AUTHOR=Du Qian , Ren Biao , Zhou Xuedong , Zhang Ling , Xu Xin 

TITLE=Cross-kingdom interaction between Candida albicans and oral bacteria

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=13

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2022.911623

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2022.911623

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p><italic>Candida albicans</italic> is a symbiotic fungus that commonly colonizes on oral mucosal surfaces and mainly affects immuno-compromised individuals. Polymicrobial interactions between <italic>C. albicans</italic> and oral microbes influence the cellular and biochemical composition of the biofilm, contributing to change clinically relevant outcomes of biofilm-related oral diseases, such as pathogenesis, virulence, and drug-resistance. Notably, the symbiotic relationships between <italic>C. albicans</italic> and oral bacteria have been well-documented in dental caries, oral mucositis, endodontic and periodontal diseases, implant-related infections, and oral cancer. <italic>C. albicans</italic> interacts with co-existing oral bacteria through physical attachment, extracellular signals, and metabolic cross-feeding. This review discusses the bacterial–fungal interactions between <italic>C. albicans</italic> and different oral bacteria, with a particular focus on the underlying mechanism and its relevance to the development and clinical management of oral diseases.</p>