Abstract: Nucleic acids that code a cell wall protein required for the hyphal development of Candida; fragments of the nucleic acids; vectors containing the nucleic acids or nucleic acid fragments; host cells containing the vectors; cell wall proteins coded by the nucleic acids; antibodies directed against the proteins; methods for producing the cell wall proteins; methods for characterizing and/or for detecting the hyphal stage of Candida; methods for detecting a Candida infection; methods for identifying substances having a therapeutic effect against diseases caused by Candida; diagnostic and pharmaceutical compositions containing the nucleic acid, nucleic acids fragments, vectors, host cells, proteins and/or antibodies directed against the cell wall protein; kits for conducting in-vitro indentation of the cell wall proteins, and; to the use of the nucleic acids, vectors, proteins or antibodies for diagnosing and treating Candida-caused diseases, i.e., producing diagnostic or pharmaceutical compositions.