Heterogeneous surface distribution of the fibrinogen-binding protein on Candida albicans.

As detected by indirect immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy, fibrinogen binding was heterogeneously distributed on the surface of Candida albicans. A low level of binding was generally observed homogeneously distributed on some yeast and most hyphal extensions of germ tubes. However, on most hyphal extensions, there were randomly distributed areas of increased expression, as revealed by patches of greater fluorescence intensity.