INTERACTIONS BETWEEN DENTURE LINING MATERIAL, PROTEIN PELLICLES AND CANDIDA-ALBICANS

The interactions between pellicles derived from saliva, serum, mucin a nd lysozyme deposited on lining material (tissue conditioner) and Cand ida albicans were investigated by monitoring pH changes associated wit h protein-free and protein-coated lining material and by ultrastructur al observations of yeast colonization. No significant differences in p H reduction between culture media in contact with the protein-free, co ntrol lining materials and those coated with saliva, serum or mucin we re observed after 120 h of incubation. However, scanning electron micr oscopy revealed that much greater numbers of the yeasts colonized the saliva- or serum-coated lining material than the lysozyme-, mucin-coat ed or control material. Hyphal invasion was observed in saliva-coated lining material. These results suggested that denture pellicle derived from saliva and/or serum may potentiate candidal colonization of dent ure lining materials.