Question
| A. |
Pseudohyphae are seen |
| B. |
Produces chlamydospores |
| C. |
It is a true mould |
| D. |
It forms germ tubes in human serum |
|
Correct Answer » C Explanation |
 |
Candida albicans is polymorphic and can exist in multiple forms:
1. Budding Yeast Cells
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Oval or round cells.
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Reproduce by budding.
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Seen in culture and in mucosal infections.
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Grow rapidly on simple media at 25–37°C.
This is the basic vegetative form.
2. Pseudohyphae
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Elongated budding yeast cells that remain attached.
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Appear as chains of cells with constrictions at the septa.
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Commonly seen in tissue infections.
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Important diagnostic clue in microscopy.
Pseudohyphae help tissue invasion.
3. True Hyphae (Germ Tubes)
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Long, continuous filamentous structures without constrictions at the origin.
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Formed when Candida is incubated in human serum at 37°C for 1–2 hours.
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This is called the Germ Tube Test (Reynolds–Braude phenomenon).
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Used for rapid identification of Candida albicans.
Presence of germ tubes differentiates C. albicans from most other Candida species.
4. Chlamydospores
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Thick-walled, large spores.
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Formed on cornmeal agar.
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Serve as a characteristic laboratory identification feature.
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Not typically seen in tissue but important for culture diagnosis.
Candida is not a Mould
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Moulds form extensive true hyphae and reproduce by spores.
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Candida is primarily a yeast-like fungus.
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Though it forms hyphae, it does not have a true mould phase like dermatophytes or Aspergillus.
