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Clinical implications of oral candidiasis: host tissue damage and disseminated bacterial disease.
- Source :
-
Infection and immunity [Infect Immun] 2015 Feb; Vol. 83 (2), pp. 604-13. Date of Electronic Publication: 2014 Nov 24. - Publication Year :
- 2015
-
Abstract
- The clinical significance of polymicrobial interactions, particularly those between commensal species with high pathogenic potential, remains largely understudied. Although the dimorphic fungal species Candida albicans and the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus are common cocolonizers of humans, they are considered leading opportunistic pathogens. Oral candidiasis specifically, characterized by hyphal invasion of oral mucosal tissue, is the most common opportunistic infection in HIV(+) and immunocompromised individuals. In this study, building on our previous findings, a mouse model was developed to investigate whether the onset of oral candidiasis predisposes the host to secondary staphylococcal infection. The findings demonstrated that in mice with oral candidiasis, subsequent exposure to S. aureus resulted in systemic bacterial infection with high morbidity and mortality. Histopathology and scanning electron microscopy of tongue tissue from moribund animals revealed massive C. albicans hyphal invasion coupled with S. aureus deep tissue infiltration. The crucial role of hyphae in the process was demonstrated using a non-hypha-producing and a noninvasive hypha-producing mutant strains of C. albicans. Further, in contrast to previous findings, S. aureus dissemination was aided but not contingent upon the presence of the Als3p hypha-specific adhesion. Importantly, impeding development of mucosal C. albicans infection by administering antifungal fluconazole therapy protected the animals from systemic bacterial disease. The combined findings from this study demonstrate that oral candidiasis may constitute a risk factor for disseminated bacterial disease warranting awareness in terms of therapeutic management of immunocompromised individuals.<br /> (Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.)
- Subjects :
- Animals
Candida albicans immunology
Candidiasis, Oral drug therapy
Candidiasis, Oral pathology
Disease Models, Animal
Female
Fluconazole pharmacology
Fungal Proteins biosynthesis
Fungal Proteins immunology
Mice
Mice, Inbred C57BL
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Mouth Mucosa pathology
Staphylococcal Infections drug therapy
Staphylococcal Infections pathology
Staphylococcus aureus immunology
Tongue pathology
Candidiasis, Oral immunology
Coinfection immunology
Mouth Mucosa microbiology
Staphylococcal Infections immunology
Tongue microbiology
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1098-5522
- Volume :
- 83
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Infection and immunity
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 25422264
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.02843-14