Cross-kingdom microbial interactions in dental implant-related infections: is Candida albicans a new villain?
João G.S. Souza,
Raphael C. Costa,
Aline A. Sampaio,
Victória L. Abdo,
Bruna E. Nagay,
Nidia Castro,
Belén Retamal-Valdes,
Jamil A. Shibli,
Magda Feres,
Valentim A.R. Barão,
Martinna Bertolini
Affiliations
João G.S. Souza
Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Sāo Paulo 07023-070, Brazil; Dental Science School (Faculdade de Ciências Odontológicas - FCO), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais 39401-303, Brazil; Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo 13414-903, Brazil; Corresponding author
Raphael C. Costa
Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo 13414-903, Brazil
Aline A. Sampaio
Department of Clinic, Pathology and Dental Surgery, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais 31270-901, Brazil
Victória L. Abdo
Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Sāo Paulo 07023-070, Brazil
Bruna E. Nagay
Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo 13414-903, Brazil
Nidia Castro
Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Sāo Paulo 07023-070, Brazil
Belén Retamal-Valdes
Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Sāo Paulo 07023-070, Brazil
Jamil A. Shibli
Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Sāo Paulo 07023-070, Brazil
Magda Feres
Department of Periodontology, Dental Research Division, Guarulhos University, Guarulhos, Sāo Paulo 07023-070, Brazil
Valentim A.R. Barão
Department of Prosthodontics and Periodontology, Piracicaba Dental School, University of Campinas (UNICAMP), Piracicaba, São Paulo 13414-903, Brazil; Corresponding author
Martinna Bertolini
Department of Periodontics and Preventive Dentistry, School of Dental Medicine, University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260, USA
Summary: Candida albicans, an oral fungal opportunistic pathogen, has shown the ability to colonize implant surfaces and has been frequently isolated from biofilms associated with dental implant-related infections, possibly due to its synergistic interactions with certain oral bacteria. Moreover, evidence suggests that this cross-kingdom interaction on implant can encourage bacterial growth, leading to increased fungal virulence and mucosal damage. However, the role of Candida in implant-related infections has been overlooked and not widely explored or even considered by most microbiological analyses and therapeutic approaches. Thus, we summarized the scientific evidence regarding the ability of C. albicans to colonize implant surfaces, interact in implant-related polymicrobial biofilms, and its possible role in peri-implant infections as far as biologic plausibility. Next, a systematic review of preclinical and clinical studies was conducted to identify the relevance and the gap in the existing literature regarding the role of C. albicans in the pathogenesis of peri-implant infections.
