Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Variation in adhesion and cell surface hydrophobicity in Candida albicans white and opaque phenotypes

  • Published:
Mycopathologia Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A previous study had established that a select group of pathogenic isolates of Candida albicans was capable of switching heritably, reversibly and at a high frequency (10−2 to 10−3) between two phenotypes (‘white’ or ‘opaque’) readily distinguishable by the size, shape, and color of colonies formed on agar at 25°C. This paper describes experiments designed to determine the ability of these two phenotypes to attach to buccal epithelial cells (BECs) and plastic, and to compare the cell surface hydrophobicities of white and opaque phenotypes from three clinical isolates. ‘White cells’ were found to be significantly more adhesive to BECs, and a strong correlation was also found between phenotype adhesiveness and the percentage of BECs to which C. albicans had attached. The percentage of BECs with one or more attached C. albicans was approximately 90% for the white phenotype and approximately 50% for the opaque phenotype. ‘Opaque cells’, in contrast, were twice as hydrophobic as white cells, and the percentage of opaque cells bound to BECs by coadhesion was also double that of white cells. The differences in adhesion to plastic between the two phenotypes were not statistically significant and there was no distinct trend to suggest which phenotype might be more adhesive to plastic. These results indicate that several factors are involved in the adhesion of C. albicans to plastic, and confirm the hypothesis that cell surface hydrophobicity is of minor importance in direct adhesion to epithelial cells but that it may contribute to indirect attachment to epithelial cells by promoting yeast coadhesion. Moreover, the data presented in this paper also revealed that under identical growth conditions, adhesion of C. albicans was significantly altered depending on the phenotypic state of the organism tested. Therefore, because C. albicans can switch at a high frequency to various phenotypes in vitro, it may be that in future adhesion studies involving Candida the phenotypic state of the organism at the time of testing will have to be determined. Otherwise, the results, even within the same laboratory, may be difficult to interpret.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Anderson ML, Odds FC. Adherence of Candida albicans to vaginal epithelia: Significance of morphological form and effect of ketoconazole. Mykosen 1985; 28:531–540.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Breen JF, Lee IC, Vogel FR, Friedman H. Cryptococcal capsular polysaccharide-induced modulation of murine immune response. Infect Immun 1982; 36:47–51.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Buck JS: Candida albicans. In: Hoadley AW, Dutka BJ eds. Bacterial Indicators/Health Hazards Associated with Water. ASTM STP 635. Philadelphia: American Society for Testing and Materials 1977; 139–147.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Clark WB, Bammann LL, Gibbons RJ. Comparative estimates of bacterial affinities and adsorption sites on hydroxyapatite surfaces. Infect Immun 1978; 19:846–853.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cook WL, Schlitzer RL. Isolation of Candida albicans from fresh water and sewage. Appl Environ Microbiol 1981; 41:840–842.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Critchley IA, Douglas LJ. Differential adhesion of pathogenic Candida species to epithelial and inert surfaces. FEMS Microbiology Lett 1985; 28:199–203.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Davidson S, Brish M, Rubinstein E. Adherence of Candida albicans to buccal epithelial cells of neonates. Mycopathologia 1984; 85:171–173.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Douglas LJ. Adhesion of pathogenic Candida species to host surfaces. Microbiol Sci 1985; 2:243–247.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Feo M. Supervivencia y desinfection de Candida albicans en el cepillo de dientes. Mycopathologia 1981; 74:129–134.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Gibbons RJ, Etherden I, Peros W. Aspects of the attachment of oral streptococci to experimental pellicles. In: Mergenhagen SE, Rosen B eds. Molecular Basis of Oral Microbial Adhesion. Washington: American Society for Microbiology 1985; 77–84.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Hazen KC, Plotkin BJ, Klimas DM. Influence of growth conditions on cell surface hydrophobicity of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata. Infect Immun 1986; 54:269–271.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Jones GW, Isaacson RE. Proteinaceous bacterial adhesins and their receptors. CRC Crit Rev Microbiol 1983; 10:229–260.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Kearns MJ, Davies P, Smith H. Variability of the adherence of Candida albicans strains to human buccal epithelial cells: Inconsistency of differences between strains related to virulence. Sabouraudia 1983; 21:93–98.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Kennedy MJ. Adhesion and association mechanisms of Candida albicans. In: McGinnis MR ed. Current Topics in Medical Mycology, vol 2. New York: Springer-Verlag 1987; 73–169.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Kennedy MJ. Role of motility, chemotaxis, and adhesion in microbial ecology. Annal New York Acad Sci 1987; (in press).

  16. Kennedy MJ, Volz PA, Edwards CA, Yancey RJ. Mechanisms of association of Candida albicans with intestinal mucosa. J Med Microbiol 1987; 24:xx-xxx.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kimura LH, Pearsall NN. Adherence of Candida albicans to human buccal epithelial cells. Infect Immun 1978; 21:64–68.

    Google Scholar 

  18. King RD, Lee JC, Morris AL. Adherence of Candida albicans and other Candida species to mucosal epithelial cells. Infect Immun 1980; 27:667–674.

    Google Scholar 

  19. Klotz SA, Drutz DJ, Zajic FE. Factors governing adherence of Candida species to plastic surfaces. Infect Immun 1985; 50:97–101.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kozel TR. Dissociation of a hydrophobic surface from phagocytosis of encapsulated and non-encapsulated Cryptococcus neoformans. Infect Immun 1983; 39:1214–1219.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Lee KL, Buckley HR; Campbell CC. An amino acid liquid synthetic medium for development of mycelial and yeast forms of Candida albicans. Sabouraudia 1975; 13:148–153.

    Google Scholar 

  22. McCourtie J, Douglas LJ. Relationship between cell surface composition of Candida albicans and adherence to acrylic after growth on different carbon sources. Infect Immun 1981; 32:1234–1241.

    Google Scholar 

  23. McCourtie J, Douglas LJ. Extracellular polymer of Candida albicans: Isolation, analysis and role in adhesion. J Gen Microbiol 1985; 131:495–503.

    Google Scholar 

  24. McCourtie J, Douglas LJ. Unequal distribution of adhesins within populations of Candida albicans. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1985; 27:111–115.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Minagi S, Miyaka Y, Fugioka Y, Tsuru H, Suginaka H. Cell-surface hydrophobicity of Candida species as determined by the contact-angle and hydrocarbon-adherence methods. J Gen Microbiol 1986; 132:1111–1115.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Minagi S, Miyake Y, Inagaki K, Tsuru H, Suginaka H. Hydrophobic interaction in Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis adherence to various denture base resin materials. Infect Immun 1985; 47:11–14.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Miyake Y, Fujita Y, Minagi S, Suginaka H. Surface hydrophobicity and adherence of Candida to acrylic surfaces. Microbiol 1986; 46:7–14.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Rosenberg M, Gutnick D, Rosenberg E. Adherence of bacteria to hydrocarbons: A simple method for measuring cell-surface hydrophobicity. FEMS Microbiol Lett 1980; 9:29–33.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Rotrosen D, Calderone RA, Edwards JE. Adherence of Candida species to host tissues and plastic surfaces. Rev Infect Dis 1986; 8:73–85.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Rotrosen D, Gibson TR, Edwards JE. Adherence of Candida species to intravenous catheters. J Infect Dis 1983; 147:594.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Sandin RL. Studies on cell adhesion and concanavalin A induced agglutination of Candida albicans after mannan extraction. J Med Microbiol 1987; (in press).

  32. Sandin RL, Kennedy MJ. Influence of growth parameters on Candida albicans adhesion, hydrophobicity, and cell wall ultrastructure. J Med Vet Mycol 1988; (in press).

  33. Sandin RL, Rogers AL, Beneke ES, Fernandez MI. Influence of mucosal cell origin on the in vitro adherence of Candida albicans: Are mucosal cells from different sources equivalent? Mycopathologia 1987; 98:111–119.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Sandin RL, Rogers AL, Fernandez MI, Beneke ES. Variations in affinity to Candida albicans in vitro among human buccal epithelial cells. J Med Microbiol 1987; (in press).

  35. Sandin RL, Rogers AL, Patterson RJ, Beneke ES. Evidence for mannose-mediated adherence of Candida albicans to human buccal cells in vitro. Infect Immun 1982; 35:79–85.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Segal E, Lehrer N, Ofek I. Adherence of Candida albicans to human vaginal epithelial cells: Inhibition by amino sugars. Exp Cell Biol 1982; 50:13–17.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Slutsky B, Buffo J, Soll DR. High frequency switching of colony morphology in Candida albicans. Science 1985; 230:666–669.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Slutsky B, Staebell M, Anderson J, Risen L, Pfaller M, Soll DR. ‘White-opaque transition’: A second high-frequency switching system in Candida albicans. J Bacteriol 1987; 169:189–197.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Soll DR. High frequency switching in Candida. In: Berg DE, Howe MM eds. Mobile DNA. Washington: American Society for Microbiology 1988; in press.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Soll DR, Langtimm CJ, McDowell J, Hicks J, Galask R. High-frequency switching in Candida strains isolated from vaginitis patients. J Clin Microbiol 1987; 25:1611–1622.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Soll DR, Slutsky B, Mackenzie S, Langtimm C, Staebell M. Two newly discovered switching systems in Candida albicans and their possible roles in oral candidiasis. In: Mackenzie IC, Squier CA eds. Diseases of the Oral Mucosa. Published for Dows Institute for Dental Research by Laegeforeningens Forlag, Denmark 1987; in press.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Botany and Plant Pathology, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Michael J. Kennedy, Alvin L. Rogers & Laurey R. Hanselmen

  2. Department of Microbiology and Public Health, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Alvin L. Rogers

  3. Department of Medical Technology, Michigan State University, 48824, East Lansing, MI, USA

    Alvin L. Rogers

  4. Department of Biology, University of Iowa, 52242, Iowa City, IO, USA

    David R. Soll

  5. Microbiology and Nutrition Research Unit, USA

    Michael J. Kennedy, Laurey R. Hanselmen & Robert J. Yancey Jr.

Authors
  1. Michael J. Kennedy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alvin L. Rogers
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Laurey R. Hanselmen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. David R. Soll
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Robert J. Yancey Jr.
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kennedy, M.J., Rogers, A.L., Hanselmen, L.R. et al. Variation in adhesion and cell surface hydrophobicity in Candida albicans white and opaque phenotypes. Mycopathologia 102, 149–156 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437397

Download citation

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00437397

Keywords

Search

Navigation