Plasma and extracellular matrix proteins mediate in the fate of Candida albicans in the human host (original) (raw)

The fungus, Candida albicans, causes trivial to life-threatening diseases in man when normal host defenses are compromised. The fungus appears to have evolved receptors (hereinafter referred to as adhesins) for human fluid phase glycoproteins such as fibronectin and immobilized basement membrane glycoproteins in order to establish and maintain a niche in the mucus-lined cavities of man. The hypothesis advanced is that the fate of the fungus may be determined by interactions with these same glycoproteins. For example, Candida may adhere to fibronectin on the surface of epithelial cells in order to maintain its residency in mucus-lined cavities, whereas when the fungus has escaped its normal niche and become bloodborne, yeast cells may be opsonized by fluid phase fibronectin and hence phagocytosed and killed more rapidly than uncoated fungi. On the other hand, bloodborne yeast cells may preferentially adhere to immobilized fibronectin exposed in the interstitial space or contained wit...