Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can colonize host niches at varying pH. A study by Sherrington et al. shows that the growth of C. albicans in acidic environments results in structural changes to the cell wall that enhance its recognition by factors of the host innate immune system. At low pH, exposure of chitin and β-glucan is enhanced, which facilitates their recognition by macrophages and neutrophils and stimulates the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. The increased exposure of chitin was dependent on the decreased expression of chitinase 2 (Cht2), which is regulated through the biofilm and cell wall regulator 1 (Bcr1)–Rim101 signalling cascade. By contrast, the enhanced exposure of β-glucan was regulated through a non-canonical signalling pathway. Thus, mucosal acidic environments may stimulate an antifungal immune response and contribute to the immunopathology of candidiasis.