Dalian Medical University, Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China.
Dalian Medical University, Department of Microbiology, College of Basic Medical Sciences, China.
Med Hypotheses. 2017 Sep;106:15-18. doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2017.06.029. Epub 2017 Jul 1.
Candida albicans is a minor component of the oral microbiota and an opportunistic pathogen that takes advantage of the immunocompromised host and causes oral mucositis and oral candidiasis. This organism is able to undergo phenotypic modification from a yeast to hyphae growth phase, one of the key arsenals for immune cell evasion, tissue invasion and biofilm formation. The latter property coupled with overgrowth and immune compromising factors such as HIV/AIDS, cancer treatments, organ transplantation, diabetes, corticosteroid use, dentures, and broad-spectrum antibiotic use have modified the fungus from a normal component of the microflora to a foe of an oral cavity and resulting in reduced sensitivity towards commonly utilised antifungal agents. Hence, the need for alternative therapy to curb this plight is of importance. Making use of biomolecules produced by Streptococcus mutans, application of lactoferrin which is a nonspecific host defense factor found in saliva with metal chelating and broader antimicrobial properties, use of probiotics which have the capacity to boost the host immunity through eliciting Immunoglobulin A synthesis, and perturbing the pathogen's environment via competition of space and food, and application of photodynamic therapy can help to manage the burden of oral candidiasis.
白色念珠菌是口腔微生物群的一个次要组成部分，也是一种机会性病原体，它利用免疫功能低下的宿主，导致口腔粘膜炎和口腔念珠菌病。该生物体能够经历从酵母到菌丝生长阶段的表型修饰，这是免疫细胞逃避、组织侵袭和生物膜形成的关键手段之一。后一种特性加上过度生长和免疫抑制因素，如 HIV/AIDS、癌症治疗、器官移植、糖尿病、皮质类固醇使用、义齿和广谱抗生素的使用，已经将真菌从微生物群的正常组成部分转变为口腔的敌人，并导致对常用抗真菌药物的敏感性降低。因此，需要替代疗法来遏制这种困境非常重要。利用变异链球菌产生的生物分子，应用乳铁蛋白，这是一种在唾液中发现的非特异性宿主防御因子，具有金属螯合和更广泛的抗菌特性，使用益生菌，通过诱导免疫球蛋白 A 的合成来增强宿主免疫力，并通过竞争空间和食物来扰乱病原体的环境，以及应用光动力疗法，可以帮助管理口腔念珠菌病的负担。
