As our understanding of mycology progresses, the impact of fungal microbes on human health has become increasingly evident. Candida albicans is a common commensal fungus that gives rise to local and systemic infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients where it can result in mortality. However, C. albicans has also been quietly linked with a variety of inflammatory disorders, to which it has traditionally been considered incidental; recent studies may now provide new aspects of these relationships for further consideration. This review provides a novel perspective on the impact of C. albicans and its peptide toxin, candidalysin, on human health, exploring their contributions to pathology within a variety of diseases.
Keywords: Candida albicans; IL-17; candidalysin; gut barrier; mucosal disease.
© 2020 The Authors. Immunology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.