Factors affecting the adhesion of Candida albicans to epithelial cells of insulin-using diabetes mellitus patients

This study investigated the influence of the carbon source of the growth me dium, strains of Candida albicans and source of epithelial cells, and the i nfluence of smoking and gender, on the adhesion of C, albicans to epithelia l cells from insulin-using diabetic patients. Adhesion was determined by an autologous adhesion assay with exfoliated buccal or palatal epithelial cel ls and one strain of C, albicans isolated from each patient. The type strai n CBS 562 was also used, Glucose or sucrose were used as the predominant ca rbon sources of the growth medium. The autologous strain of C, albicans adh ered selectively to the oral mucosa of diabetic patients. Palatal epithelia l cells retained significantly more C, albicans in vivo and adhesion was in fluenced by the availability of sugars in the growth medium and the strain of C, albicans.