z-logo
Premium
Salivary histatin‐5 and oral fungal colonisation in HIV+ individuals
Author(s) -
Torres Sandra R.,
GarzinoDemo Alfredo,
Meiller Timothy F.,
Meeks Valli,
JabraRizk Mary Ann
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
mycoses
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.13
H-Index - 69
eISSN - 1439-0507
pISSN - 0933-7407
DOI - 10.1111/j.1439-0507.2008.01602.x
Subject(s) - saliva , colonisation , candida albicans , oral mucosa , biology , population , corpus albicans , immunology , opportunistic infection , microbiology and biotechnology , mycosis , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , medicine , colonization , viral disease , environmental health , anatomy
Summary The oral cavity is a primary target for opportunistic infections, particularly oral candidiasis caused by the opportunistic pathogen Candida albicans . HIV+ individuals constitute a population highly susceptible to oral candidiasis possibly due to a change in the environment of the oral cavity as the result of salivary gland dysfuntion. Histatins are a family of salivary antimicrobial peptides which under normal circumstances have a protective function on the oral mucosa. This study aimed to compare salivary histatin concentrations and oral fungal colonisation in an HIV+ and HIV− control populations. Oral samples for fungal cultures and parotid saliva were collected from all subjects. Fungal identification was determined using standard mycological procedures. In order to determine salivary histatin levels a semi‐quantitative ELISA was designed using a specific polyclonal antibody and extensive statistical analysis was performed. Forty‐seven percent of HIV+ and 17% of control subjects had positive fungal cultures. Mean histatin levels were 7.32 μg ml −1 for the HIV+ group and 9.17 μg ml −1 for control group ( P  = 0.003). The data from this study demonstrate that the level of fungal colonisation is significantly higher in HIV+ individuals whereas histatin‐5 concentrations are significantly lower, likely contributing to the enhanced predisposition of this population to oral candidiasis.

This content is not available in your region!

Continue researching here.

Having issues? You can contact us here