Descrição
The number of infections caused by Candida species has greatly increased in the
past ten years. This has been attributed with an increase in the number of AIDS
patients, the elderly population and immunocompromised patients. Moreover, the
increased use of indwelling medical devices has also been implicated with the rise of
candidal infections. Most candidiasis have been attributed to Candida albicans,
however, recently, new non-Candida albicans Candida (NCAC) species have been
identified as common pathogens, namely Candida parapsilosis, Candida glabrata,
Candida tropicalis, Candida krusei and Candida dubliniensis. Formation of
Candida biofilms has important clinical repercussions because of their increased
resistance to antifungal therapy and the ability of cells wrthin biofilms to withstand
host immune defences. Consequently further recognition and understanding of the
role of Candida biofilms, particularly the ones formed by NCAC species, is of major
importance in the study of human candidiasis.
; Henriques, Mariana 
