The Bidirectional Regulatory Mechanism of MAPK Signaling Pathway in Drug Tolerance and Host Interaction of Candida albicans

doi:10.3870/j.issn.1672-8009.2026.01.010

Abstract

Abstract: Candida albicans is a common opportunistic pathogen fungus in humans.The invasive infection it causes have a high mortality rate,posing significant challenges for clinical prevention and treatment.The graving problem of drug resistance is one of the primary causes for treatment failure,making it urgent to elucidate its drug resistance mechanisms and identify new drug targets.This article reviews the bidirectional regulatory mechanism of the MAPK signaling pathway in Candida albicans drug tolerance and host interaction:On one hand,it reveals how the MAPK signaling pathway mediates interactions between Candida albicans and its host,such as through immune evasion and inflammatory responses;On the other hand,it elucidates the MAPK-mediated resistance mechanisms in Candida albicans,including cell wall synthesis and remodeling,hyphal formation,oxidative stress,and biofilm formation,along with recent advances in drug research.This aims to provide new insights into understanding the pathogenicity and resistance of Candida albicans and to offer theoretical support for developing novel antifungal strategies targeting the MAPK pathway.

Key words: Candida albicans, MAPK signaling pathway, pathogenesis, drug resistance

CLC Number:

R379.4

HAO Ziqi, FENG Wenli, ZHANG Jing, ZHAO Bingqian. The Bidirectional Regulatory Mechanism of MAPK Signaling Pathway in Drug Tolerance and Host Interaction of Candida albicans[J]. Journal of Medical Molecular Biology, 2026, 23(1): 74-78.

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