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Virulence and Pathogenicity of Fungal Pathogens with Special Reference to Candida albicans

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Combating Fungal Infections

Abstract

The frequency of severe systemic fungal diseases has increased in the last few decades. The clinical use of broad spectrum antibacterial drugs and immunosuppressive agents after organ transplantation, cancer chemotherapy, and advancements in surgery are associated with increasing risk of fungal infection. Despite the effectiveness of available antifungals in combating such infections, the emergence of drug resistance to antifungals, and problems of toxicity and poor delivery of drugs at the target site in systemic infections, have necessitated a systematic approach to the study of fungal pathogens, host–fungi interactions, and identification of virulence factors. Characterization of virulence factors is expected to improve understanding of fungal pathogenesis and to help explore new drug targets. In this article we discuss the process of fungal infections, virulence factors and pathogenicity of fungal pathogens, with special reference to Candida albicans. Adherence, dimorphism, phenotypic switching, secretion of hydrolytic enzymes, biofilm formation, and ability to adapt at host body temperature are some of the well-known virulence factors among pathogenic fungi and are discussed in relation to C. albicans.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural Microbiology, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Mohd Sajjad Ahmad Khan & Iqbal Ahmad

  2. Brown Cancer Center, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA

    Farrukh Aqil

  3. Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Mohd Owais

  4. Department of Microbiology, JN Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Mohd Shahid

  5. DNA Research Chair, Department of Zoology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

    Javed Musarrat

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  1. Mohd Sajjad Ahmad Khan
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  2. Iqbal Ahmad
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  4. Mohd Owais
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  5. Mohd Shahid
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Correspondence to Mohd Sajjad Ahmad Khan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fac. Agricultural Sciences, Dept. Agricultural Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Iqbal Ahmad

  2. Dept. Biochemistry, Interdiciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202 002, India

    Mohammad Owais

  3. J. N. Medical College, Dept. Microbiology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India

    Mohammed Shahid

  4. James Graham Brown Cancer Center, S. Preston Street 580, Louisville, 40202, USA

    Farrukh Aqil

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Khan, M.S.A., Ahmad, I., Aqil, F., Owais, M., Shahid, M., Musarrat, J. (2010). Virulence and Pathogenicity of Fungal Pathogens with Special Reference to Candida albicans . In: Ahmad, I., Owais, M., Shahid, M., Aqil, F. (eds) Combating Fungal Infections. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-12173-9_2

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