Search Our Scientific Publications & Authors

Biol Reprod 2019 Feb 16. Epub 2019 Feb 16.

Dept. Pathobiology & Diagnostic Investigation, and.

Autoimmune Regulator (AIRE) regulates central immune tolerance by inducing expression of tissue-restricted antigens in thymic medullary epithelial cells, thereby ensuring elimination of autoreactive T cells. Aire mutations in humans and targeted Aire deletion in mice results in multi-organ autoimmune disease, known in humans as Autoimmune Polyglandular Syndrome Type 1 (APS-1). APS-1 is characterized by presence of adrenal insufficiency, chronic mucosal candidiasis, and/or hypoparathyroidism. Read More

J Pharm Biomed Anal 2019 Jan 30;167:15-20. Epub 2019 Jan 30.

Instituto de Biología Agrícola de Mendoza (IBAM-CONICET), Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast commonly found in mouth, gastrointestinal tract and vagina. Under certain conditions, it causes skin, mucosal and systemic infections. With growing concern over the emergence of resistant strains to conventional antifungals, the development of novel antifungal agents for the management of this pathogen is an urgent need. Read More

Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2019 Feb 4. Epub 2019 Feb 4.

Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, 14214, United States of America.

, the causative agent of mucosal infections including oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) as well as bloodstream infections is becoming increasingly resistant to existing treatment options. In the absence of novel drug candidates, drug repurposing aimed at using existing drugs to treat off label diseases is a promising strategy. requires environmental iron for survival and virulence while host nutritional immunity deploys iron-binding proteins to sequester iron and reduce fungal growth. Read More

J Oral Pathol Med 2019 Jan 23. Epub 2019 Jan 23.

Brazilian Centre for Evidence-Based Research, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Objective: To assess the prevalence of oral mucosal disorders during pregnancy.

Methods: Observational studies were selected by two reviewers in a two-phase process. Search strategies were applied at CINAHL, LILACS, LIVIVO, PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, OpenGrey, and ProQuest. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 21;9:2956. Epub 2018 Dec 21.

Departamento de Investigación en Microbiología, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Ismael Cosío Villegas, Mexico City, Mexico.

is a commensal fungus that can cause disease ranging in severity from moderate to severe mucosal infections to more serious life-threating disseminated infections in severely immunocompromised hosts. Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) occurs in patients with mutations in genes affecting IL-17-mediated immunity, such as , and , or gain of function (GOF) mutations in . New strategies for the treatment of candidiasis are needed because of the increased burden of infections and the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Read More

MBio 2019 Jan 8;10(1). Epub 2019 Jan 8.

Department of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can cause life-threatening infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. induced activation of the Nlrp3 inflammasome, leading to secretion of bioactive interleukin 1β (IL-1β) is a crucial myeloid cell immune response needed for antifungal host defense. Being a pleiomorphic fungus, can provoke Nlrp3 inflammasome responses only upon morphological transformation to its hyphal appearance. Read More

Immunol Rev 2019 Jan;287(1):103-120

Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland.

The discovery of the autoimmune regulator (AIRE) protein and the delineation of its critical contributions in the establishment of central immune tolerance has significantly expanded our understanding of the immunological mechanisms that protect from the development of autoimmune disease. The parallel identification and characterization of patient cohorts with the monogenic disorder autoimmune polyendocrinopathy-candidiasis-ectodermal dystrophy (APECED), which is typically caused by biallelic AIRE mutations, has underscored the critical contribution of AIRE in fungal immune surveillance at mucosal surfaces and in prevention of multiorgan autoimmunity in humans. In this review, we synthesize the current clinical, genetic, molecular and immunological knowledge derived from basic studies in Aire-deficient animals and from APECED patient cohorts. Read More

Int J Pharm 2019 Feb 12;556:181-191. Epub 2018 Dec 12.

Instituto de Química Rosario (IQUIR, CONICET-UNR), Suipacha 531, Rosario S2002LRK, Argentina; Área Técnica Farmacéutica, Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Suipacha 531, Rosario S2002LRK, Argentina. Electronic address:

Vaginal candidiasis is considered a frequent opportunistic mucosal infection and the second most common cause of vaginitis after bacterial vaginosis. In this work, different vaginal films based on chitosan, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and blends of these polymers containing tioconazole, were developed and thoroughly characterized to improve the conventional therapeutics of vaginal candidiasis. Mechanical properties, swelling, adhesiveness, morphology, antifungal activity, hemocompatibility and cytotoxicity were evaluated. Read More

J Prosthodont 2019 Feb 6;28(2):202-208. Epub 2019 Jan 6.

Department of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences, Touro College of Pharmacy, New York, NY.

Purpose: Denture stomatitis is a common condition manifested by inflammation of the oral mucous membrane beneath a denture. The objective of this study was to compare the transcriptome of human palatal mucosa with chronic oral stomatitis-associated Candida albicans infection to that of healthy oral mucosa.

Materials And Methods: Oral palatal biopsies were obtained from 17 healthy and 15 C. Read More

J Vis Exp 2018 Nov 17(141). Epub 2018 Nov 17.

Department of Microbiology, The Ohio State University; Department of Microbial Infection and Immunity, The Ohio State University;

Candida species are common fungal commensals of humans colonizing the skin, mucosal surfaces, and gastrointestinal tract. Under certain conditions, Candida can overgrow their natural niches resulting in debilitating mucosal infections as well as life-threatening systemic infections, which are a major focus of investigation due to their associated high mortality rates. Animal models of disseminated infection exist for studying disease progression and dissecting the characteristics of Candida pathogenicity. Read More

Front Immunol 2018 20;9:2702. Epub 2018 Nov 20.

Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Perugia, Perugia, Italy.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common fungal infection caused by . The antifungal therapy represents the standard of care but due to the high costs of treatment and to the inability to prevent recurrences, the development of alternative therapeutic approaches is much-awaited. Recently, we have shown that the pathogenesis of in the gut is modulated by IL-9, a pleiotropic cytokine able to promote both inflammation and tolerance during infection. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 6;9:2641. Epub 2018 Nov 6.

School of Chemical Engineering, Yeungnam University, Gyeongsan, South Korea.

is an opportunistic fungal pathogen and most prevalent species among clinical outbreaks. It causes a range of infections, including from mild mucosal infections to serious life-threatening candidemia and disseminated candidiasis. Multiple virulence factors account for the pathogenic nature of , and its morphological transition from budding yeast to hyphal form and subsequent biofilm formation is regarded as the most important reason for the severity of infections. Read More

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2019 Feb 7;174:110-125. Epub 2018 Nov 7.

Department of Ecology of Pathogen Agents, Hospital Manuel Gea González, Mexico City, Mexico.

Candida species, including C. albicans, are part of the mucosal flora of most healthy women, and inhabit the gastrointestinal and genitourinary tracts. Under favourable conditions, they can colonize the vulvovaginal mucosa, giving rise to symptomatic vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Read More

Eur Rev Med Pharmacol Sci 2018 Oct;22(20):7020-7023

Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, Thailand.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to investigate oral ulcer healing and anti-Candida efficacy of an alcohol-free 0.1% chitosan-curcumin mouthwash.

Materials And Methods: A buccal mucosal ulcer was induced in hamster by topical application of acetic acid. Read More

J Vis Exp 2018 10 18(140). Epub 2018 Oct 18.

Department of Oral Biology, University at Buffalo;

In oropharyngeal candidiasis, members of the genus Candida must adhere to and grow on the oral mucosal surface while under the effects of salivary flow. While models for the growth under flow have been developed, many of these systems are expensive, or do not allow imaging while the cells are under flow. We have developed a novel apparatus that allows us to image the growth and development of Candida albicans cells under flow and in real-time. Read More

BMC Microbiol 2018 Oct 25;18(1):166. Epub 2018 Oct 25.

Department of Gynecology, Beijing Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, 100026, China.

Background: Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) is a common infectious disease of the lower genital tract. Nystatin, a polyene fungicidal antibiotic, is used as a topical antifungal agent for VVC treatment. The aim of the current study was to investigate the possible immunomodulatory effects of nystatin on the vaginal mucosal immune response during Candida albicans infection and examine its role in protection of vaginal epithelial cell (VEC) ultrastructure. Read More

PeerJ 2018 28;6:e5685. Epub 2018 Sep 28.

Periodontics & Endodontics, Oral Biology, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY, United States of America.

Background: is a commensal fungus that inhabits the oral mucosal surface and causes oral and systemic candidiasis. Oral candidiasis most commonly occurs in patients with AIDS, denture wearers and newborn children. Systemic candidiasis occurs mainly in immunocompromised patients and patients admitted to hospitals for prolonged periods. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2018 09 25;14(9):e1007316. Epub 2018 Sep 25.

Department of Oral Biology, School of Dental Medicine, The State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York, United States of America.

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that can infect oral mucosal surfaces while being under continuous flow from saliva. Under specific conditions, C. albicans will form microcolonies that more closely resemble the biofilms formed in vivo than standard in vitro biofilm models. Read More

Infect Immun 2018 Sep 24. Epub 2018 Sep 24.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

The human fungal pathogen is the major etiological agent of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC). Despite this fact, other non- (NAC) species have frequently been reported as well. Despite their presence in the vaginal environment, little is known about their capacity to elicit immune responses classically associated with -mediated immunopathology, including neutrophil recruitment and pro-inflammatory cytokine signaling. Read More

Molecules 2018 Sep 20;23(10). Epub 2018 Sep 20.

Departamento de Análises Clínicas e Toxicológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte-UFRN, Rua Gal, Gustavo Cordeiro de Faria, S/N, Petrópolis, Natal-RN 59084-100, Brazil.

This study evaluated the influence of the extract of in adhesion to human buccal epithelial cells (HBEC) biofilm formation and cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) of spp. isolated from the oral cavity of kidney transplant patients. To evaluate virulence attributes in vitro, nine yeasts were grown in the presence and absence of 1000 μg/mL of the extract. Read More

J Fungi (Basel) 2018 Sep 18;4(3). Epub 2018 Sep 18.

Department of Oral Health and Diagnostic Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, University of Connecticut, Farmington, CT 06030, USA.

is a pleiomorphic fungus which co-exists with commensal bacteria in mucosal and skin sites of mammalian hosts. It is also a major co-isolated organism from polymicrobial systemic infections, with high potential for morbidity or mortality in immunocompromised patients. Traditionally, resident mucosal bacteria have been thought to antagonize in its ability to colonize or cause infection. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 Sep 10. Epub 2018 Sep 10.

Mycotic Diseases Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

Background: Fungal diseases range from relatively minor superficial and mucosal infections to severe, life-threatening systemic infections. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can lead to poor patient outcomes and high medical costs. The overall burden of fungal diseases in the United States is challenging to quantify because they are likely substantially underdiagnosed. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 24;9:1995. Epub 2018 Aug 24.

Department of Biological Sciences, School of Dental Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, United States.

Interactions between mucosal tissues and commensal microbes control appropriate host immune responses and inflammation, but very little is known about these interactions. Here we show that the depletion of resident bacteria using antibiotics (Abx) causes oral and gut immunopathology during oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) infection. Antibiotic treatment causes reduction in the frequency of Foxp3+ regulatory cells (T) and IL-17A producers, with a concomitant increase in oral tissue pathology. Read More

Int J Pharm 2018 Oct 5;550(1-2):455-462. Epub 2018 Sep 5.

Department of Pharmacy and Biotechnology, Alma Mater Studiorum - University of Bologna, Via San Donato 19/2, 40127 Bologna, Italy. Electronic address:

Bifidobacteria are predominant microorganisms in the intestinal flora, but at the same time represent a subdominant group of the vaginal microbiota. For this reason, oral administration of these probiotic bacteria can provide beneficial effect for both intestinal and urogenital ecosystems. The first aim of this study was to test the strain Bifidobacterium breve BC204, isolated from a vaginal swab of a healthy woman, for its capability to adhere to human cells, to survive to gastric acids and bile salts and to exert antimicrobial activities. Read More

JCI Insight 2018 Sep 6;3(17). Epub 2018 Sep 6.

Oral Immunity and Inflammation Unit, NIDCR, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

Studies in patients with genetic defects can provide unique insights regarding the role of specific genes and pathways in humans. Patients with defects in the Th17/IL-17 axis, such as patients harboring loss-of-function STAT3 mutations (autosomal-dominant hyper IgE syndrome; AD-HIES) present with recurrent oral fungal infections. Our studies aimed to comprehensively evaluate consequences of STAT3 deficiency on the oral commensal microbiome. Read More

Int J STD AIDS 2018 Aug 31:956462418792113. Epub 2018 Aug 31.

Department of Dermatology, Topiwala National Medical College & B.Y.L. Nair Hospital, Mumbai, India.

Candida, a commensal dimorphic fungus, is the most common microorganism that causes opportunistic fungal infections worldwide. It can cause diseases ranging from superficial mucosal infections to disseminated, systemic life-threatening infections. Among Candida species, Candida albicans is the most common infectious agent. Read More

Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS 2017 Jul-Dec;38(2):128-135

Department of Community Medicine, Government Villupuram Medical College and Hospital, Villupuram, Tamil Nadu, India.

Background: Mucocutaneous findings may be the presenting symptoms in HIV-afflicted individuals. A multitude of mucocutaneous diseases also occurs during the course of the ailment, with some conditions being classed as disease defining. They include infectious diseases and noninfective inflammatory and neoplastic dermatoses. Read More

Cell Microbiol 2018 Dec 7;20(12):e12943. Epub 2018 Sep 7.

Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology (DAGZ), University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Tulln, Austria.

Candida glabrata is a common human fungal commensal and opportunistic pathogen. This fungus shows remarkable resilience as it can form recalcitrant biofilms on indwelling catheters, has intrinsic resistance against azole antifungals, and is causing vulvovaginal candidiasis. As a nosocomial pathogen, it can cause life-threatening bloodstream infections in immune-compromised patients. Read More

OMICS 2018 08;22(8):544-552

1 Center for Systems Biology and Molecular Medicine, Yenepoya Research Centre, Yenepoya (Deemed to be University) , Mangalore, India .

Candida tropicalis belongs to the non-albicans group of Candida, and causes epidermal, mucosal, or systemic candidiasis in immunocompromised individuals. Although the prevalence of candidiasis has increased worldwide and non-albicans Candida (NAC) are becoming more significant, there are very few studies that focus on the NAC biology. Proteins and their post-translational modifications (PTMs) are an integral aspect in the pathobiology of such medically important fungi. Read More

Dis Esophagus 2018 Dec;31(12)

Center for Digestive Health and Nutrition, Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, Orlando, Florida, USA.

Patients with eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) require frequent evaluation of mucosal inflammation via endoscopy. Instead of endoscopy, mucosal evaluation in adults with esophageal cancer and candidiasis is achieved using a cytology brush inserted through a nasogastric tube (NGT). We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study in children and young adults scheduled for routine esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) where in Phase 1, we performed esophageal brushing through the endoscope under direct visualization and in Phase 2, we inserted the brush through a Cortrak® NGT prior to endoscopy. Read More

Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019 Feb 11;17(3):419-428.e6. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.

Background & Aims: Although swallowed topical corticosteroids (STCs) are effective in inducing remission of active eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE), there are few data on maintenance of long-term remission. We evaluated the long-term effectiveness of STC therapy for adults with EoE.

Methods: We performed a retrospective study using the Swiss EoE database. Read More

J Immunol 2018 Jul 11;201(2):627-634. Epub 2018 Jun 11.

Mucosal and Salivary Biology Division, King's College London Dental Institute, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom;

Protection against microbial infection by the induction of inflammation is a key function of the IL-1 superfamily, including both classical IL-1 and the new IL-36 cytokine families. is a frequent human fungal pathogen causing mucosal infections. Although the initiators and effectors important in protective host responses to are well described, the key players in driving these responses remain poorly defined. Read More

Mediators Inflamm 2018 6;2018:9602362. Epub 2018 May 6.

Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Pediatric Dermatology, Medical University of Lublin, Ul. Radziwillowska 13, 20-080 Lublin, Poland.

Although fungal colonization is implicated in the pathogenesis of psoriasis, its prevalence remains unclear. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to provide an overview on the prevalence of species in patients with psoriasis. We searched databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and http://clinicaltrials. Read More

Odontology 2018 Oct 24;106(4):389-397. Epub 2018 May 24.

Course of Clinical Science, Field of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Systemic Medicine, Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Nippon Dental University Graduate School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata, 951-8580, Japan.

The causes of fungemia include immunosuppression and neutropenia stemming from diverse factors as well as the placement of central venous catheters. However, the relationship between fungemia and the oral cavity has not been substantiated. In this study, we explored the pathological conditions of Candida albicans-derived oral candidiasis in a mouse model, which always develops oral mucositis as a complication. Read More

MBio 2018 05 22;9(3). Epub 2018 May 22.

Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Translational Science, College of Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Tennessee, USA

Inactivation of sterol Δ-desaturase (Erg3p) in the prevalent fungal pathogen is one of several mechanisms that can confer resistance to the azole antifungal drugs. However, loss of Erg3p activity is also associated with deficiencies in stress tolerance, invasive hyphal growth, and attenuated virulence in a mouse model of disseminated infection. This may explain why relatively few -deficient strains have been reported among azole-resistant clinical isolates. Read More

J Antimicrob Chemother 2018 Aug;73(8):2089-2094

Fungal Pathogenesis Section, Laboratory of Clinical Immunology & Microbiology, NIAID, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.

Background: Chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis (CMC) treatment often induces drug resistance, posing long-term challenges. A novel broad-spectrum fungal CYP51 inhibitor, VT-1598, specifically targets fungal CYP51, but not human CYP enzymes.

Objectives: To determine the efficacy of VT-1598 in the treatment of oral Candida infection caused by fluconazole-susceptible and -resistant clinical isolates. Read More

PLoS Pathog 2018 05 21;14(5):e1007069. Epub 2018 May 21.

Section of Immunology, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland.

The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans frequently causes diseases such as oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) in immunocompromised individuals. Although it is well appreciated that the cytokine IL-17 is crucial for protective immunity against OPC, the cellular source and the regulation of this cytokine during infection are still a matter of debate. Here, we directly visualized IL-17 production in the tongue of experimentally infected mice, thereby demonstrating that this key cytokine is expressed by three complementary subsets of CD90+ leukocytes: RAG-dependent αβ and γδ T cells, as well as RAG-independent ILCs. Read More

FEMS Yeast Res 2018 08;18(5)

Departamento de Biología, Universidad de Guanajuato, Noria Alta s/n, col. Noria Alta, C.P. 36050, Guanajuato, Gto., México.

Candida tropicalis is an opportunistic fungal pathogen responsible for mucosal and systemic infections. The cell wall is the initial contact point between a fungal cell and the host immune system, and mannoproteins are important components that play key roles when interacting with host cells. In Candida albicans, mannans are modified by mannosyl-phosphate moieties, named phosphomannans, which can work as molecular scaffolds to synthesize β1,2-mannooligosaccharides, and MNN4 is a positive regulator of the phosphomannosylation pathway. Read More

J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2018 Sep 30;14:287-293. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biological Sciences, University Federal of Minas Gerais, Av. Antônio Carlos 6627, P.O. Box 486, 31270-901 Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil. Electronic address:

Objectives: Candida albicans is a commensal organism and opportunistic pathogen associated both with superficial (mucosal and cutaneous) and systemic infections. Extensive use of antifungal agents has led to reduced susceptibility to the few existing drugs, which has encouraged the search for novel antifungal agents. Therefore, the present study investigated the antifungal activity of 2,6-bis[(E)-(4-pyridyl)methylidene]cyclohexanone (PMC) against C. Read More

J Clin Pediatr Dent 2018;42(3):217-220. Epub 2018 Apr 26.

Objectives: The goal of the present study correlates dental hard tissue mineralization, mucosal pathologies in the oral cavity and different degrees of intestinal dysbiosis.

Study Design: the study examined two groups: the study group (Group I) included 229 children and adolescents aged 1-17 (mean age 5±1years) with oral pathologies (caries, acute or chronic candidiasis) and confirmed dysbiosis of varying severity and stages as well. Group II (the Control Group) was composed of 50 patients aged 1 - 16 (mean age 5±1years) with oral pathologies but with no detected changes in gastrointestinal (GI) flora. Read More

Clin Infect Dis 2018 Jun;66(12):1928-1936

NovaDigm Therapeutics, Inc, Boston, Massachusetts.

Background: Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is a problematic form of mucosal Candida infection, characterized by repeated episodes per year. Candida albicans is the most common cause of RVVC. Currently, there are no immunotherapeutic treatments for RVVC. Read More

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther 2018 Sep 15;23:119-131. Epub 2018 Apr 15.

University of Florence School of Health Sciences, Department of Surgical and Translational Medicine, Section of Dermatology, P. Palagi Hospital, Viale Michelangelo 41, 50125, Florence, Italy.

Photodynamic Therapy is a procedure based on the interaction between a Photosensitizer, a light source with a specific wavelength and oxygen. The aim of this review is to provide a brief and updated analysis of scientific reports on the use of PDT with topical PS in the management of oncological, infectious, and inflammatory disorders involving mucosal and semimucosal areas, with a specific focus on diseases of dermatologic interest. Read More

Cell Microbiol 2018 08 18;20(8):e12841. Epub 2018 Apr 18.

Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.

The fungus Candida albicans thrives on a variety of human mucosae, yet the fungal determinants that contribute to fitness on these surfaces remain underexplored. Here, by screening a collection of C. albicans deletion strains in a mouse model of oral infection (oropharyngeal candidiasis), we identify several novel regulatory genes that modulate the fitness of the fungus in this locale. Read More

Int J Antimicrob Agents 2018 Jul 20;52(1):42-51. Epub 2018 Mar 20.

Biomedical MRI/moSAIC, Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.

Fungal infections are a major problem for a growing number of mostly immunocompromised patients. Candida albicans is an important human fungal pathogen causing mucosal and deep tissue infections, of which the majority are associated with biofilm formation on medical implants. Animal models that are currently in use to test antifungal drugs are limited to ex vivo analyses, requiring host sacrifice that excludes longitudinal monitoring of dynamic processes during biofilm formation in the live host. Read More

Oral Dis 2018 Sep 7;24(6):1107-1114. Epub 2018 Jun 7.

Department of Odontology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Some patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) experience recurrent oral candidiasis(OC). Probiotic bacteria have shown to reduce the oral Candida count in vivo.

Objective: To study whether probiotic intervention reduces recurrent OC in patients with OLP. Read More

Int J Oral Sci 2018 03 16;10(2). Epub 2018 Mar 16.

State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases & West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.

The hyphal development of Candida albicans (C. albicans) has been considered as an essential virulent factor for host cell damage. However, the missing link between hyphae and virulence of C. Read More

Med Mycol 2018 Apr;56(suppl_1):26-31

Departmentt. of Clinical Microbiology, G. Gennimatas General Hospital, 154 Avenue Mesogeion, 11527, Athens, Greece.

Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a common mucosal infection affecting a large proportion of women with some of them affected by recurrent often intractable forms of the disease. Thus, there is an increasing interest in understanding the pathogenesis of this disease. The aim of our work was to characterize, in animal models of vaginal candidiasis, the components of the host-fungus interaction at the mucosal level. Read More

Front Microbiol 2018 23;9:198. Epub 2018 Feb 23.

Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.

and often co-colonize the female genital tract, and under certain conditions induce mucosal inflammation. The role of the interaction between the two organisms in candidal vaginitis is not known. In this study, we found that co-infection with significantly attenuated the hyphal development of , and that -Hwp1 signal pathway of was involved in this process. Read More

Colloids Surf B Biointerfaces 2018 Jun 8;166:1-8. Epub 2018 Mar 8.

Institute of Cytology of the Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg 194064, Russia.

The effects of local anesthetics (LAs), namely, lidocaine (LDC), prilocaine (PLC), mepivacaine (MPV), bupivacaine (BPV), procaine (PC), and tetracaine (TTC), on the steady-state transmembrane conductance induced by the cis-side addition of the antifungal polyene macrolide antibiotic, nystatin (NYS), in planar lipid bilayers were studied. The addition of TTC to model membranes comprising DOPC and cholesterol (33 mol%) led to a nearly twenty-fold increase in the steady-state NYS-induced membrane conductance. BPV slightly enhanced the channel-forming activity of polyene. Read More

Oral Dis 2018 Mar;24(1-2):19-21

Department of Oral Medicine and Oral Diagnosis, School of Dentistry and Dental Research Institute, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.

Objectives: To provide information about MUC1, epithelial membrane-bound mucin, in terms of its role in oral health.

Design: The expression and functional roles of MUC1 in the oral mucosa and salivary glands were reviewed. Information on the modulation of oral mucosal epithelial MUC1 expression compared with that of endometrial epithelial MUC1 expression was also reviewed. Read More