Thrush Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Thrush, including details on oral, vaginal, symptoms, prevention, treatment, infection.

Colonization of mice by Candida albicans is promoted by chemically induced colitis and augments inflammatory responses through galectin-3.

Jawhara S, Thuru X, Standaert-Vitse A, Jouault T, Mordon S, Sendid B, Desreumaux P, Poulain D

Inserm U 799, Physiopathologie des Candidoses, Faculté de Médecine, Centre Hospitalier Régional Universitaire de Lille, Institut Fédératif de Recherche 114, Université Lille 2, , Lille, France.

BACKGROUND: Little is known about the relationship between colonic inflammation and Candida albicans colonization. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is an intestinal lectin that binds to specific C. albicans glycans and is involved in inflammation. METHODS: Colitis was experimentally induced in wild-type and Gal3(-/-) mice using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) before oral administration of C. albicans. Yeast recovered from stools was quantified. The presence of yeast and inflammation were evaluated in sections of colon by histologic examination, quantification of myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and by gene expression for cytokines and innate immune receptors. Serum from mice was collected for determination of anti-yeast mannan antibodies, including anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA), which are biomarkers of an inflammatory bowel disease. RESULTS: Inflammation strongly promoted C. albicans colonization. Conversely, C. albicans augmented inflammation induced by DSS, as assessed by histologic scores, MPO activity, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and Toll-like receptor (TLR)-2 expression. C. albicans colonization generated ASCA. The absence of Gal-3 reduced DSS inflammation and abolished the response of TLR-2 and TNF-alpha to C. albicans colonization. CONCLUSIONS: DSS-induced colitis provides a model for establishing C. albicans colonization in mice. This model reveals that C. albicans augments inflammation and confirms the role of Gal-3 in both inflammation and the control of host responses to C. albicans.

Published 18 April 2008 in J Infect Dis, 197(7): 972-80.
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Articles on Thrush published 18 April 2008:

Antibody titer threshold predicts anti-candidal vaccine efficacy even though the mechanism of protection is induction of cell-mediated immunity.   J Infect Dis, 197(7): 967-71.

We previously reported that vaccination with Freund's adjuvant plus the recombinant N-terminus of the candidal adhesin, Als3p (rAls3p-N), protects mice from disseminated candidiasis. Here we report that the rAls3p-N vaccine is effective when combined with aluminum hydroxide adjuvant. Antibody titers of > or =1:6400 accurately predicted protection from infection. Nevertheless, neither B lymphocytes nor serum from immunized animals transferred protection to vaccine-naive animals. In contrast, ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Thrush published 10 April 2008:

Effect of fluconazole prophylaxis on the incidence of invasive candida infections and bacteraemias in patients with acute leukaemia.   Eur J Haematol, 80(5): 391-6.

OBJECTIVES: The efficacy of fluconazole prophylaxis to prevent invasive candida infections in patients with acute leukaemia receiving chemotherapy is not clear. Fluconazole prophylaxis might increase the number of bacteraemias and cause outbreaks of non-albicans yeast infections. A retrospective single-centre study was conducted to investigate the effect of fluconazole prophylaxis on the incidence and the species of invasive candida infections and on the number of bacteraemias. METHODS: All ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Thrush published 4 April 2008:

Survey of vaginal-flora Candida species isolates from women of different age groups by use of species-specific PCR detection.   J Clin Microbiol, 46(4): 1501-3.

A retrospective survey of 93,775 samples testing positive in Candida species-specific PCR tests performed on cervicovaginal swabs over a 4-year period demonstrated consistent yearly distributions of Candida albicans (89%), C. glabrata (7.9%), C. parapsilosis (1.7%), and C. tropicalis (1.4%). However, the species distributions among different age groups revealed increases in the percentages of non-albicans species with increases in age. [Abstract] [Full-text]

Rapid and accurate identification of Candida albicans isolates by use of PNA FISHFlow.   J Clin Microbiol, 46(4): 1537-40.

We developed the simple, rapid (1 h), and accurate PNA FISH(Flow) method for the identification of Candida albicans. The method exploits unique in solution in situ hybridization conditions under which the cells are simultaneously fixed and hybridized. This method facilitates the accurate identification of clinical yeast isolates using two scoring techniques: flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Thrush published 2 April 2008:

Fluconazole prophylaxis in extremely low birth weight neonates reduces invasive candidiasis mortality rates without emergence of fluconazole-resistant Candida species.   Pediatrics, 121(4): 703-10.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the impact of fluconazole prophylaxis for extremely low birth weight infants on invasive candidiasis incidence, invasive candidiasis-related mortality rates, and fluconazole susceptibility of Candida isolates. METHODS: Extremely low birth weight infants <5 days of age, except those with liver dysfunction, were eligible for fluconazole prophylaxis. NICU infants (all birth weights) with invasive candidiasis between April 2002 and March 2006 were compared with those with ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Thrush published 28 March 2008:

Ocular candidiasis: a review.   Br J Ophthalmol, 92(4): 466-8.

AIMS: To review the epidemiology, diagnosis and changing treatment paradigm of ocular candidiasis, and report current prevalence rates and risk factors at one inpatient hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective review; systematic literature review. METHODS: All Wills Eye Institute inpatient ophthalmology consultations from Thomas Jefferson University Hospital were retrospectively reviewed between June 2006 and November 2006. All consultations for candidaemia were included. The outcome variables included ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Articles on Thrush published 19 March 2008:

Combined inactivation of the Candida albicans GPR1 and TPS2 genes results in avirulence in a mouse model for systemic infection.   Infect Immun, 76(4): 1686-94.

Inhibition of the biosynthesis of trehalose, a well-known stress protectant in pathogens, is an interesting approach for antifungal or antibacterial therapy. Deletion of TPS2, encoding trehalose-6-phosphate (T6P) phosphatase, results in strongly reduced virulence of Candida albicans due to accumulation of T6P instead of trehalose in response to stress. To further aggravate the deregulation in the pathogen, we have additionally deleted the GPR1 gene, encoding the nutrient receptor that activates ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

Efficacy of a new formulation of amphotericin B in a murine model of disseminated infection by Candida glabrata.   J Antimicrob Chemother, 61(4): 880-3.

OBJECTIVES: Amphotericin B poly-aggregates are a new formulation of amphotericin B, which can be obtained cheaply. In this study, we tested the efficacy of this new formulation for treating a disseminated infection by Candida glabrata in a murine model. METHODS: Mice were rendered neutropenic by intraperitoneal cyclophosphamide and intravenous 5-fluorouracil administration and infected intravenously with 2 x 10(8) cfu of C. glabrata. The efficacy of the new formulation of amphotericin B was ... [Abstract] [Full-text]

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