The Journal of Medical Microbiology, Vol 15, Issue 4 511-517, Copyright © 1982 by Society for General Microbiology
The effect of dietary carbohydrates on the in-vitro adhesion of Candida albicans to epithelial cells
L. P. Samaranayake and T. W. MacFarlane
The effects of dietary carbohydrates on the adherence of Candida albicans
to HeLa epithelial monolayers and buccal epithelial cells were compared by
two assay systems. Candida preincubated in 0.5M, glucose, sucrose,
galactose, xylitol or maltose medium produced a significant enhancement in
adhesion to both types of epithelial cells. Maltose was the most effective
sugar and glucose the least effective in promoting adhesion, while lactose
had no significant effect. A clinical isolate of C. albicans demonstrated a
greater overall enhancement in adhesion from preincubation with glucose,
sucrose and maltose, when compared with a reference laboratory strain of
Candida. These results imply that exogenous or endogenous carbon sources
may affect the oral and vaginal carriage of C. albicans, by modifying their
adhesive properties.
