Interactions between denture lining material, protein pellicles and Candida albicans.

The interactions between pellicles derived from saliva, serum, mucin and lysozyme deposited on lining material (tissue conditioner) and Candida albicans were investigated by monitoring pH changes associated with protein-free and protein-coated lining material and by ultrastructural observations of yeast colonization. No significant differences in pH reduction between culture media in contact with the protein-free, control lining materials and those coated with saliva, serum or mucin were observed after 120 h of incubation. However, scanning electron microscopy revealed that much greater numbers of the yeasts colonized the saliva- or serum-coated lining material than the lysozyme-, mucin-coated or control material. Hyphal invasion was observed in saliva-coated lining material. These results suggested that denture pellicle derived from saliva and/or serum may potentiate candidal colonization of denture lining materials.