Infectious fungus, thought to be asexual, isn't: More evidence of sex in the Candida genus
Monday, December 5, 2011 - 15:02
in Biology & Nature
The fungi of the Candida genus, known to millions of patients worldwide for their ability to cause serious infections, were once all thought to be asexual. Even after scientists discovered that the mating habits of Candida albicans were many and varied, they remained convinced that many of the more infectious ones did not mate. Now with the first report that Candida tropicalis can mate sexually as well, the chastity of the whole genus comes into further doubt.