Candida

The genus Candida is characterized by globose to elongate yeast-like cells or blastoconidia that reproduce by multilateral budding. Most Candida species are also characterized by the presence of well developed pseudohyphae, however this characteristic may be absent, especially in those species formally included in the genus Torulopsis. Arthroconidia, ballistoconidia and colony pigmentation are always absent.  Within the genus Candida, fermentation, nitrate assimilation and inositol assimilation may be present or absent, however, all inositol positive strains produce pseudohyphae.

CHROMagar Candida plate showing chromogenic colour change for C C. albicans (green), C. tropicalis (blue), C. parapsilosis (white) and C. glabrata (pink).

Descriptions for the following are available:

• Candida albicans
• Candida colliculosa
• Candida dubliniensis
• Candida fabianii
• Candida famata
• Candida glabrata
• Candida guilliermondii
• Candida haemulonii
• Candida inconspicua
• Candida keyfyr
• Candida krusei
• Candida lipolytica
• Candida lusitaniae
• Candida norvegensis
• Candida parapsilosis
• Candida pelliculosa
• Candida rugosa
• Candida tropicalis
• Candida viswanathii

Species distribution from 944 patients with candidemia (Australian Candidemia Study 2002-2004)