Candida albicans virulence factors and pathogenicity for endodontic infections

Authors

Yeon Jee Yoo, Seoul National University School of Dentistry
A. Reum Kim, Seoul National University
Hiran Perinpanayagam, Schulich School of Medicine & DentistryFollow
Seung Hyun Han, Seoul National University
Kee Yeon Kum, Seoul National University School of Dentistry

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

9-1-2020

Journal

Microorganisms

Volume

8

Issue

9

First Page

1

Last Page

18

URL with Digital Object Identifier

10.3390/microorganisms8091300

Abstract

Candida albicans (C. albicans) is the fungus most frequently isolated from endodontic root canal infections. Although recognized by dental pulp and periradicular tissue cells that elicit immune responses, it eludes host defenses and elicits cell death. Then, C. albicans binds tooth dentin, forms biofilms, and invades dentinal tubules to resist intracanal disinfectants and endodontic treatments. Insensitive to most common medicaments, it survives sequestered within biofilms and intratubular dentin. Thus, C. albicans has been associated with cases of persistent or refractory root canal infections. Its treatment strategies may require alternative intracanal irrigants, intracanal medicaments such as chlorhexidine gel or human beta defensin-3 (HBD3), Ca-Si-based obturating materials, and microsurgical procedures.