Effect of salivary secretory IgA on the adhesion of Candida albicans to polystyrene

Abstract

Attachment of Candida albicans to plastic materials of dental prostheses or to salivary macromolecules adsorbed on their surface is believed to be a critical event in the development of denture stomatitis. In an earlier study, it was shown that adhesion of C. albicans to polystyrene, a model system to study the adhesion of C. albicans to plastic materials, can be partially inhibited with an mAb directed against cell wall polysaccharides of C. albicans. In the present study, the role of whole saliva in the adhesion of C. albicans to polystyrene has been investigated, and three mAbs directed against epitopes of cell wall mannoproteins have been used to mimic the inhibitory effect observed with salivary secretory IgA (sIgA) on the adhesion of C. albicans to polystyrene. In the absence of whole saliva, adherence of C. albicans 3153 increased with germination. However, the presence of whole saliva enhanced the adhesion to polystyrene of C. albicans 3153 yeast cells but decreased the adhesion of germinated cells. The enhancement of adhesion of yeast cells to polystyrene mediated by saliva was confirmed with an agerminative mutant of C. albicans 3153. The inhibition of the adhesion of C. albicans 3153 germ tubes to polystyrene was due to the salivary sIgA since sIgA-depleted saliva enhanced the adhesion of C. albicans 3153 to polystyrene. The inhibitory effect mediated by sIgA was not related to the inhibition of germination but to the blockage of adhesins expressed on the cell wall surface of the germ tubes. The three mAbs studied reduced the adhesion of C. albicans 3153 to polystyrene at levels equivalent to those for purified sIgA. The highest reduction in the adhesion was obtained with the IgA mAb N3B. The best results were obtained when the three mAbs were combined. The results suggest that whole saliva plays a different role in the adhesion of C. albicans to polystyrene depending on the morphological phase of C. albicans. These results may give new insights into the conflicting role of saliva in the adhesion of C. albicans to plastic materials of dental prostheses.

Adhesion of Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis to acrylic and hydroxyapatite

“…Furthermore, the adsorption of salivary components can also affect adhesion. It has been reported by several authors that adhesion of Candida albicans to oral surfaces is influenced by saliva [25][26][27][28]. Saliva can enhance the adhesion to acrylic surfaces [27] and polystyrene [28], whereas adhesion to silicone rubber can be discouraged in the presence of saliva [26].…”

“…Saliva can enhance the adhesion to acrylic surfaces [27] and polystyrene [28], whereas adhesion to silicone rubber can be discouraged in the presence of saliva [26]. This fact has been attributed to the adsorption of different salivary components, including mucins [29], other salivary proteins [30] and secretory IgA [28].…”

Candida spp. adherence to oral epithelial cells and levels of IgA in children with orthodontic appliances

“…Silva et al 15 observed that patients with clinical diagnoses of vaginal candidiasis exhibited lower levels of anti-Candida IgA in the saliva. According to San Millán et al, 9 in patients with dental prosthesis or removable orthodontic devices, salivary IgA reduces the adherence of C. albicans to polystyrene. Although the present study did not assess the adhesion of Candida to the surface of the orthodontic device nor the role of IgA in this phenomenon, our results indicate that anti-C. albicans IgA is not the most important factor to determine Candida carrier status.…”

“…5 IgA seems to play an important role by causing fungal aggregation and preventing the adherence to mucosa or oral surfaces. 9 Adhesion and colonization of the oral cavity by C. albicans is an initial step in candidosis. The presence of orthodontic and other oral appliances may alter the oral ecological environment.…”

A Monoclonal Antibody Directed against aCandida albicansCell Wall Mannoprotein Exerts Three Anti-C. albicansActivities

“…We have also demonstrated that salivary sIgA inhibits the adhesion of C. albicans to plastic and composite restorative dental materials and that the inhibitory effect can be mimicked by MAbs directed against cell wall antigens of C. albicans (24,36). In this report, we have characterized a monoclonal antibody raised against the main target of salivary sIgA in the cell wall of C. albicans in an attempt to assess whether the monoclonal antibody shows-in addition to the ability to inhibit adhesion of C. albicans to host surfaces-other biological properties such as fungicidal activity, which may be implicated in the protection against mucosal candidiasis.…”