Figure 2.

Sites of C. albicans commensalism and disease on the human body. Sites of C. albicans commensalism (left side) include the oral cavity, gastrointestinal tract (gut) and the genital tract. C. albicans can infect these sites (right side) to cause oropharyngeal or vulvovaginal candidiasis. C. albicans can also cause systemic infections of the blood and internal organs, which often arise via translocation of C. albicans from the gut into the bloodstream. Candida albicans also causes mucocutaneous infections of the skin and nails. Factors that predispose individuals to such infections are listed. See text.