of genes in accordance with the population density is define as Quorum sensing (QS).There are enormous information about prokaryotic QS but the eukaryotic QS was concealed till the discovery of farnesol in Candida albicans. Farnesol is a sesquiterpine alcohol produce endogenously in plants, animals and fungi. It inhibits the initiation of hyphal formation. Apart from farnesol other quorum sensing molecule (QSM) in fungal kingdom includes aromatic amino acid derived alcohols like tyrosol, tryptophol and phenylethanol. This chapter emphasizes more on the various types of mechanisms involved in the fungal Quorum sensing, elaborating their physiological effects and quorum sensing involved during the host-pathogen interactions. Understanding of Quorum sensing mechanisms in Candida albicans may open the door of various therapeutic possibilities.

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Acknowledgments

I gratefully acknowledge the University Grant Commission, Government of India for awarding Junior and Senior Research Fellowship.

Conflict of Interest

Authors have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

    Prerna Pathak

  2. Product Development Cell-1, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India

    Parul Sahu

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  1. Prerna Pathak
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biotechnology, Krishna University, Machilipatnam, Andhra Pradesh, India

    Pallaval Veera Bramhachari

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Pathak, P., Sahu, P. (2018). Perspective of Quorum Sensing Mechanism in Candida albicans . In: Pallaval Veera Bramhachari (eds) Implication of Quorum Sensing System in Biofilm Formation and Virulence. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-2429-1_12

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