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Journal of Fungi (Basel, Switzerland) Feb 2021infections range from superficial to systemic and are one of the leading causes of fungus-associated nosocomial infections. The innate immune responses during these... (Review)
Review
infections range from superficial to systemic and are one of the leading causes of fungus-associated nosocomial infections. The innate immune responses during these various infection types differ, suggesting that the host environment plays a key role in modulating the host-pathogen interaction. In addition, is able to remodel its cell wall in response to environmental conditions to evade host clearance mechanisms and establish infection in niches, such as the oral and vaginal mucosa. Phagocytes play a key role in clearing , which is primarily mediated by Pathogen Associated Molecular Pattern (PAMP)-Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) interactions. PRRs such as Dectin-1, DC-SIGN, and TLR2 and TLR4 interact with PAMPs such as β-glucans, -mannan and -mannan, respectively, to trigger the activation of innate immune cells. Innate immune cells exhibit distinct yet overlapping repertoires of PAMPs, resulting in the preferential recognition of particular morphotypes by them. The role of phagocytes in the context of individual infection types also differs, with neutrophils playing a prominent role in kidney infections, and dendritic cells playing a prominent role in skin infections. In this review, we provide an overview of the key receptors involved in the detection of and discuss the differential innate immune responses to seen in different infection types such as vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) and oral candidiasis.
PubMed: 33562068
DOI: 10.3390/jof7020119 -
Frontiers in Oral Health 2022The number of cancer survivors are increasing and so are the oral toxicities from cancer therapy. Most patients receiving treatment for cancer develop some form of oral... (Review)
Review
The number of cancer survivors are increasing and so are the oral toxicities from cancer therapy. Most patients receiving treatment for cancer develop some form of oral adverse events including, but not limited to, mucositis, opportunistic infections, dry mouth, and/or osteonecrosis of the jaw. One of the most common complications from head and neck cancer radiation therapy is salivary gland dysfunction (SGD). SGD is an umbrella term that includes the subjective sensation of dry mouth (xerostomia) and hyposalivation (objective reduction of the salivary flow rate). Dry mouth in cancer patients may lead to functional defects (e.g., eating, speaking, and swallowing), increase the risk of dental caries and oral candidiasis, and can have a negative effect on the nutritional and psychological status of the patients. The aim of this mini review was to summarize the current criteria for diagnosis and management of SGD associated with cancer treatment.
PubMed: 35757443
DOI: 10.3389/froh.2022.907778 -
Frontiers in Oral Health 2022Oral fungal infections have afflicted humans for millennia. Hippocrates (. 460-370 BCE) described two cases of oral aphthae associated with severe underlying diseases... (Review)
Review
Oral fungal infections have afflicted humans for millennia. Hippocrates (. 460-370 BCE) described two cases of oral aphthae associated with severe underlying diseases that could well have been oral candidiasis. While oral infections caused by other fungi such as cryptococcosis, aspergillosis, mucormycosis, histoplasmosis, blastomycosis, and coccidioidomycosis occur infrequently, oral candidiasis came to the fore during the AIDS epidemic as a sentinel opportunistic infection signaling the transition from HIV infection to AIDS. The incidence of candidiasis in immunocompromised AIDS patients highlighted the importance of host defenses in preventing oral fungal infections. A greater understanding of the nuances of human immune systems has revealed that mucosal immunity in the mouth delivers a unique response to fungal pathogens. Oral fungal infection does not depend solely on the fungus and the host, however, and attention has now focussed on interactions with other members of the oral microbiome. It is evident that there is inter-kingdom signaling that affects microbial pathogenicity. The last decade has seen significant advances in the rapid qualitative and quantitative analysis of oral microbiomes and in the simultaneous quantification of immune cells and cytokines. The time is ripe for the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence to integrate more refined analyses of oral microbiome composition (including fungi, bacteria, archaea, protozoa and viruses-including SARS-CoV-2 that causes COVID-19). This analysis should incorporate the quantification of immune cells, cytokines, and microbial cell signaling molecules with signs of oral fungal infections in order to better diagnose and predict susceptibility to oral fungal disease.
PubMed: 35187534
DOI: 10.3389/froh.2022.838639 -
Periodontology 2000 Oct 2021The oral cavity is colonized by a large number of microorganisms that are referred to collectively as the oral microbiota. These indigenous microorganisms have evolved... (Review)
Review
The oral cavity is colonized by a large number of microorganisms that are referred to collectively as the oral microbiota. These indigenous microorganisms have evolved in symbiotic relationships with the oral mucosal immune system and are involved in maintaining homeostasis in the oral cavity. Although Candida species are commonly found in the healthy oral cavity without causing infection, these fungi can become pathogenic. Recents advances indicate that the development of oral candidiasis is driven both by Candida albicans overgrowth in a dysbiotic microbiome and by disturbances in the host's immune system. Perturbation of the oral microbiota triggered by host-extrinsic (ie, medications), host-intrinsic (ie, host genetics), and microbiome-intrinsic (ie, microbial interactions) factors may increase the risk of oral candidiasis. In this review, we provide an overview of the oral mycobiome, with a particular focus on the interactions of Candida albicans with some of the most common oral bacteria and the oral mucosal immune system. Also, we present a summary of our current knowledge of the host-intrinsic and host-extrinsic factors that can predispose to oral candidiasis.
Topics: Candida albicans; Candidiasis, Oral; Dysbiosis; Humans; Microbiota; Mycoses
PubMed: 34463992
DOI: 10.1111/prd.12378 -
Stomatologiia 2021The aim of the study is to clarify the stages of examination of patients with various clinical manifestations of nosological forms of candidiasis and to evaluate the...
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the study is to clarify the stages of examination of patients with various clinical manifestations of nosological forms of candidiasis and to evaluate the effectiveness of the ongoing antifungal therapy in the complex treatment of oral candidiasis, considering all factors and background diseases.
MATERIAL AND METHODS
56 patients were examined and treated, of which 41 were women and 15 were men with a clinical course of candidiasis (acute pseudomembranous candidiasis, chronic hyperplastic candidiasis, angular candidiasis cheilitis). The patients' age is from 33 to 78 years. All patients underwent a bacterioscopic examination of plaque. All patients diagnosed with oral candidiasis were prescribed complex treatment, which included both general and local therapy. The diagnosis and treatment of the patient's main diseases (diabetes mellitus, hypoparathyroidism, diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, blood diseases, etc.) were mandatory.
RESULTS
All patients taking antifungal therapy reported a significant improvement in the clinical condition of the oral mucosa. Burning sensation, pain, sensation of enlargement of the tongue, dryness in the oral cavity disappeared in the patients. After 2 weeks of drug therapy with fungicidal preparations, the patients were prescribed a second bacterioscopic examination. The results of laboratory studies showed the presence of single, non-budding Candida cells in the field of view and a minimal, diagnostically significant, degree of contamination, which corresponded to the candidacy.
CONCLUSIONS
The study showed that antifungal therapy for oral mucosa candidiasis should always be pathogenetically justified and should be carried out considering the patient's underlying disease.
Topics: Adult; Aged; Antifungal Agents; Candida; Candidiasis, Oral; Female; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Stomatitis
PubMed: 35081700
DOI: 10.17116/stomat202110006243 -
APMIS : Acta Pathologica,... Apr 2024Oral candidiasis (OC), a prevalent opportunistic infection of the oral mucosa, presents a considerable health challenge, particularly in individuals with compromised... (Review)
Review
Oral candidiasis (OC), a prevalent opportunistic infection of the oral mucosa, presents a considerable health challenge, particularly in individuals with compromised immune responses, advanced age, and local predisposing conditions. A considerable part of the population carries Candida in the oral cavity, but only few develop OC. Therefore, the pathogenesis of OC may depend on factors other than the attributes of the fungus, such as host factors and other predisposing factors. Mucosal trauma and inflammation compromise epithelial integrity, fostering a conducive environment for fungal invasion. Molecular insights into the immunocompromised state reveal dysregulation in innate and adaptive immunity, creating a permissive environment for Candida proliferation. Detailed examination of Candida species (spp.) and their virulence factors uncovers a nuanced understanding beyond traditional C. albicans focus, which embrace diverse Candida spp. and their strategies, influencing adhesion, invasion, immune evasion, and biofilm formation. Understanding the pathophysiological microenvironments in OC is crucial for the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. This review aims to unravel the diverse pathophysiological microenvironments influencing OC development focusing on microbial, host, and predisposing factors, and considers Candida resistance to antifungal therapy. The comprehensive approach offers a refined perspective on OC, seeking briefly to identify potential therapeutic targets for future effective management.
PubMed: 38571459
DOI: 10.1111/apm.13412 -
Frontiers in Cellular and Infection... 2021Oral microbiota is constantly changing with the host state, whereas the oral microbiome of chronic erythematous candidiasis remains poorly understood. The aim of this...
Oral microbiota is constantly changing with the host state, whereas the oral microbiome of chronic erythematous candidiasis remains poorly understood. The aim of this study was to compare oral microbial signatures and functional profiling between chronic erythematous candidiasis and healthy subjects. Using shotgun metagenomic sequencing, we analyzed the microbiome in 12 chronic erythematous candidiasis, 12 healthy subjects, and 2 chronic erythematous candidiasis cured by antifungal therapy. We found that the salivary microbiota of chronic erythematous candidiasis was significantly different from that of healthy subjects. Among them, and were the most abundant disease-enriched species (Mann-Whitney U-test, < 0.05). In addition, co-occurrence network analysis showed that formed densely connected modules with oral bacterial species and was mainly positive connected to species. Furthermore, we investigated the functional potentials of the microbiome and identified a set of microbial marker genes associated with chronic erythematous candidiasis. Some of these genes enriching in chronic erythematous candidiasis are involved in eukaryotic ribosome, putative glutamine transport system, and cytochrome bc1 complex respiratory unit. Altogether, this study revealed the changes of oral microbial composition, the co-occurrence between and oral bacteria, as well as the changes of microbial marker genes during chronic erythematous candidiasis, which provides evidence of oral microbiome as a target for the treatment and prevention of chronic erythematous candidiasis.
Topics: Candidiasis, Oral; Humans; Metagenomics; Microbiota; Micrococcaceae
PubMed: 34490138
DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2021.691092 -
CMAJ : Canadian Medical Association... Apr 2021
Topics: Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis, Oral; Debridement; Diagnosis, Differential; Guillain-Barre Syndrome; Humans; Intensive Care Units; Male; Middle Aged; Smoking; Tongue; Tongue, Hairy; Treatment Outcome; Xerostomia
PubMed: 33875461
DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.201559 -
Journal of Patient-centered Research... 2019The oral microbiota is complex, multikingdom, interactive, and involves extensive biofilm formation. While dominated by bacteria, is a frequent member of this... (Review)
Review
The oral microbiota is complex, multikingdom, interactive, and involves extensive biofilm formation. While dominated by bacteria, is a frequent member of this microbiota; however, several other potentially pathogenic fungi (among around 100 identified species) appear to reside in some individuals, including , and . Oral candidiasis may manifest as a variety of disease entities in normal hosts and in the immunocompromised. These include pseudomembranous candidiasis (thrush), hyperplastic or atrophic (denture) candidiasis, linear gingival erythema, median rhomboid glossitis, and angular cheilitis. The purpose of this review is to describe the oral fungal microbiota (ie, oral mycobiota), common mouth diseases caused by its members, predisposing factors and treatment, and the potential for causing disseminated disease like their bacterial counterparts.
PubMed: 31768404
DOI: 10.17294/2330-0698.1705 -
International Journal of Oral Science Sep 2023Candida albicans is the most abundant fungal species in oral cavity. As a smart opportunistic pathogen, it increases the virulence by switching its forms from yeasts to...
Candida albicans is the most abundant fungal species in oral cavity. As a smart opportunistic pathogen, it increases the virulence by switching its forms from yeasts to hyphae and becomes the major pathogenic agent for oral candidiasis. However, the overuse of current clinical antifungals and lack of new types of drugs highlight the challenges in the antifungal treatments because of the drug resistance and side effects. Anti-virulence strategy is proved as a practical way to develop new types of anti-infective drugs. Here, seven artemisinins, including artemisinin, dihydroartemisinin, artemisinic acid, dihydroartemisinic acid, artesunate, artemether and arteether, were employed to target at the hyphal development, the most important virulence factor of C. albicans. Artemisinins failed to affect the growth, but significantly inhibited the hyphal development of C. albicans, including the clinical azole resistant isolates, and reduced their damage to oral epithelial cells, while arteether showed the strongest activities. The transcriptome suggested that arteether could affect the energy metabolism of C. albicans. Seven artemisinins were then proved to significantly inhibit the productions of ATP and cAMP, while reduced the hyphal inhibition on RAS1 overexpression strain indicating that artemisinins regulated the Ras1-cAMP-Efg1 pathway to inhibit the hyphal development. Importantly, arteether significantly inhibited the fungal burden and infections with no systemic toxicity in the murine oropharyngeal candidiasis models in vivo caused by both fluconazole sensitive and resistant strains. Our results for the first time indicated that artemisinins can be potential antifungal compounds against C. albicans infections by targeting at its hyphal development.
Topics: Animals; Mice; Candida albicans; Candidiasis, Oral; Antifungal Agents; Hyphae; Artemisinins
PubMed: 37699886
DOI: 10.1038/s41368-023-00245-0