A blastospore is an asexual reproductive

spore In biology, a spore is a unit of sexual reproduction, sexual (in fungi) or asexual reproduction that may be adapted for biological dispersal, dispersal and for survival, often for extended periods of time, in unfavourable conditions. Spores fo ...

produced by

budding Budding or blastogenesis is a type of asexual reproduction in which a new organism develops from an outgrowth or bud due to cell division at one particular site. For example, the small bulb-like projection coming out from the yeast cell is kno ...

, commonly found in

fungi A fungus (: fungi , , , or ; or funguses) is any member of the group of eukaryotic organisms that includes microorganisms such as yeasts and mold (fungus), molds, as well as the more familiar mushrooms. These organisms are classified as one ...

within the division Glomeromycota. The word blastospore is derived from the Greek ('sprout', 'bud', or 'germ') and ('spore').

In ''Candida albicans''

'' Candida albicans'', a well-known example of a fungus that forms blastospores, is an opportunistic pathogen in humans. It typically resides harmlessly in the skin, mouth, and gut, but can cause infections when the

immune system The immune system is a network of biological systems that protects an organism from diseases. It detects and responds to a wide variety of pathogens, from viruses to bacteria, as well as Tumor immunology, cancer cells, Parasitic worm, parasitic ...

is compromised. This species is capable of producing both blastospores and pseudohyphae, allowing it to adapt to varying environmental conditions. The ability of ''C. albicans'' to form

biofilm A biofilm is a Syntrophy, syntrophic Microbial consortium, community of microorganisms in which cell (biology), cells cell adhesion, stick to each other and often also to a surface. These adherent cells become embedded within a slimy ext ...

s, particularly on

medical device A medical device is any device intended to be used for medical purposes. Significant potential for hazards are inherent when using a device for medical purposes and thus medical devices must be proved safe and effective with reasonable assura ...

s, presents considerable challenges in clinical settings. Biofilms are structured

communities A community is a Level of analysis, social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place (geography), place, set of Norm (social), norms, culture, religion, values, Convention (norm), customs, or Ide ...

of fungi, predominantly made up of blastospores and

hypha A hypha (; ) is a long, branching, filamentous structure of a fungus, oomycete, or actinobacterium. In most fungi, hyphae are the main mode of vegetative growth, and are collectively called a mycelium. Structure A hypha consists of one o ...

e, which adhere to surfaces and demonstrate increased resistance to

antifungal An antifungal medication, also known as an antimycotic medication, is a pharmaceutical fungicide or fungistatic used to treat and prevent mycosis such as athlete's foot, ringworm, candidiasis (thrush), serious systemic infections such as ...

treatments compared to

planktonic Plankton are the diverse collection of organisms that drift in water (or air) but are unable to actively propel themselves against currents (or wind). The individual organisms constituting plankton are called plankters. In the ocean, they pro ...

cells. The cell wall of ''Candida albicans'' blastospores consists of multiple layers, each contributing to the spore's structural integrity. These layers are composed of various

polysaccharides Polysaccharides (), or polycarbohydrates, are the most abundant carbohydrates found in food. They are long-chain polymeric carbohydrates composed of monosaccharide units bound together by glycosidic linkages. This carbohydrate can react with wat ...

, which are needed for the spore's ability to survive in different environments. The outermost layer, rich in mannoproteins, plays a major role in interactions between the fungus and its

host A host is a person responsible for guests at an event or for providing hospitality during it. Host may also refer to: Places * Host, Pennsylvania, a village in Berks County * Host Island, in the Wilhelm Archipelago, Antarctica People * ...

, affecting immune recognition and pathogenicity.

Other fungi

Beyond ''Candida albicans'', other fungi also utilise blastospore formation as a

reproductive strategy Reproduction (or procreation or breeding) is the biological process by which new individual organisms – "offspring" – are produced from their "parent" or parents. There are two forms of reproduction: asexual and sexual. In asexual reprod ...

. The entomopathogenic (insect-disease causing) '' Beauveria bassiana'' produces blastospores as part of its life cycle. These spores are vital for the fungus's survival and pathogenicity, especially under nutrient-limited conditions. The endogenous reserves within these spores, such as

lipid Lipids are a broad group of organic compounds which include fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include storing ...

s and

carbohydrates A carbohydrate () is a biomolecule composed of carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O) atoms. The typical hydrogen-to-oxygen atomic ratio is 2:1, analogous to that of water, and is represented by the empirical formula (where ''m'' and ''n'' ma ...

, influence their viability and ability to

germinate Germination is the process by which an organism grows from a seed or spore. The term is applied to the sprouting of a seedling from a seed of an flowering plant, angiosperm or gymnosperm, the growth of a sporeling from a spore, such as the sp ...

and infect host organisms. Other examples of fungi that reproduce asexually using blastospores include yeasts in the genus '' Candida'' (which now includes many species formerly classified as ''Torulopsis''), ''Kloeckera'' species (the anamorph form of '' Hanseniaspora''), and the asexual fungi ''

Cladosporium ''Cladosporium'' is a genus of fungi including some of the most common indoor and outdoor molds. Some species are endophytes or plant pathogens, while others parasitize fungi. Description Species produce olive-green to brown or black colonie ...

'', '' Geotrichum'', and '' Monilinia''.

References

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