Candida albicans Induces Oral Microbial Dysbiosis and Promotes Oral Diseases

Candida albicans are ubiquitous fungal organisms that colonize the oral cavity of healthy individuals without causing disease. C. albicans is an opportunistic microorganism with several virulent factors that influence the inflammatory process and allow it to invade tissues, evade host defense mechanisms, and release toxins, facilitating proliferation and degradation. At present, increasing emphasis is placed on polymicrobial interactions between C. albicans and various bacterial pathogens. Such interaction is mutually beneficial for both parties: it is competitive and antagonistic. Their complex interaction and colonization in the oral cavity serve as the basis for several oral diseases. The dispersion of C. albicans in saliva and the systemic circulation is noted in association with other bacterial populations, suggesting their virulence in causing disease. Hence, it is necessary to understand fungal-bacterial interactions for early detection and the development of novel therapeutic strategies to treat oral diseases. In this paper, we review the mutualistic interaction of C. albicans in oral biofilm formation and polymicrobial interactions in oral diseases. In addition, C. albicans virulence in causing biofilm-related oral diseases and its presence in saliva are discussed.