C. albicans ATCC 10231

Overview

C. albicans ATCC 10231 is a standardized laboratory reference strain of Candida albicans, a medically important opportunistic fungal pathogen. As an ATCC-deposited strain, it is widely used in antifungal susceptibility testing, formulation development, biofilm studies, and host–pathogen interaction experiments. In biomedical research, this strain serves as a reproducible model for evaluating antifungal agents, delivery systems, and anti-virulence strategies against Candida infections.

Biologically, C. albicans is notable for its ability to switch between yeast and hyphal forms, form biofilms, and cause mucosal and invasive disease. In the recent studies provided, C. albicans ATCC 10231 was used as a target organism in assays assessing antifungal activity, including ophthalmic, wound, and polymicrobial infection models. These investigations reflect its role as a benchmark strain for comparing drug potency and formulation performance against C. albicans, often alongside pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Focus of Latest Publications

Recent publications involving C. albicans ATCC 10231 have focused largely on antifungal discovery, combination therapy, and host–pathogen interaction models. Several studies evaluated natural products, purified compounds, and nanodelivery systems for activity against Candida albicans, often alongside other Candida species or clinical isolates. In one report, compounds from marine-derived Aspergillus sp. WHUF04-170 were tested in synergy with amphotericin B, and compounds 1 and 15 enhanced amphotericin B activity against C. albicans strains including ATCC 10231. Another study identified a benzimidazole-based derivative series in which compounds 3c and 3i showed strong antifungal activity against C. albicans, with mechanistic evidence pointing to reactive oxygen species accumulation and ergosterol-associated membrane targeting. A separate investigation of Paullinia pinnata isolated 6α-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxybenzoyl)-lup-20(29)-ene-3-one, which showed potent anti-Candida activity, synergized with voriconazole, nystatin, or caspofungin, and inhibited biofilm formation and preformed biofilms.

Other recent work examined formulation strategies intended to improve antifungal delivery or broaden antimicrobial efficacy against C. albicans. A pH-responsive human serum albumin nanoparticle system loaded with amphotericin B produced sustained, acidic pH-dependent release, retained antifungal activity against C. albicans, and inhibited biofilm formation while reducing renal toxicity in preclinical testing. Similarly, dissolving microneedles co-loaded with deferoxamine-anchored Ti3C2Tx MXene enabled transdermal delivery for infected wounds and showed photothermal antibacterial effects against C. albicans, with improved in vivo outcomes compared with topical solution delivery. Biogenic selenium nanoparticles synthesized from Prosopis farcta extract also displayed broad antimicrobial activity, including considerable antifungal activity against C. albicans, while maintaining low cytotoxicity toward normal human dermal fibroblasts.

C. albicans ATCC 10231 was also used in studies aimed at understanding infection biology and immune-based prevention. In a non-human primate model of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis, Japanese macaques were shown to be susceptible to C. albicans infection and reinfection, with hyphae formation and polymorphonuclear cell recruitment in the vaginal lumen. immunization with the pan-fungal vaccine candidate NXT-2 induced robust systemic and mucosal anti-NXT-2 IgG responses and reduced fungal burden after subsequent rechallenge, supporting its potential for recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis prevention. In another infection-focused study, melittin directly inhibited C. albicans growth in vitro, reduced virulence gene expression, and in a murine fungal encephalitis model decreased fungal burden while suppressing neuroinflammation, with additional evidence that it reversibly increased blood–brain barrier permeability.

Additional publications reported screening of plant-derived extracts and fractions against C. albicans ATCC 10231 as part of broader antifungal evaluations. Hyaluronate-coated novasomes carrying Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla extract improved antimicrobial potency relative to the crude extract, which had limited activity and was effective only against C. albicans. A saponin-enriched fraction from Sarcomphalus joazeiro was also assessed against Candida spp., including C. albicans, and was characterized by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS as containing triterpenoids, flavonoids, acids, and saponins. Together, these studies position C. albicans ATCC 10231 as a recurring reference strain for testing new antifungal compounds, delivery platforms, and combination strategies.

Key Publications

NEWJul Immunization with the pan-fungal vaccine, NXT-2a, reduces fungal burden following serial intravaginal challenges with C. albicans in a non-human primate model of experimental vulvovaginal candidiasis. (PloS one, 2026, PMID 42371915): "We show that like humans, Japanese macaques are susceptible to VVC infections with C. albicans and display evidence of active infection through the formation of hyphae and recruitment of polymorphonuclear cells within the vaginal lumen."
NEWJun Hyaluronate-coated novasomes as a nanoplatform for targeted delivery of Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla extract: formulation, characterization, and phytochemical profiling. (Scientific reports, 2026, PMID 42303711): "The biological activities were evaluated via DPPH radical scavenging and agar well assays against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans."
NEWJul UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS and Antifungal Activity of a Fraction Enriched in Saponins From Sarcomphalus joazeiro Against Candida spp. (Biomedical chromatography : BMC, 2026, PMID 42261063): "this study aimed to investigate the antifungal potential of the saponin-enriched fraction of the Sarcomphalus joazeiro species against the Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida krusei strains."
Jun Potent and broad-spectrum anti-Candida activity of 6α-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxybenzoyl)-lup-20(29)-ene-3-one, a triterpenoid from Paullinia pinnata. (PloS one, 2026, PMID 42224217): "The study evaluated the activity of the ethyl acetate (EtOAc) extract of Paullinia pinnata and its isolated compound 6α-(3'-methoxy-4'-hydroxybenzoyl)-lup-20(29)-ene-3-one against drug-resistant strains and clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis."
May pH-responsive human serum albumin nanoparticles for amphotericin B delivery: Enhanced antifungal efficacy and reduced nephrotoxicity. (International journal of biological macromolecules, 2026, PMID 42190773): "The minimum inhibitory concentration against Candida albicans was determined to be 4 μg/mL, and at this concentration, HH18@AmB inhibited biofilm formation by 55%."
May Dissolving microneedles with desferrioxamine-loaded Ti3C2Tx MXene for rapid healing of microbial-infected wounds. (International journal of pharmaceutics, 2026, PMID 42119861): "Under near-infrared (NIR) irradiation, the MXene component exerted potent photothermal antibacterial effects against diverse pathogens (S. aureus, E. coli, MRSA, and C. albicans)."
Apr Antimicrobial potency and biocompatibility of biogenic selenium nanoparticles by Prosopis farcta. (Microbial pathogenesis, 2026, PMID 42019771): "Antimicrobial activity was assessed against Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae), and the fungus Candida albicans."
Jun BBB modulation-driven potentiation of antifungal therapy by melittin in fungal encephalitis. (International immunopharmacology, 2026, PMID 41962469): "In vitro studies confirmed MLT directly inhibited C. albicans growth and attenuated virulence gene expression."
Jun Design and synthesis of benzimidazole-based derivatives with antimicrobial activity: mechanistic insights into ROS-mediated oxidative damage, hemolytic assessment, and molecular docking studies. (Bioorganic chemistry, 2026, PMID 41831427): "All compounds were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus), Gram-negative bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii and Providencia stuartii), and the fungal strain Candida albicans."
Jun Six previously undescribed bisabolane-type sesquiterpenes from marine derived fungus Aspergillus sp. WHUF04-170 and their antimicrobial activity. (Phytochemistry, 2026, PMID 41651325): "...enhanced the activity of amphotericin B against Candida albicans strains, including both standard reference strains (SC5314 and ATCC 10231) and drug-resistant clinical isolates (C5 and C3)."