Adhesin - receptor interactions in the attachment ofCandida albicansto host epithelial cells

Abstract

The ability of Candida albicans to adhere to a variety of host surfaces is thought to be an important factor in the pathogenesis of candidosis. Adhesion of the yeast form of the fungus to epithelial cells can involve several kinds of adhesion – receptor interaction. Yeast adhesins are typically mannoproteins associated with fibrils or fimbriae on the fungal surface. Lectinlike interactions have been identified between the protein portion of two mannoprotein adhesins and glycosides containing L-fucose or N-acetylglucosamine. The fucoside-binding adhesin has been purified and shown to have an affinity for glycosphingolipid receptors carrying the H blood-group antigen. A fimbrial adhesin has also been described that binds to gangliosides containing a βGalNAc(1–4)βGal disaccharide sequence. Other mannoprotein adhesins proposed recently include the factor 6 epitope present on serotype A strains of C. albicans and an integrin analogue. Adhesin expression appears to be regulated by a number of environmental signals, including osmolarity and the availability of iron and sugars. Additional adhesion-dependent signals might trigger further responses such as the initiation of morphogenesis. Key words: Candida albicans, yeast adhesion, epithelial cell adhesion.