Candidaalbicansisadiploidfungus(aformofyeast)andacausalagentofopportuNISTicoralandgenitalinfectionsinhumans.Systemicfungalinfections(fungemias)haveemergedasimportantcausesofmorbidityandmortalityinimmunocompromisedpatients(e.g.,AIDS,cancerchemotherapy,organorbonemarrowtransplantation).C.albicansbiofilmsreADIlyformonthesurfaceofimplantablemedicaldevices.