1. Wstęp. 1.1. Candida albicans – patogen oportunistyczny. 1.2. Kandydozy. 2. Zewnątrzkomórkowe enzymy a wirulencja C. albicans. 3. Produkcja proteazy aspartylowej przez morfotypy C. albicans. 4. Podsumowanie

Abstract: Candida albicans resides mainly as a harmless commensal in the gastrointestinal tract, vagina and some cutaneous areas of humans. However, in individuals who are immunocompromised or debilitated in some other way, C. albicans is responsible for superficialy-localized or systemic infections. Candida albicans produces a large family of secreted aspartyl proteinases (Saps) which are key virulence factors in C. albicans pathogenesis. Saps contribute to infection by degrading tissue barriers and destroying host defense molecules. The secretion of Saps varies depending on the C. albicans’morphologies, the site and stage of infection, and the nature of the host response. This review the focuses on characteristics and function of the members of aspartyl proteinases, which have been studied in more detail. It should be noted that the discrepancies in individual Sap’s role in the virulence of C. albicans may result from differences in the sensitivity of methods used, or differences in infection models and stage of the epithelial cells, or variability among C. albicans strains.

1. Introduction. 1.1. Candida albicans as a commensal and as a pathogen. 1.2. Candidiasis. 2. Extracellular enzymes and C. albicans virulence. 3. Candida albicans aspartic proteinases. 4. Summary