title: Interaction of Candida albicans with periodontal ligament fibroblasts limits biofilm formation over elastomer silicone disks.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Candida albicans is the most numerous commensal and potentially pathological yeast in the human oral cavity. The purpose herein is to investigate the ability of C. albicans to form a biofilm in the presence of periodontal ligament (PDL) fibroblasts.
  
  
  METHODS
  Silicone elastomer disks (SE) were transferred to wells containing PDL cells. C. albicans suspension was added to each well. The whole mixed culture was then allowed to form a biofilm for 48h. Biofilms were quantified by tetrazolium-salt-based (2,3-bis(2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-5-[(phenyl amino) carbonyl]- 2H-tetrazolium hydroxide (XTT). Furthermore, biofilm was visualized by confocal scanning laser and scanning electron microscopy. Migration of C. albicans and its ability to form biofilms in presence of PDL cells was determined by using a transwell system. Last, elutes obtained from co-culturing C. albicans and PDL cells were added to SE disks and covered with C. albicans. The culture plate was then incubated to allow biofilm formation. Biofilms formed over SE disks were quantified using XTT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PDL cells significantly limited the biofilm formation at incubation interval of 48h. PDL cells induced less biofilm compared to mature and thick hyphae in the absence of PDL cells as seen in confocal scanning laser and scanning electron microscopy. The presence of PDL cells limited the migration and formation of biofilm by C. albicans. Elutes obtained from co-culturing PDL cells with C. albicans for one hour induced significantly less biofilm.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first study to report that PDL cells exhibit antifungal activity. While the exact mechanism of how PDL cells limited biofilm formation is yet unknown, it was clear that competent PDL cells promote resistance to C. albicans biofilm formation.
authors.affiliation: King Saud University, College of Dentistry, Restorative Dental Sciences, Saudi Arabia; Department of Surgical Specialties, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Dentistry, USA. Electronic address: falsalleeh@ksu.edu.sa.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Alsalleeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Specialties, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Specialties, University of Nebraska Medical Center, College of Dentistry, USA.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jaber
mesh_terms: D018441:Biofilms; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000502:physiology*; D002465:Cell Movement; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology*; D012826:Silicone Elastomers
chemical_list: D012826:Silicone Elastomers
keywords: Antifungal; Candida albicans; Fibroblasts; Host cells; Hyphae