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Open Dent J. 2008; 2: 1–4.
Published online 2008 January 8. doi: 10.2174/1874210600802010001.
PMCID: PMC2581527
Whole Saliva has a Dual Role on the Adherence of Candida albicans to Polymethylmetacrylate
N Elguezabal,1 J.L. Maza,2 S. Dorronsoro,3 and J. Pontón4*
1Department of Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del PaísVasco, Spain
2Department of Estomatología, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del PaísVasco, Spain
3Department of Biología Oral, Facultad de Odontología, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, República Argentina
4Department of Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del PaísVasco, Spain
*Address correspondence to this author at the Departamento de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Odontología, Universidad del País Vasco, Apartado 699, E-48080 Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain; Tel: 34-94-6012855; Fax: 34-94-6013495; E-mail: jose.ponton/at/ehu.es
Received November 21, 2007; Accepted December 12, 2007.
Abstract
Adhesion of Candida albicans to acrylic of dental prostheses or to salivary macromolecules adsorbed on their surface is believed to be a critical event in the development of denture stomatitis. In previous studies our group has shown that adhesion of C. albicans germ tubes to polystyrene is decreased by saliva whereas C. albicans yeast cells adhesion to the same material is enhanced. The results presented in this study confirm this dual role played by whole saliva, since it decreased the adhesion of germ tubes but increased the adhesion of yeast cells to polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA). These effects mediated by whole saliva do not seem to be related to an inhibition of the germination of C. albicans, since similar levels of filamentation were observed in presence and absence of saliva. These results may give new insights into the conflicting role of saliva in the adhesion of C. albicans to acrylic resins of dental prostheses.