title: Cigarette smoke condensate increases C. albicans adhesion, growth, biofilm formation, and EAP1, HWP1 and SAP2 gene expression.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Smokers are more prone to oral infections than are non-smokers. Cigarette smoke reaches the host cells but also microorganisms present in the oral cavity. The contact between cigarette smoke and oral bacteria promotes such oral diseases as periodontitis. Cigarette smoke can also modulate C. albicans activities that promote oral candidiasis. The goal of this study was to investigate the effect of cigarette smoke condensate on C. albicans adhesion, growth, and biofilm formation as well as the activation of EAP1, HWP1 and secreted aspartic protease 2.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Cigarette smoke condensate (CSC) increased C. albicans adhesion and growth, as well as biofilm formation. These features may be supported by the activation of certain important genes. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we demonstrated that CSC-exposed C. albicans expressed high levels of EAP1, HWP1 and SAP2 mRNA and that this gene expression increased with increasing concentrations of CSC.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CSC induction of C. albicans adhesion, growth, and biofilm formation may explain the increased persistence of this pathogen in smokers. These findings may also be relevant to other biofilm-induced oral diseases.
authors.forename: Abdelhabib
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Semlali
authors.forename: Kerstin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Killer
authors.forename: Humidah
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Alanazi
authors.forename: Witold
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chmielewski
authors.affiliation: Groupe de Recherche en Écologie Buccale, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université Laval, 2420 rue de la Terrasse, Québec G1V 0A6, Canada. mahmoud.rouabhia@fmd.ulaval.ca.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rouabhia
mesh_terms: D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D001419:Bacteria; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012906:Smoke; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D062789:Tobacco Products; D014157:Transcription Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D005656:Fungal Proteins; C118102:HWP1 protein, Candida albicans; D008562:Membrane Glycoproteins; D012906:Smoke; D014157:Transcription Factors; D016282:Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases; C090753:SAP2 protein, Candida