Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-dh8gc Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T16:39:59.093Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A futile act? Thoughts on the reproductive biology of Candida albicans

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 December 2004

JAN SCHMID
Affiliation:
Institute of Molecular BioSciences, College of Sciences, Massey University, Science Tower D, Riddet Road, Palmerston North 5331, New Zealandj.schmid@massey.ac.nz, Phone: +64-6-350-5171, Fax: +64-6-350-5688, WWW: http://imbs.massey.ac.nz/HTML/schmid.html
RICHARD D. CANNON
Affiliation:
Department of Oral Sciences, University of Otago, PO Box 647, Dunedin, New Zealandrichard.cannon@stonebow.otago.ac.nz Phone: +64-3-479-7081, Fax:+64-3-479-7078
BARBARA HOLLAND
Affiliation:
Allan Wilson Centre, Massey University, Private Bag 11222, Palmerston North, New Zealandb.r.holland@massey.ac.nz, Phone: +64-6-356 9099 xtn. 7939, FAX: +64-6-350 5626
Get access

Abstract

Recent laboratory experiments challenge the long-held view that Candida albicans is asexual and suggest that sexual recombination could occur outside the laboratory and be part of the reproductive strategy of the species. Population genetics studies, however, find little evidence, among clinical isolates, of the recombinant lineages the sexual cycle should generate. A possible explanation of these results is that the progeny of sexual recombination cannot compete with asexually propagating lineages, challenging the widely-held idea that sexual recombination is superior to asexual propagation.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© 2004 The British Mycological Society

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)