Adhesion of Candida albicans to HeLa cells: studies using polystyrene beads

The adherence to HeLa cells by the yeast-type cells of the Candida albicans NIH A-207 strain cultivated for 2 d at 27 degrees C in the yeast extract-added Sabouraud liquid medium (YSLM) and the 500 mM galactose-added yeast nitrogen base medium (YNB-Gal) was compared. The yeast cells cultured in the YNB-Gal clearly increased the adherence to the HeLa cells compared to the YSLM. The adherence drastically decreased by pronase treatment of the yeast cells. Next, to define the sugar receptors of the yeast cells, lactosylceramide (LC)-, the H type 1 antigen (HA)-, Lewis(a) antigen (Le(a))-, mannan- and BSA-coated polystyrene beads were used for the adherence to the yeast cells. Only the LC- and HA-beads were bound to the yeast cells. The adherence of the two beads to the yeast cells cultured in the YNB-Gal was higher than that to the yeast cells cultured in the YSLM. The yeast cell wall mannan-coated polystyrene beads did not adhere at all to the Hela cells. Based on these results, it is evident that the protein parts involving the LC and HA receptors on the surface of the yeast cells correlate with the adherence to the HeLa cells.