Cutting edge: Candida albicans hyphae formation triggers activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome

The relationship between host and opportunistic pathogen is a tenuous one and an injudicious response to pathogen-associated molecular patterns may result in a hostile environment to potentially beneficial commensal organisms. Therefore, discrimination between pathogenic forms, causing cellular damage, and innocuous commensal forms of microbes is critical in maintaining homeostasis. The NLRP3 inflammasome has recently been identified as playing an important role in recognition of the fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Here we will review these findings and discuss the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome in initiating an innate immune response to invasive C. albicans.