Hemoglobin is utilized by Candida albicans in the hyphal form but not yeast form.

Hyphal cells of Candida albicans bound to human hemoglobin, but not the yeast cells. The amount of hemoglobin receptor was significantly higher on the hyphal cells than on the yeast cells. Only the hyphal cells of C. albicans used hemoglobin as a source of iron. The hemolytic factor was detected in the culture supernatant of the hyphal cell of C. albicans.