[Anti-glycan antibodies establish an unexpected link between C. albicans and Crohn disease]

Almost 80 % of the dry weight of the yeast cell wall is composed of glycans including mannans, glucans and chitin. Within this variable and complex edifice, glycans play a major role in their relation with the environment. Experimental antibodies allowed to define the localization, the variability of expression and the biological role of numerous natural oligosaccharidic sequences. These glycans and their synthetic analogues were used to study the human humoral response during invasive candidiasis (IC) determined by Candida albicans and Crohn's disease (CD) where antibodies against the dietary yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae have been reported. On these bases, it was established experimentally and clinically that a large panel of CD biomarkers consisting in anti glycans antibodies were also generated during IC establishing a link never suspected between C. albicans and CD. We describe here the principle of this serological analysis and its perspectives related to the use of multianalyte profiling technology for a a better understanding of IC and CD pathophysiology. This may contribute to improve disease management in terms of diagnosis and therapy.