Human enamel colonization of Candida albicans

Tatiana Teixeira de Miranda, Leonardo Rodrigues, Alexsander Ribeiro Pedrosa, Carlos Augusto Rosa, Ary Correa Junior

Introduction: Candida albicans may be a commensal member of the oral microbiota, and may colonize the endodontic environment. Using an in vitro dentin infection model, the objective of this study was to evaluate the pattern of dentin colonization by C. albicans and the influence of thigmotropism on the colonization. Methods: An apparatus was designed being composed of two glass flasks connected by a silicone manifold. Internally, they were separated by a dental fragment protruding an acrylic disk. The upper and bottom flasks were filled with Sabouraud broth and C. albicans was inoculated in the upper flask. After 72 h at 37 ºC, the device was aseptically dismounted and the dentinal fragment was prepared for scanning microscopy. Results: Candida albicans 1015 strain actively penetrated dentinal tubules and hyphae were the mainly growth form for the primary yeast invasion of human dentin. Yeast cells were observed in inner dentin layers. Conclusions: The direction of the hyphal tip was not influenced by the tubular nature of the dentin. In his view, only the pleomorphism has a significant role in the fungal colonization of human dentin.

Keywords: Infection. Periapical diseases. Dentin.

How to cite: Miranda TT, Rodrigues L, Pedrosa AR, Rosa CA, Correa Junior A. Human enamel colonization by Candida albicans. Dental Press Endod. 2013 Jan-Apr;3(1):54-60.

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