title: The Host's Reply to Candida Biofilm.
abstract: Candida spp. are among the most common nosocomial fungal pathogens and are notorious for their propensity toward biofilm formation. When growing on a medical device or mucosal surface, these organisms reside as communities embedded in a protective matrix, resisting host defenses. The host responds to Candida biofilm by depositing a variety of proteins that become incorporated into the biofilm matrix. Compared to free-floating Candida, leukocytes are less effective against Candida within a biofilm. This review highlights recent advances describing the host's response to Candida biofilms using ex vivo and in vivo models of mucosal and device-associated biofilm infections.
authors.affiliation: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Departments of Medicine, Medical Microbiology and Immunology, 5203 Microbial Sciences Building, 1550 Linden Drive, Madison, WI 53706, USA. jenett@medicine.wisc.edu.
authors.forename: Jeniel E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nett
keywords: Candida; biofilm; defense; host; matrix; model; monocyte; mucosal; neutrophil