Whole Genome sequence of Candida albicans

Candida albicans, a diploid sexual fungus, is the causal agent of opportunistic infections in humans, the most common being oral and vaginal infections. Systemic fungal infections have emerged as important causes of morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients (e.g., AIDS, cancer chemotherapy, organ or bone marrow transplantation). In addition, hospital-related infections in patients not previously considered at risk (e.g., patients on an intensive care unit) have become a cause of major health concern. The Candida albicans genome is very plastic, with variable karyotype. Strain IDSSOA01 contains 8 chromosome pairs, 7 of which have a constant size and one of which is polymorphic (R), with a size ranging from 3.2 to 4.0 Mb. The presence of tandemly arrayed genes for the ribosomal RNAs accounts for this size variation. The genome size of this strain is approximately 16 Mb.One of the most interesting features of the Candida albicans genome is the occurrence of numeric and structural chromosomal rearrangements as a means of generating genetic diversity, named chromosome length polymorphisms (contraction/expansion of repeats), reciprocal translocations, chromosome deletions and trisomy of individual chromosomes. These karyotypic alterations lead to changes in phenotype, which is an adaptation strategy of this fungus. These mechanisms will be better understood with the complete analysis of the Candida albicans genome.