Abstract |
Oroesophageal candidiasis is caused by the combined action of fungal virulence factors and host inflammatory responses when protective immunity is absent. Hyphal wall protein 1 (Hwp1) on germ tubes and true hyphae of Candida albicans forms covalent cross-links to buccal epithelial cells in vitro by functioning as a substrate for mammalian transglutaminases. In this study, beige-athymic (bg/bg-nu/nu) or transgenic epsilon 26 mice that have combined natural killer and T cell defects did not succumb to candidiasis after oral administration of C. albicans strains with inactivated HWP1 genes, whereas mice given isogenic strains of C. albicans that had a single copy of HWP1 survived only 2-3 weeks. Illness correlated with extensive alterations of the lingual and esophageal mucosa that were absent in mice given the hwp1/hwp1 mutant. HWP1 is a promising target for development of antifungal drugs for treatment of oroesophageal candidiasis.
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Authors | Paula Sundstrom, Edward Balish, Carl M Allen |
Journal | The Journal of infectious diseases
(J Infect Dis)
Vol. 185
Issue 4
Pg. 521-30
(Feb 15 2002)
ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States |
PMID | 11865405
(Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)
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Chemical References |
- Fungal Proteins
- HWP1 protein, Candida albicans
- Membrane Glycoproteins
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Topics |
- Animals
- Candida albicans
(pathogenicity)
- Candidiasis
(etiology, immunology, mortality)
- Candidiasis, Oral
(etiology, immunology, mortality)
- Digestive System
(microbiology)
- Esophageal Diseases
(etiology, immunology, mortality)
- Esophagus
(microbiology, pathology)
- Female
- Fungal Proteins
- Humans
- Male
- Membrane Glycoproteins
(physiology)
- Mice
- Survival Rate
- Tongue
(microbiology, pathology)
- Virulence
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