Membrane lipoteichoic acids can function as surface antigens of gram-positive bacteria.

Candida species are yeasts and within the oral cavity, Candida albicans is the most frequently isolated. There is clear evidence that C. albicans adheres to oral surfaces including acrylic dentures and mucosa. The mechanisms of attachment differ, with candidal adhesion to inert surfaces under the control of hydrophobic and electrostatic forces and adhesion to mucosa dependent on a number of complex ligand-recognition systems. Other factors within the oral environment such as saliva, pH, bacteria and hyphal formation have been shown to influence adhesion of candida species to surfaces in the mouth.

Certaih systemic cenditions and/or defects in tlile irmmume sy,stem may JDt:edisJ!)Qse tliie host to oral candielal infecti0n and tliie commenest ferm of oral 1 cam~ielosis is candida-associatecl tilernture stomatitis.IJntil recently tliier-e has been cemtrev.ersy coneerrniAg 1 t!;le aeti010!iJY of the disease. Althoust:l some ear,lier investigat0rs fimke€l clemture stomatitis witlit trramma or Lflacte~ial infection, 0tt:lers had isolate€! Candida all!Jieams tr.0m the rnewtl;is 0f Ji)atients with tlfle G0Aditi!im. Current stwrnatitis lesiolils ar.e assoeiated witlil tlile cleteetion , ol cal'lli.!il!la species wtiile otlilef factors sueh as dentwre hygiene, trauma, systemic diseases amCil aefi11:ierneies of tfrle immwne s.ysfem may l:>e imvolveeLKe¥ words: Caf'ldida a/J:Jieans, acute pseudemembranous canei~esls. aeete atrepbie camdidosis, eamdit'.la leuk0plakia, cant'.li~a-assoeiated denture stomatftf&, angular cheilitis.

Wall Glycerol Glc B. subtilis Marburg 49 L. buchneri NCIB 8007 21 S. epidermidis T1 65 GalNAc S. epidermidis (albus) 81 NCTC Ribitol Glc B. subtilis W-23 189 L. plantarum (arabinosus) 17-5 14 GlcNAc S. aureus Copenhagen 280 GalNAc S. aureus phage type 187 152 aGlc, n-glucose; Gal, D-galactose; GlcNAc, N-acetyl-D-glucosamine; GalNAc, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine. " A. J. Wicken and K. W. Knox, unpublished data.

Treatment of oral candidosis with topical antifungal agents such as nystatin and amphotericin B is effective initially. However, medication can produce side effects in some patients and when therapy is stopped the condition can recur. Alternative treatment involving the use of antiseptics and disinfecting agents has been shown to play an important role in the control of dental plaque. The use of sodium hypochlorite as an overnight denture soak has been shown to eliminate denture plaque and recent investigations have demonstrated that microwave irradiation of dentures at a specified setting and exposure time is bactericidal and candidacidal.Key words: Candida albicans, antifungals, denture stomatitis, chlorhexidine, sodium hypochlorite, microwave i r r a d i a t i o n .