Candida albicans cellular internalization: a new pathogenic factor?

The preliminary results of a study to show the possibility that Candida alb icans can internalize into epithelial cells are reported. The study was per formed on buccal, vaginal and HeLa cells. Buccal and vaginal cells, at a co ncentration of 5 x 10(4) cells/ml and HeLa monolayers were incubated for 2, 3 and 4 h with 10(5) colony forming units of a Candida albicans isolate. A fter incubation, non-internalised yeasts were eliminated and samples were p rocessed for examination by Scanning Electron Microscopy. Results suggest t hat receptor-mediated endocytosis could be involved in the pathogenesis of recurrent oral and vaginal infections. This phenomenon could represent an i nteresting experimental model to testing drug interference in the developme nt of therapeutic strategies against C. albicans infections. (C) 2000 Elsev ier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights rese rved.