Candida albicans: Progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of genetic diversification in a major fungal pathogen of humans

(Institut Pasteur) Candida albicans is a fungal species causing infection in humans. A team of scientists decided to sequence and analyze the genomes of 182 strains of C. albicans from around the world. They confirmed the clonal reproduction of this human pathogen but also showed that parasexual reproduction, previously only observed in a laboratory setting, contributes to the genetic diversity of C. albicans and therefore also to its ability to adapt to new environments and rid itself of deleterious mutations.
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news