Constitutive ALS3 expression in Candida albicans enhances adhesion and biofilm formation of efg1, but not cph1 mutant strains.

Adhesion to living and non-living surfaces is an important virulence trait of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Biofilm formation in this organism depends on the expression of a number of cell surface proteins including the hypha-specific protein Als3p. Loss of ALS3 impairs biofilm formation and decreases cell-cell adhesion.