{{Short description|Asexual reproductive spore in fungi}} {{distinguish|Blastopore}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Use Oxford spelling|date=June 2025}} [[File:C albicans en.jpg|thumb|blastospore and other structures of ''Candida albicans'']] thumb|''Candida'' pseudohyphae, chlamydospores and blastospores
A '''blastospore''' is an asexual reproductive spore produced by budding, commonly found in fungi within the division Glomeromycota. The word blastospore is derived from the Greek {{lang|el|blastós}} ('sprout', 'bud', or 'germ') and {{lang|el|sporá}} ('spore').<ref name="Ulloa & Hanlin 2012"/>
==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 is compromised.<ref name="Jackson et al. 2014"/> 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 biofilms, particularly on medical devices, presents considerable challenges in clinical settings. Biofilms are structured communities of fungi, predominantly made up of blastospores and hyphae, which adhere to surfaces and demonstrate increased resistance to antifungal treatments compared to planktonic cells.<ref name="Jackson et al. 2014"/>
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, which are needed for the spore's ability to survive in different environments.<ref name="Poulain et al. 1978"/> The outermost layer, rich in mannoproteins, plays a major role in interactions between the fungus and its host, affecting immune recognition and pathogenicity.<ref name="Poulain et al. 1978"/>
==Other fungi==
Beyond ''Candida albicans'', other fungi also utilise blastospore formation as a reproductive strategy. 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.<ref name="Lane et al. 1991"/> The endogenous reserves within these spores, such as lipids and carbohydrates, influence their viability and ability to germinate and infect host organisms.<ref name="Lane et al. 1991"/> 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'', ''Geotrichum'', and ''Monilinia''.<ref name="Ulloa & Hanlin 2012"/>
==References== {{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="Poulain et al. 1978">{{cite journal |last1=Poulain |first1=Daniel |last2=Tronchin |first2=G. |last3=Dubremetz |first3=J |last4=Biguet |first4=J. |year=1978 |title=Ultrastructure of the cell wall of ''Candida albicans'' blastospores: study of its constitutive layers by the use of a cytochemical technique revealing polysaccharides |journal=Annales de Microbiologie |volume=129 |issue=2 |pages=141–153 |doi=10.1016/j.prosdent.2014.02.003 |pmid=354457}}</ref>
<ref name="Jackson et al. 2014">{{cite journal |last1=Jackson |first1=Sarah |last2=Coulthwaite |first2=Lisa |last3=Loewy |first3=Zvi G. |last4=Scallan |first4=Anthony |last5=Verran |first5=Joanna |year=2014 |title=Biofilm development by blastospores and hyphae of ''Candida albicans'' on abraded denture acrylic resin surfaces |journal=Journal of Prosthetic Dentistry |volume=112 |issue=4 |pages=988–993 |doi=10.1016/j.prosdent.2014.02.003 |pmid=24726593}}</ref>
<ref name="Lane et al. 1991">{{cite journal |last1=Lane |first1=Brian S. |last2=Trinci |first2=Anthony P.J. |last3=Gillespie |first3=Ariane T. |year=1991 |title=Endogenous reserves and survival of blastospores of ''Beauveria bassiana'' harvested from carbon- and nitrogen-limited batch cultures |journal=Mycological Research |volume=96 |issue=7 |pages=821–828 |doi=10.1016/s0953-7562(09)80045-2}}</ref>
<ref name="Ulloa & Hanlin 2012">{{cite book |last1=Ulloa |first1=Miguel |last2=Hanlin |first2=Richard T. |title=Illustrated Dictionary of Mycology |edition=2nd |year=2012 |publisher=The American Phytopathological Society |location=St. Paul, Minnesota |isbn=978-0-89054-400-6 |page=70}}</ref>
}}
Category:Fungal morphology and anatomy Category:Asexual reproduction