Investigating the role of Candida albicans as a universal substrate for oral bacteria using a transcriptomic approach: implications for interkingdom biofilm control?

Delaney, C., Alapati, S., Alshehri, M., Kubalova, D., Veena, C. L. R., Abusrewil, S., Short, B., Bradshaw, D. and Brown, J. L. (2023) Investigating the role of Candida albicans as a universal substrate for oral bacteria using a transcriptomic approach: implications for interkingdom biofilm control? APMIS: Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology, 131(11), pp. 601-612. (doi: 10.1111/apm.13327) (PMID:37170476)

Abstract

Candida albicans is frequently identified as a colonizer of the oral cavity in health and has recently been termed a “keystone” commensal due to its role on the bacterial communities. However, the role that C. albicans plays in such interactions is not fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the relationship between C. albicans and bacteria associated with oral symbiosis and dysbiosis. To do this, we evaluated the ability of C. albicans to support the growth of the aerobic commensal Streptococcus gordonii and the anaerobic pathogens Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis in the biofilm environment. RNA-Sequencing with the Illumina platform was then utilized to identify C. albicans gene expression and functional pathways involved during such interactions in dual-species and a 4-species biofilm model. Results indicated that C. albicans was capable of supporting growth of all three bacteria, with a significant increase in colony counts of each bacteria in the dual-species biofilm (p < 0.05). We identified specific functional enrichment of pathways in our 4-species community as well as transcriptional profiles unique to the F. nucleatum and S. gordonii dual-species biofilms, indicating a species-specific effect on C. albicans. Candida-related hemin acquisition and heat shock protein mediated processes were unique to the organism following co-culture with anaerobic and aerobic bacteria, respectively, suggestive that such pathways may be feasible options for therapeutic targeting to interfere with these fungal-bacterial interactions. Targeted antifungal therapy may be considered as an option for biofilm destabilization and treatment of complex communities. Moving forward, we propose that further studies must continue to investigate the role of this fungal organism in the context of the interkingdom nature of oral diseases.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Alshehri, Muhanna Ali M and Short, Mr Bryn and Brown, Dr Jason and Ramalingam Veena, Dr Chandra Lekha and Delaney, Mr Christopher and Abusrewil, Sumaya
• Authors: Delaney, C., Alapati, S., Alshehri, M., Kubalova, D., Veena, C. L. R., Abusrewil, S., Short, B., Bradshaw, D., and Brown, J. L.
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Dental School
• Journal Name: APMIS: Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology
• Publisher: Wiley
• ISSN: 0903-4641
• ISSN (Online): 1600-0463
• Published Online: 11 May 2023
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2023 The Authors
• First Published: First published in APMIS: Journal of Pathology, Microbiology and Immunology 131:601-612
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced under a Creative Commons License

Project Code	Award No	Project Name	Principal Investigator	Funder's Name	Funder Ref	Lead Dept
173112		Understanding processes and mechanisms affecting the oral microbiome using OMICs approaches	Gordon Ramage	Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC)	BB/P504567/1	Med - Dental School