The team investigated how oral mucosal cells react after contact with yeast cells and how the mucosa inhibits their growth. They did so using so-called gene chips, which can measure the activity of thousands of genes simultaneously.

They found out that mere contact between the yeasts and the mucosal cells is enough to switch on genes of the PI3-Kinase/Akt pathway, triggering signals inside the cells that prevent tissue damage and cell death. When this pathway was blocked, the fungal infection spread and the healing process took longer.

The researchers want use their findings to develop new therapies and drugs that beneficially affect this mucosal reaction, so as to help immunodeficient patients reduce their risk of infection.

Sources (in German):
http://www.wissenschaft-aktuell.de/

„PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling mediates protection of oral epithelial cells from Candida albicans-induced damage“, David Moyes et al.; Society for General Microbiology's Autumn Conference 2013, Vortrag am 3.09.2013, http://www.sgm.ac.uk/en/events/conferences/index.cfm/autumn-2013-confer