The rod cell, a small form of Candida albicans, possesses superior fitness to the host gut and adaptation to commensalism

• Discovery of a novel 'rod' morphological form in Candida albicans, expanding the known phenotypic switching repertoire to a tetra-stable system. • Rod cells are induced by N-acetylglucosamine via the sensor Ngs1 and repressed by glucose through Cph1, revealing new regulatory mechanisms. • Rod cells exhibit superior fitness and persistence in the murine gastrointestinal tract, suggesting a role in commensal adaptation. • The efg1/cph1 mutant provides a stable rod cell state, offering a model to study fungal-host interactions and potential therapeutic targets.