DT News - UK - Researchers identify role of mouth cells in Candida infection

Dental Tribune International

Tue. 3 September 2013

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LONDON – Candida albicans is a species of yeast that causes a number of infections in the human body. In addition to causing oral thrush and sore mouth, these micro-organisms can lead to serious illness or death. New research that provides a better understanding of how mucosal surfaces in the mouth respond to C. albicans to prevent tissue damage was presented recently.

The study was conducted by researchers at King’s College London. In laboratory tests, they exposed oral epithelial cells, a mucosal layer of cells that line the mouth, providing a barrier against microbes, to C. albicans in vitro and looked at particular gene expressions 6 and 24 hours after infection.

The phosphoinositide 3-kinase pathway, a molecular signalling pathway, was activated about 5 minutes after the specimen had come into contact with C. albicans, preventing the fungus from invading. The researchers suggested that the pathway is involved in priming epithelial cells to prevent future damage.

The researchers believe that the pathway may be an attractive target for new therapeutics. By boosting its activity, it may be possible to reduce tissue damage, suggested Dr David Moyes, research associate at the college.

According to the researchers, Candida infections are the third-most commonly acquired blood-borne infections, resulting in an estimated 50,000 deaths annually.

Moyes presented the findings at the Society for General Microbiology’s Autumn Conference, which finishes today at the University of Sussex.

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