AUTHOR=Yu Xiao-Yu , Fu Fei , Kong Wen-Na , Xuan Qian-Kun , Wen Dong-Hua , Chen Xiao-Qing , He Yong-Ming , He Li-Hua , Guo Jian , Zhou Ai-Ping , Xi Yang-Hong , Ni Li-Jun , Yao Yu-Feng , Wu Wen-Juan 

TITLE=Streptococcus agalactiae Inhibits Candida albicans Hyphal Development and Diminishes Host Vaginal Mucosal TH17 Response

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00198

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.00198

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Streptococcus agalactiae</italic> and <italic>Candida albicans</italic> often co-colonize the female genital tract, and under certain conditions induce mucosal inflammation. The role of the interaction between the two organisms in candidal vaginitis is not known. In this study, we found that co-infection with <italic>S. agalactiae</italic> significantly attenuated the hyphal development of <italic>C. albicans</italic>, and that <italic>EFG1</italic>-Hwp1 signal pathway of <italic>C. albicans</italic> was involved in this process. In a mouse model of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC), the fungal burden and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α showed a increase on co-infection with <italic>S. agalactiae</italic>, while the level of TH17 T cells and IL-17 in the cervicovaginal lavage fluid were significantly decreased. Our results indicate that <italic>S. agalactiae</italic> inhibits <italic>C. albicans</italic> hyphal development by downregulating the expression of <italic>EFG1</italic>-Hwp1. The interaction between <italic>S. agalactiae</italic> and <italic>C. albicans</italic> may attenuate host vaginal mucosal TH17 immunity and contribute to mucosal colonization by <italic>C. albicans</italic>.</p>