The Effect of ABO Antigens on Candida Infection and Adhesion

Objectives: This study aimed primarily to assess the association between secreted ABO antigens in saliva and the levels of C. albicans infection, compare the binding of C. albicans to BECs from secretors, and non-secretors, and to determine the effect of pre-incubating the yeast or the buccal cells with saliva from secretors and non-secretor. Also we aimed to determine the effect of pre-incubating the blastospores with different concentrations of L- Fucose, and to demonstrate the effect of secretory blood group antigens on adherence of Candida albicans to BEC. Methods: The secretor status was determined by the agglutination inhibition technique described by Periera, Dodd and Marchant(1969). Candida adhesion assays were carried out after incubating either Candida suspension or buccal cell suspension with secretor saliva or saliva devoid of ABO antigens using HiTrap NHS columns. The effect of Fucose on the level of yeast adhesion was also studied. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected from 60 subjects with different grades of denture related stomatitis by using a Salivette (Sarstedt, Germany). Results: Twenty-eight patients (28/40) with infection were non-secretors, while 5/20 of patients with no infection were non-secretors. The level of yeast adhesion was also significantly higher in patients with infection and non-secretors(p<0.05). Secretor saliva and purified ABO antigens reduced the level of yeast adhesion to BEC to almost 50% compared with non-secretor saliva. At the same time 0.2 M Fucose concentrations was able to completely block yeast adhesion to BEC. Conclusion: This study provided direct evidence that the carbohydrate moiety of ABO antigen may act as receptors and block yeast adhesion to BEC. This raises the possibility of the use of these antigens to treat oral Candida infection. Ackowledgements: This study was generously supported by the first BSSPD research award 2001.