Candidalysin: discovery and function in Candida albicans infections

•Candidalysin is the first peptide toxin identified in any human fungal pathogen.•Candidalysin is critical for Candida albicans mucosal and systemic infections.•Candidalysin activates danger-response and damage-protection pathways in host cells.•Candidalysin activates the epidermal growth factor receptor in epithelial cells and the NLRP3 inflammasome in macrophages.•Candidalysin drives neutrophil recruitment and Type 17 immunity. Candidalysin is a cytolytic peptide toxin secreted by the invasive form of the human pathogenic fungus, Candida albicans. Candidalysin is critical for mucosal and systemic infections and is a key driver of host cell activation, neutrophil recruitment and Type 17 immunity. Candidalysin is regarded as the first true classical virulence factor of C. albicans but also triggers protective immune responses. This review will discuss how candidalysin was discovered, the mechanisms by which this peptide toxin contributes to C. albicans infections, and how its discovery has advanced our understanding of fungal pathogenesis and disease.