AUTHOR=Abe Masahiro , Kinjo Yuki , Ueno Keigo , Takatsuka Shogo , Nakamura Shigeki , Ogura Sho , Kimura Muneyoshi , Araoka Hideki , Sadamoto Sota , Shinozaki Minoru , Shibuya Kazutoshi , Yoneyama Akiko , Kaku Mitsuo , Miyazaki Yoshitsugu 

TITLE=Differences in Ocular Complications Between Candida albicans and Non-albicans Candida Infection Analyzed by Epidemiology and a Mouse Ocular Candidiasis Model

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02477

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.02477

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Objectives:</bold><italic>Candida</italic> species are a major cause of hospital infections, including ocular candidiasis, but few studies have examined the propensities of specific species to invade the eye or the unique immunological responses induced. This study examined the frequency and characteristics of species-specific <italic>Candida</italic> eye infections by epidemiology and experiments using a mouse ocular candidiasis model.</p><p><bold>Methods:</bold> We reviewed medical records of candidemia patients from January 2012 to March 2017. We also evaluated ocular fungal burden, inflammatory cytokine and chemokine profiles, and inflammatory cell profiles in mice infected with <italic>Candida albicans</italic>, <italic>Candida glabrata</italic>, or <italic>Candida parapsilosis.</italic></p><p><bold>Results:</bold> During the study period, 20 ocular candidiasis cases were diagnosed among 99 candidemia patients examined by ophthalmologists. Although <italic>C</italic>. <italic>parapsilosis</italic> was the most frequent candidemia pathogen, only <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> infection was significantly associated with ocular candidiasis by multivariate analysis. In mice, ocular fungal burden and inflammatory mediators were significantly higher during <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> infection, and histopathological analysis revealed invading <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> surrounded by inflammatory cells. Ocular neutrophil and inflammatory monocyte numbers were significantly greater during <italic>C</italic>. <italic>albicans</italic> infection.</p><p><bold>Conclusion:</bold><italic>Candida albicans</italic> is strongly associated with ocular candidiasis due to greater capacity for invasion, induction of inflammatory mediators, and recruitment of neutrophils and inflammatory monocytes.</p>