Candida albicans as a Biochemical Computer: Cross-Kingdom Signaling, Parasexual Reproduction, and Genetic Foundations of a Unique Fungal Symbiont

This work presents a systems-level synthesis of existing literature to frame Candida albicans as a functional biochemical computer operating through cross-kingdom signaling within the human host biome. Drawing on established scientific findings in fungal signaling, parasexual reproduction, lipid-mediated communication, and host–pathogen interaction, the paper integrates these components into a unified model of adaptive, non-neural information processing. Rather than introducing new experimental data, this study reorganizes known mechanisms into a coherent framework that explains how C. albicans can sense, respond to, and modulate its environment across multiple biological scales at a scale not yet established in any other organism. Particular emphasis is placed on its capacity for phenotypic switching, quorum sensing, metabolic flexibility, and interaction with host signaling systems, including lipid-derived pathways relevant to systemic regulation. The resulting model positions C. albicans not merely as an opportunistic pathogen, but as a persistent, adaptive symbiont with the capacity to participate in host-level regulatory processes. This framework is intended to generate testable hypotheses and provide a foundation for future experimental investigation into fungal-host co-regulation, signaling interference, and the broader implications of non-neural biological computation. This work aims to bridge fragmented domains of fungal biology and host signaling into a unified conceptual model, inviting empirical validation and further refinement.