Candida albicans in Multispecies Oral Communities; A Keystone Commensal?
The complexity of the oral cavity, in which many hundreds of microbial species interact represents a challenge for modern microbiologists. What are all these species doing there? And why do we accept so many opportunistic pathogens to be part of our health (commensal) microflora? While the role of bacteria are often being studied, the role of fungi in the interactions within the oral cavity are understudied. This is partly because fungi in the oral cavity are generally considered as pathogens and related to diseases. In this chapter we will explore mechanisms of interaction between bacteria and fungi in the oral cavity that are involved in maintenance of oral health. We will argue that fungi in general and C. albicans specifically, should be regarded a keystone commensal in the oral cavity.
Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands.|Department of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Marleen M
MM
Janus
Department of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.|Department of Clinical Pharmacy, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN, USA.
Hubertine M E
HM
Willems
Top Institute Food and Nutrition, Wageningen, The Netherlands. b.krom@acta.nl.|Department of Preventive Dentistry, Academic Centre for Dentistry Amsterdam (ACTA), University of Amsterdam and VU University Amsterdam, Gustav Mahlerlaan 3004, 1081 LA, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. b.krom@acta.nl.
Bastiaan P
BP
Krom
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D044822:Biodiversity; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D009055:Mouth / Q000382:microbiology*; D009909:Oral Health; D013559:Symbiosis