Adhesion and Growth of Candida Albicans

Candida albicans is a diploid fungus that grows both as yeast and filamentous cells and a causal agent of opportunistic oral and genital infections in humans. C. albicans is the most prevalent fungus in the human oral cavity and has been known as the primary cause of denture-related stomatitis. Germination and the presence of human whole saliva are important factors in the adhesion of C albicans to the resin-composite restorative material. Candida cells have a high adhering potential to dental material in almost the same manner as to oral tissues, and they are known to form bio-film that leads to C. albicansresistance against anti-fungal drugs. It grows as filaments known as hyphae that are able to penetrate the body tissues. The organisms can cause painful conditions such as ‘sore mouth’ in denture users, where they grow in between the denture and the palate.

While denture wearers can apply an anti-fungal paste to help get rid of the infection, they usually end up having to obtain new dentures because the hyphae penetrate the denture material. However, Candida may lead to more serious problems if the fungi get into the blood stream and infect the organs. This condition, known as candidaemia, can be fatal. sIgA, as well as whole saliva, are important in blocking adherence of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis to Herculite and that this effect can be reproduced with mAbs directed against the cell wall surface of C. albicans.

C. albicans growth on the restorative dental materials can be determined using the MTT [(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5- diphenyltetrazolium-bromide)] test, which is an established spectrophotometric measurement.Therapeutic doses (100 μM and 1 mM) of Aspirin may inhibit growth by over 70%. Higher concentrations have inhibition of over 90% after 48 hours.

Posted by Tim Sandle