Serotype distribution and secretory acid proteinase activity of Candida albicans isolated from the oral mucosa of patients with denture stomatitis.
Denture stomatitis is the most common form of oral Candida infection in humans. In the current study, the distribution of Candida albicans serotype A and B as well as the activity of the secreted acid proteinase were determined in clinical isolates from patients with denture stomatitis. It was found that 70% of individuals with clinical signs of denture stomatitis exhibited fungal growth, with C. albicans representing the most frequently isolated species (75%). Of the C. albicans isolates, 75% were serotype A and 25% were serotype B, representing a significant increase of serotype B compared to a control group of non-denture-wearing HIV-seronegative individuals with oral candidiasis, but no significant difference compared with isolates from HIV-seropositive patients, who also exhibited a high percentage of serotype B. The mean secretory acid proteinase activity of C. albicans isolates from denture stomatitis patients (2796 +/- 819 U/l) was statistically not different from the mean secretory acid proteinase activity in non-denture-wearing HIV-seronegative individuals (2324 +/- 1487 U/l). Both values were significantly lower than the mean secretory acid proteinase activity of C. albicans from HIV-seropositive individuals (4256 +/- 2372 U/l). No correlation exists between the C. albicans serotype and the amount of secreted acid proteinase, indicating that serotype and secretory acid proteinase expression are two independent pathogenetic factors in oral candidiasis. These results indicate that there seems to be strain selection for C. albicans serotype B in denture stomatitis. These results further indicate that increased secretion of the acid proteinase seems to be of pathogenetic significance in the candidiasis of HIV-seropositive patients but not in denture stomatitis. Nevertheless, the secretory acid proteinase is likely to be an important pathogenetic factor also in denture stomatitis, where an increased secretion of the acid proteinase may not be required because of decreased salivary flow and a low pH under the denture, which will result in a high enzymatic activity.
McMullan-Vogel
C G
CG
Department of Prosthodontics, University Hospital Eppendorf, Germany.
Jüde
H D
HD
Ollert
M W
MW
Vogel
C W
CW
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000145:classification* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral; D005260:Female; D006679:HIV Seropositivity / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D012703:Serotyping; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013282:Stomatitis, Denture / Q000382:microbiology*
D010447:Peptide Hydrolases