The role of pH in salivary histidine‐rich polypeptide antifungal germ tube inhibitory activity

Brant, E.C.; Santarpia, R. P.; Pollock, Jerry J.

doi:10.1111/j.1399-302x.1990.tb00437.x

Cited by 23 publications

(12 citation statements)

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“…Previous reports have shown that saliva has antifungal properties, mediated through histidine-rich polypeptides (HRPs) [31][32][33]. In these reports, however, inhibitory effects of whole saliva were observed following acidification and/or boiling of the saliva, which is thought to release HRPs from salivary protein complexes or inactivate inhibitors of HRPs in saliva.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Growth Inhibition ofCandidaby Human Oral Epithelial Cells

et al. 2000

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Oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) caused by Candida albicans is a significant problem in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected persons. Recognizing the paucity of information on innate and/or adaptive mucosal host defenses against C. albicans, we recently reported that human and nonhuman primate and mouse vaginal epithelial cells inhibit the growth of C. albicans in vitro. In the present study, oral epithelial cells collected from saliva of healthy volunteers and a purified oral epithelial cell line were found to inhibit blastoconidia and/or hyphal growth of several Candida species. Cell contact was a strict requirement for the epithelial cell anti-Candida activity; neither saliva nor culture supernatants alone inhibited Candida growth, and addition of saliva to the coculture did not modulate the epithelial cell activity. Finally, epithelial cell anti-Candida activity was significantly lower in HIV-infected persons with OPC. Together, these results suggest that oral epithelial cells may play a role in innate resistance against OPC.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Growth Inhibition ofCandidaby Human Oral Epithelial Cells

et al. 2000

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“…Histatins also have anti-fungal properties and appear to constitute a non-immune protection system for the oral surfaces. They are fungicidal to Candida albicans [34] with histatin 5 being the most active [35] whilst histatin 4 inhibits blastospore germination [36,371. Saliva has also been reported to inhibit the infectivity of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) [37] and, whilst histatins do not exhibit broad spectrum anti-viral activity, a possible involvement cannot be excluded [ 3 11.…”

Section: Histidine-rich Proteinsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fascinating families of proteins: electrophoresis of human saliva

Beeley

1993

Biochemical Society Transactions

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“…The anti-candidal activities of individual histatins were compared with each other at the levels of the killing of blastospores and germinated cells and the inhibition of germination (Xu et al, 1991;Santarpia et al, 1990; see below). Moreover, the investigators evaluated the anti-candidal (blastosporicidal) activity of histatins, taking into consideration the different conditions known to occur in the oral cavity, such as pH, ionic strength, species of ions, growth phase of C. albicans, and cell number of C. albicans (Xu et al, 1991;Santarpia et al, 1990;Brant et al, 1990).…”

Section: (I) Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the study did not test the effect of pH on histatin blastosporicidal activity under growth conditions. The ability of histatins to inhibit the conversion of C. albicans from the yeast form to the germinated form was dependent on pH; histatins were more effective at pH 5 than pH 7 (Brant et al, 1990). The pH of saliva ranges from 5 to 8.…”

Section: (I) Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Human Salivary Histatins: Promising Anti-Fungal Therapeutic Agents

Tsai

Bobek

1998

Critical Reviews in Oral Biology & Medicine

142

115

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Histatins constitute a group of small, cationic multifunctional proteins present in the saliva of human and some nonhuman primates. The most significant function of histatins may be their anti-fungal activity against Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Histatins have been extensively studied at both the protein and gene levels. The structure-function relationship of histatins with respect to their candidacidal activity has also been studied by means of recombinant histatin variants, as well as by chemically synthesized histatin fragments. The mechanism of histatins' action on Candida albicans is not clear, but it appears to be different from that of azole-based anti-fungal drugs which interrupt ergosterol synthesis. During the past 20 years, fungal infections have become more prevalent as a result of the emergence of AIDS, as well as, paradoxically, modern medical advances. The toxicity of current anti-fungal medicine, the emergence of drug-resistant strains, and the availability of only a few types of antifungal agents are the major disadvantages of current anti-fungal therapy. Therefore, the importance of the search for new, broadspectrum anti-fungals with little or no toxicity cannot be overemphasized. The following properties make histatins promising antifungal therapeutic agents: (1) They have little or no toxicity; (2) they possess high cidal activities against azole-resistant fungal species and most of the fungal species tested; and (3) their candidacidal activity is similar to that of azole-based antifungals.Current research efforts focus on the development of improved histatins with enhanced cidal activity and stability, and of suitable and effective histatin delivery systems. These and other approaches may help to outpace the growing list of drug-resistant and opportunistic fungi causing life-threatening, disseminating diseases. The histatins with improved protective properties may also be used as components of artificial saliva for patients with salivary dysfunction.

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The role of pH in salivary histidine‐rich polypeptide antifungal germ tube inhibitory activity

Cited by 23 publications

References 20 publications

Growth Inhibition ofCandidaby Human Oral Epithelial Cells

Growth Inhibition ofCandidaby Human Oral Epithelial Cells

Fascinating families of proteins: electrophoresis of human saliva

Human Salivary Histatins: Promising Anti-Fungal Therapeutic Agents

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