Differential collagenolytic activity of Candida albicans isolated from oral mucosa and dentinal carious lesions of HIV-infected children.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare type I collagen degradation by Candida albicans isolated from oral mucosa (M) and cavitated active dentinal caries (CAD) of HIV-infected children. STUDY DESIGN: To verify the proteolytic activity, the specimens were cultivated in brain-heart infusion medium and the supernatants were incubated in the presence or absence of type I collagen at 37°C for 12 hours and analyzed using 10% sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Intensity of the bands on the gels was assessed by densitometric analysis using a scanner and images analyzed with software from Kodak Digital Science EDAS 120. RESULTS: Supernatants of all the C. albicans degraded type I collagen that from M, on average, by 38.3% (SD 21.67) and that from CAD by 54% (SD 25.94; Wilcoxon test P < .05). Predisposing factors had no association with the percentage of type I collagen degradation (Mann-Whitney test P > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Candida albicans from different sites of the oral cavity of HIV-infected children has proteolytic activity for type I collagen.