Clinical Significance, Molecular Formation, and Natural Antibiofilm Agents of Candida albicans

Candida albicans is a fungus that coexists with the natural body microflora. It is present in healthy individuals without causing any symptoms and can colonize various body parts. It is an opportunistic fungal pathogen of humans, which can cause diseases ranging from superficial mucocutaneous infections to life-threatening systemic infections. A significant concern of C. albicans in a clinical environment is forming biofilms, not just in vivo (on the host tissue) but also on surfaces of medical implant devices. The biofilm of C. albicans has a highly complex structure and consists of many types of cells. Such cells are enclosed in the extracellular matrix. Hence, biofilm makes cells more resistant to many external stressors, such as antimicrobials, making C. albicans significantly more challenging to treat in a biofilm and its ability to evade the immune system in the host. Considering its clinical significance, we have summarized the current studies which exploit plant biomolecules as antibiofilm. The chapter highlights the clinical significance and regulation of C. albicans biofilm growth, including immune evasion, drug resistance, and different stages of biofilm formation, viz., adhesion, proliferation, maturation, and dispersion.