Streptococcus oralis and Candida albicans Synergistically Activate {mu}-Calpain to Degrade E-cadherin From Oral Epithelial Junctions

In this study, using oral epithelial cultures, organotypic oral mucosal constructs, and a mouse model of oral infection, we demonstrated that S. oralis augmented C. albicans invasion through epithelial junctions. C. albicans and S. oralis decreased epithelial E-cadherin levels by synergistically increasing µ-calpain, a proteolytic enzyme that targets E-cadherin. In the mouse coinfection model this was accompanied by increased fungal kidney dissemination. Coinfection with a secreted aspartyl protease (sap) mutant sap2456 and S. oralis increased μ-calpain and triggered mucosal invasion and systemic dissemination, suggesting that fungal protease activity is not required for invasion during coinfection. We conclude that C. albicans and S. oralis synergize to activate host enzymes that cleave epithelial junction proteins and increase fungal invasion.

Source: The Journal of Infectious Diseases - August 23, 2016 Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Xu, H., Sobue, T., Bertolini, M., Thompson, A., Dongari-Bagtzoglou, A. Tags: PATHOGENESIS AND HOST RESPONSE Source Type: research