Candida and its dual lifestyle as a commensal and a pathogen

Candida spp. are part of the normal vaginal microflora in 20-30% of healthy women. However, if the balance between these yeasts and the host is disturbed, Candida spp. can cause vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), with Candida albicans being the major causative agent. Different studies have been performed in order to better understand Candida's dual lifestyle in the vagina. The potential of C. albicans to switch from the yeast cell morphology to its hyphal form is considered a key element in VVC pathogenesis. Candida spp. also express other virulence factors, such as hydrolytic extracellular enzymes and heat shock proteins and can form biofilms.