The commensal yeasts like Candida albicans and non-albicans Candida have emerged as opportunistic fungal pathogens and have become major causes of life-threatening invasive mycoses. Despite the increasing incidence of these infections, the current diagnosis is still difficult and often too late, and options for therapy are limited. Moreover, Candida spp have developed multiple sophisticated, specific, and unique pathogenicity mechanisms including biofilm formation. Many of these mechanisms are not well understood. How these complex, multi-organismic networks are regulated by microbial communication is still poorly understood. Gaining insights into the fungal-host interaction and biomolecular interactions underlying the communication processes is needed. Research on these aspects therefore will discover and elucidate novel biological principles, including new regulatory and metabolic pathways involved.

The ineffectiveness of existing antifungals due to the emergence of drug-resistant strains and the associated toxicity have necessitated the search for alternative antifungals. In alternative medicine, natural products of plants and microbial origin have been expected to deliver potential antifungal drugs with novel mechanisms of action. For a comprehensive description and understanding of complex invasive fungal infections, we believe it is important to apply a biological model approach to the pathobiology of the pathogens and the response of the immune system. Understanding the mechanism of biofilms and pathogenicity will contribute to uncovering the structure and dynamics of molecular and cellular cause-effect relations within these pathogenic interactions. Furthermore, Candida spp interact with other microorganisms and form a mixed biofilm and complicate the pathogenicity and disease control in oral and systemic infections.

This Special Issue aims to provide an interdisciplinary platform to discuss the applicability of natural products like phyto-compounds, marine products, biosurfactants, and others in combating candidiasis. To obtain a comprehensive insight into these medically important fungal infections and their management, scientists across the globe are invited to contribute quality research or review articles pertaining but not specific to the below mentioned areas.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• Opportunistic Candida albicans and new spp emerging as a problematic pathogen and its epidemiology
• Phenotypic adaptation of Candida in biofilm stage and gene expression of Candida inside the host during colonization
• Understanding the molecular mechanism of drug resistance in planktonic and biofilms
• Host Immune response to Candida biofilms/infection
• Role of quorum sensing in pathogenic determinants and biofilm in Candida spp.
• Study of biofilm mode of infections using mucosal biofilm models such as oral, gastrointestinal, or vaginal colonizations
• Anti-virulence and anti-biofilm approaches to combat candidiasis: new drug development/alternative approaches
• Studying device associated biofilms like vascular and urinary catheters, denture biofilms, and other subcutaneous implants to develop anti-candidal drugs
• Nanoparticles based antibiofilm biomaterials or synergistically acting antimicrobial compounds in controlling Candida infections
• Pharmacology and pharmacognosy of natural products in controlling the pathogenicity of Candida spp.