Abstract
Candida albicans is a human fungal pathogen capable of causing
lethal systemic infections. The plasma membrane plays key
roles in virulence because it not only functions as a protective
barrier, it also mediates dynamic functions including secretion
of virulence factors, cell wall synthesis, invasive hyphal
morphogenesis, endocytosis, and nutrient uptake. Consistent
with this functional complexity, the plasma membrane is
composed of a wide array of lipids and proteins. These components
are organized into distinct domains that will be the
topic of this review. Some of the plasma membrane domains
that will be described are known to act as scaffolds or barriers
to diffusion, such as MCC/eisosomes, septins, and sites
of contact with the endoplasmic reticulum. Other zones mediate
dynamic processes, including secretion, endocytosis, and
a special region at hyphal tips that facilitates rapid growth.
The highly organized architecture of the plasma membrane
facilitates the coordination of diverse functions and promotes
the pathogenesis of C. albicans.
Citations
Citations to this article as recorded by

- Zingerone effect against Candida albicans growth and biofilm production.
Sayali Chougule, Sargun Basrani, Tanjila Gavandi, Shivani Patil, Shivanand Yankanchi, Ashwini Jadhav, Sankunny Mohan Karuppayil
Journal of Medical Mycology.2024; : 101527. CrossRef - Regulation of yeast polarized exocytosis by phosphoinositide lipids
Matthew W. Volpiana, Aleksa Nenadic, Christopher T. Beh
Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences.2024;[Epub] CrossRef - Sur7 mediates a novel pathway for PI4,5P2 regulation in C. albicans that promotes stress resistance and cell wall morphogenesis
Carla E. Lanze, James B. Konopka, Amy Susanne Gladfelter
Molecular Biology of the Cell.2024;[Epub] CrossRef - Anti-Candida activity of flavonoids - an overview
Savu Mihaela, Marius Stefan
Journal of Experimental and Molecular Biology.2024; 25(1): 67. CrossRef - Emerging Roles of Exocyst Complex in Fungi: A Review
Qussai Zuriegat, Yakubu Saddeeq Abubakar, Zonghua Wang, Meilian Chen, Jun Zhang
Journal of Fungi.2024; 10(9): 614. CrossRef - Candida albicans pathways that protect against organic peroxides and lipid peroxidation
Kara A. Swenson, Kyunghun Min, James B. Konopka, Aaron P. Mitchell
PLOS Genetics.2024; 20(10): e1011455. CrossRef - A Comparative Review of Eugenol and Citral Anticandidal Mechanisms: Partners in Crimes Against Fungi
Zinnat Shahina, Tanya E. S. Dahms
Molecules.2024; 29(23): 5536. CrossRef - Hinokitiol inhibits Aspergillus fumigatus by interfering with the cell membrane and cell wall
Fanyue Meng, Xing Liu, Cui Li, Xudong Peng, Qian Wang, Qiang Xu, Jialin Sui, Guiqiu Zhao, Jing Lin
Frontiers in Microbiology.2023;[Epub] CrossRef -
Candida albicans
resistance to hypochlorous acid
Lois M. Douglas, Kyunghun Min, James B. Konopka, J. Andrew Alspaugh
mBio.2023;[Epub] CrossRef - Inhibition of cell cycle-dependent hyphal and biofilm formation by a novel cytochalasin 19,20‑epoxycytochalasin Q in Candida albicans
Kwanrutai Watchaputi, L. A. Channa Bhathiya Jayasekara, Khanok Ratanakhanokchai, Nitnipa Soontorngun
Scientific Reports.2023;[Epub] CrossRef - Unique roles of aminophospholipid translocase Drs2p in governing efflux pump activity, ergosterol level, virulence traits, and host–pathogen interaction in Candida albicans
Shweta Singh, Sandeep Hans, Aijaz Ahmad, Zeeshan Fatima, Saif Hameed
International Microbiology.2022; 25(4): 769. CrossRef - Rosemary essential oil and its components 1,8-cineole and α-pinene induce ROS-dependent lethality and ROS-independent virulence inhibition in Candida albicans
Zinnat Shahina, Raymond Al Homsi, Jared D. W. Price, Malcolm Whiteway, Taranum Sultana, Tanya E. S. Dahms, Roy Aziz Khalaf
PLOS ONE.2022; 17(11): e0277097. CrossRef - Cinnamon Leaf and Clove Essential Oils Are Potent Inhibitors of Candida albicans Virulence Traits
Zinnat Shahina, Ali Molaeitabari, Taranum Sultana, Tanya Elizabeth Susan Dahms
Microorganisms.2022; 10(10): 1989. CrossRef -
Candida albicans
Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS)-Dependent Lethality and ROS-Independent Hyphal and Biofilm Inhibition by Eugenol and Citral
Zinnat Shahina, Easter Ndlovu, Omkaar Persaud, Taranum Sultana, Tanya E. S. Dahms, Damian J. Krysan
Microbiology Spectrum.2022;[Epub] CrossRef - In Vitro and In Silico Analysis of Ascorbic Acid Towards Lanosterol 14-α-Demethylase Enzyme of Fluconazole-Resistant Candida albicans
Arumugam Ganeshkumar, Suvaiyarasan Suvaithenamudhan, Rajendran Rajaram
Current Microbiology.2021; 78(1): 292. CrossRef - The Antibacterial Synthetic Flavonoid BrCl-Flav Exhibits Important Anti-Candida Activity by Damaging Cell Membrane Integrity
Cornelia Babii, Mihaela Savu, Iuliana Motrescu, Lucian Mihail Birsa, Laura Gabriela Sarbu, Marius Stefan
Pharmaceuticals.2021; 14(11): 1130. CrossRef - The Sur7 cytoplasmic C terminus regulates morphogenesis and stress responses in Candida albicans
Carla E. Lanze, Sai Zhou, James B. Konopka
Molecular Microbiology.2021; 116(4): 1201. CrossRef - Differential Roles of a Family of Flavodoxin-Like Proteins That Promote Resistance to Quinone-Mediated Oxidative Stress in Candida albicans
Jenna E. Foderaro, James B. Konopka, Mairi C. Noverr
Infection and Immunity.2021;[Epub] CrossRef - Modulation of Immune Responses by Particle Size and Shape
Maksim V. Baranov, Manoj Kumar, Stefano Sacanna, Shashi Thutupalli, Geert van den Bogaart
Frontiers in Immunology.2021;[Epub] CrossRef - derived 5,6,8-trihydroxy-7,4′ dimethoxy flavone inhibits ergosterol synthesis and the production of hyphae and biofilm in
Mrudula Patel, Vartika Srivastava, Aijaz Ahmad
Journal of Ethnopharmacology.2020; 259: 112965. CrossRef - The Role of Secretory Pathways in Candida albicans Pathogenesis
Christiane Rollenhagen, Sahil Mamtani, Dakota Ma, Reva Dixit, Susan Eszterhas, Samuel A. Lee
Journal of Fungi.2020; 6(1): 26. CrossRef - Candida and Candidiasis—Opportunism Versus Pathogenicity: A Review of the Virulence Traits
Cristina Nicoleta Ciurea, Irina-Bianca Kosovski, Anca Delia Mare, Felicia Toma, Ionela Anca Pintea-Simon, Adrian Man
Microorganisms.2020; 8(6): 857. CrossRef - Plasma Membrane MCC/Eisosome Domains Promote Stress Resistance in Fungi
Carla E. Lanze, Rafael M. Gandra, Jenna E. Foderaro, Kara A. Swenson, Lois M. Douglas, James B. Konopka
Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews.2020;[Epub] CrossRef - Si vis pacem para bellum: A prospective in silico analysis of miRNA-based plant defenses against fungal infections
André F. Gabriel, Marina C. Costa, Francisco J. Enguita, Ana Lúcia Leitão
Plant Science.2019; 288: 110241. CrossRef - Advances in understanding of the oxysterol-binding protein homologous in yeast and filamentous fungi
Shangkun Qiu, Bin Zeng
International Microbiology.2019; 22(2): 169. CrossRef - The Yin and Yang of Current Antifungal Therapeutic Strategies: How Can We Harness Our Natural Defenses?
Tomas Di Mambro, Ilaria Guerriero, Luigi Aurisicchio, Mauro Magnani, Emanuele Marra
Frontiers in Pharmacology.2019;[Epub] CrossRef - Plasma membrane architecture protects Candida albicans from killing by copper
Lois M. Douglas, James B. Konopka, Valeria C. Culotta
PLOS Genetics.2019; 15(1): e1007911. CrossRef - Boric Acid and Commercial Organoboron Products as Inhibitors of Drug-Resistant Candida albicans
Bryan Larsen, Marija Petrovic, Francesco De Seta
Mycopathologia.2018; 183(2): 349. CrossRef - Helminth eggs as parasitic indicators of fecal contamination in agricultural irrigation water, biosolids, soils and pastures
María Claudia Campos, Milena Beltrán, Nancy Fuentes, Gerardo Moreno
Biomédica.2018; 38(1): 42. CrossRef - Selective BET bromodomain inhibition as an antifungal therapeutic strategy
Flore Mietton, Elena Ferri, Morgane Champleboux, Ninon Zala, Danièle Maubon, Yingsheng Zhou, Mike Harbut, Didier Spittler, Cécile Garnaud, Marie Courçon, Murielle Chauvel, Christophe d’Enfert, Boris A. Kashemirov, Mitchell Hull, Muriel Cornet, Charles E.
Nature Communications.2017;[Epub] CrossRef - Calcium Enhances Bile Salt-Dependent Virulence Activation in Vibrio cholerae
Amanda J. Hay, Menghua Yang, Xiaoyun Xia, Zhi Liu, Justin Hammons, William Fenical, Jun Zhu, Nancy E. Freitag
Infection and Immunity.2017;[Epub] CrossRef - MCC/Eisosomes Regulate Cell Wall Synthesis and Stress Responses in Fungi
Jenna Foderaro, Lois Douglas, James Konopka
Journal of Fungi.2017; 3(4): 61. CrossRef - Human fungal pathogens: Why should we learn?
Jeong-Yoon Kim
Journal of Microbiology.2016; 54(3): 145. CrossRef - Fungal cell membrane-promising drug target for antifungal therapy
D.G. Sant, S.G. Tupe, C.V. Ramana, M.V. Deshpande
Journal of Applied Microbiology.2016; 121(6): 1498. CrossRef