muramidase and Candidiasis--Oral

A lysozyme-chitosan conjugate preparation (LYZOX), produced from egg white lysozyme and chitosan by Maillard reaction, is a commercial product developed as a cosmetic ingredient or food additive. Effects of LYZOX on in vitro growth of Candida albicans were examined. C. albicans cells were treated with LYZOX for 3 hrs, and then washed and cultured for an additional 16 hrs in modified RPMI1640 medium. Mycelial growth of C. albicans was clearly inhibited by more than 100 μg/ml of LYZOX in a concentration-dependent manner. On the other hand, corresponding concentration of chitosan or lysozyme or their mixture only scarcely showed clear inhibitory effect. Similarly, anti-Candida activity of the combination of LYZOX and decanoic acid, a middle-chain fatty acid, was also examined. Inhibitory activity of this combination against mycelial growth of C. albicans was very potent and appeared synergistic, since fractionated inhibitory concentration (FIC) index for 70% growth inhibition was calculated to be 0.20. Oral application of this combination improved the symptoms of Candida-infected-tongue in an experimental murine candidiasis model. On the basis of these results, the possible application of LYZOX as a new functional product with anti-candida activity was discussed.

Topics: Animals; Antifungal Agents; Candida albicans; Candidiasis, Oral; Chitosan; Decanoic Acids; Disease Models, Animal; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Drug Combinations; Drug Resistance, Fungal; Drug Synergism; Drug Therapy, Combination; Mice, Inbred ICR; Muramidase; Treatment Outcome

The aim of this study was to explore lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC). These proteins were measured by time-resolved immunofluorometric assay, validated in Part I of this study, in paired serum and salivary secretions of 30 patients. Eleven HIV-positive patients without OPC, eight HIV-positive patients with OPC and eleven HIV-negative healthy subjects were included in the study. The relative coefficient of excretion of salivary albumin was used to establish protein origin. In serum, the low lactoferrin concentrations in HIV-infected patients with and without OPC (0.610 mg/l (p < 0.05) and 0.896 mg/l (p < 0.01) vs. 1.439 mg/l in healthy subjects) were probably due to a decrease in nonspecific immunity, particularly the polymorphonuclear cells. In HIV-infected patients with OPC, the high salivary lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations (170.94 mg/l and 66.48 mg/l vs. 23.35 mg/l and 10.20 mg/l in healthy subjects, respectively) and their mean relative coefficient of excretion of above 1 indicated a high local production of lysozyme and lactoferrin in saliva. The development of OPC in HIV-infected patients could be a consequence of inefficient lysozyme and lactoferrin concentrations and of decreased cooperation between innate and adaptative immune systems.

Topics: Candidiasis, Oral; Female; Fluoroimmunoassay; HIV Infections; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Mucous Membrane; Muramidase; Reference Standards; Saliva; Sensitivity and Specificity; Time Factors

Buccal and digestive tract opportunistic infections occur frequently in patients infected by HIV. In this study, we measured lysozyme (Lz), lactoferrin (Lf), total IgA (T-IgA), and secretory IgA (S-IgA) levels to investigate nonspecific secretory immunity in HIV-infected patients with oral candidiasis. Serum, saliva, and stool samples were analyzed by time-resolved immunofluorometric assay for Lz and Lf levels and by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for T-IgA and S-IgA levels. Mean salivary Lf and T-IgA levels (66.50 mg/L and 0.10 g/L, respectively) and mean fecal Lf, T-IgA, and S-IgA outputs (0.87, 54.0, and 43.6 mg/d, respectively) were significantly higher in HIV-infected patients with oropharyngeal candidiasis than in HIV-infected patients without oropharyngeal candidiasis and healthy subjects. There was a modification in the molecular form rate, with a high increase in S-IgA and monomeric IgA transudation from the plasmatic compartment into salivary and digestive fluids and an increase in salivary Lf local synthesis by polymorphonuclear neutrophils. HIV infection appears to be associated with dysregulation of some of the nonspecific immune factors at the mucosal surface. Despite high saliva concentrations and high intestinal output, innate immunity was not able to stop yeast expansion in HIV-infected patients.

Topics: Adult; AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; alpha 1-Antitrypsin; Candidiasis, Oral; Feces; Female; Humans; Immunity, Mucosal; Immunoglobulin A; Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; Intestinal Mucosa; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Mouth Mucosa; Muramidase; Saliva; Serum Albumin

A variety of innate defense factors in saliva such as lysozyme and lactoferrin contribute to mucosal protection and modulate Candida populations in the oral cavity. It is also known that in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals significant variations in the concentrations of lysozyme and lactoferrin in saliva occur during disease progression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the in vitro susceptibility to human lactoferrin and hen egg white lysozyme of genotypically similar oral Candida albicans isolates obtained from six HIV-infected ethnic Chinese during sequential visits over a 12-month period. The similarity of the genotypes (50 in total) was evaluated using a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA assay. A blastospore viability assay was performed to evaluate the sensitivity of the organisms to lysozyme and lactoferrin. Exposure to physiological concentrations of either lysozyme (30 microg/ml) or lactoferrin (20 microg/ml) caused a rapid loss of viability among all isolates to a varying extent. None of the sequential C. albicans isolates demonstrated significant differences in sensitivity to either protein from one visit to the next; similar results were noted when the different genotypes from the same individual were compared. On Spearman correlation analysis of two genotypes that were sequentially isolated from a single patient, a significant negative correlation between lysozyme (r = -0.88; P < 0.02) (but not lactoferrin) resistance and the duration of HIV disease was seen. These results imply that a minority of C. albicans isolates that persist intraorally in individuals with HIV disease develop progressive resistance to innate salivary antifungal defenses such as lysozyme, possibly as an adaptive response. However, the vast majority of the Candida isolates appear to succumb to these nonspecific host immune mediators abundantly present in the oral environment.

Topics: AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections; Animals; Antifungal Agents; Candida albicans; Candidiasis, Oral; China; Genotype; Humans; Lactoferrin; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Muramidase; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique

Topics: Adult; Amphotericin B; Antifungal Agents; Candidiasis, Oral; Female; Fluconazole; Humans; Itraconazole; Lactoferrin; Mouthwashes; Muramidase

Parotid flow rate and chemistry of 78 HIV + gay/bisexual men and 27 HIV-gay/bisexual controls were compared on a longitudinal basis at 4-month intervals over a 1 yr period for changes indicative of inflammatory or autoimmune diseases of the salivary glands, or reduced protective capacity toward oral opportunistic infection. Parotid saliva was examined for concentrations of sodium, chloride, phosphate, total protein, lysozyme, lactoferrin, secretory IgA, salivary peroxidase, histatin and albumin. Chloride, lysozyme and peroxidase were significantly higher in HIV + at all 3 examinations and increased in concentration over time. Although mean values for stimulated flow rate were not significantly different in the two groups over the year, there was a significant increase in the number of HIV + with reduced flow over time. In 6% of HIV + there was a marked reduction in flow rate and Sjögren's syndrome-like elevations in parotid chemistry but no enlargement. At all examinations low flow rate was significantly related to oral candidiasis; T4 levels were inversely related to oral candidiasis, but not to concentration of salivary components or flow rate; nor was AZT use. As a group the HIV + patients maintained normal flow rate and secreted normal or elevated concentrations of protective proteins. A subgroup, however, exhibited diminished flow over time and an increasing tendency to oral candidiasis and a diminution in output of histatins.

Topics: Adult; Bisexuality; Candidiasis, Oral; Chlorides; HIV Infections; HIV Seropositivity; HIV-1; Homosexuality; Humans; Lactoferrin; Longitudinal Studies; Male; Muramidase; Parotid Gland; Peroxidases; Saliva; Secretory Rate; Sodium

Influence of selected enzymes as pepsin, pronase, lysozyme, and glusulase on adhesion of 15 strains of Candida sp. to buccal epithelial cells of oral cavity of man was examined in vitro. The enzymes were used in such concentration which did not influence the viability of fungal cells. Only pepsin preincubation had no influence on adhesion test, the remaining enzymes inhibited significantly attachment of Candida strains to epithelial cells in an adherence assay in vitro.

Topics: Adhesiveness; Candida; Candidiasis, Oral; Culture Media; Glucuronidase; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Mouth Mucosa; Multienzyme Complexes; Muramidase; Pepsin A; Pronase; Sulfatases

Results are reported of a study of the antilysozyme activity of 72 strains of yeastlike Candida fungi. A comparative analysis is made of the antilysozyme activity of yeastlike Candida fungi isolated in patients of all age groups. The authors emphasize the relation of these factors to variants of the clinical course of the oral cavity mucosa candidosis, Candida carrier state and capacity of Candida fungi to persistence. It is recommended to use the antilysozyme test for predicting the course of the disease.

Topics: Candida; Candidiasis, Oral; Carrier State; Humans; Mouth Mucosa; Muramidase; Recurrence

Topics: Adult; Analysis of Variance; Candida; Candidiasis, Oral; Female; Humans; Mouth; Muramidase; Postpartum Period; Pregnancy; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious; Pregnancy Trimester, First; Pregnancy Trimester, Second; Pregnancy Trimester, Third; Saliva

Topics: Candida; Candidiasis, Oral; Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal; Female; Humans; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Muramidase; Stomatitis, Denture

Topics: Adult; Aged; Candidiasis, Oral; Female; Humans; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Saliva; Stomatitis; Stomatitis, Denture