Washington, Aug 13 - Candida albicans, the most common human fungal pathogen, can be bisexual too, according to the latest research.

Brown University (BU) researchers have determined that Candida albicans pursues both same-sex and the more conventional opposite-sex mating.

They have identified this same-sex mode of reproduction for the first time in the Candida albicans. 'This discovery really surprised us,' said Richard Bennett, professor of biology at BU, who led the study.

'Candida albicans has two mating types - a and alpha - and it was assumed that mating could only occur between these two cell types. We now know that a mechanism exists for same-sex mating, and thus sex could be more prevalent in this species than previously recognised,' Bennet said.