[Frontiers in Bioscience E1, 1-12, January 1, 2009]

Complement in Candida albicans infections

Gunter Rambach, Cornelia Speth

Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Division of Hygiene and Medical Microbiology, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Austria

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Abstract
2. Introduction
3. The complement system
3.1. Triggering signals by and functions against Candida infection
3.2. Activation steps and terminal part of the complement cascade
3.3.Regulatory intervention in the complement cascade
3.4. Complement receptors (CR)
4. The fight "host against fungus", round 1: Complement against Candida
4.1. The significance of complement in candidiasis
4.2. The different activation pathways of the complement cascade in candidiasis
4.3. Antimicrobial effects of complement in C. albicans infections
5. The fight "host against fungus", Round 2: Candida against Complement
6. The fight "host against fungus", Round 3: future and perspectives
7. Acknowledgements
8. References

1. ABSTRACT

Being normally a frequent commensal organism of the oro-gastrointestinal tract as well as the vulvovaginal cavity in immunocompetent individuals, Candida albicans also represents a major cause of opportunistic infections in locally or systemically immunocompromised hosts. Subsequent symptoms vary and range from superficial thrush to life-threatening systemic infections. The complement system is one of the first defenders of the body against this danger and initiates a fast and efficient antifungal reaction. However, Candida is not an easy prey and counteracts with different complement evasion strategies to undermine this innate immune system. In the present article we summarize the different rounds in the fight between C. albicans and the complement system, and give a short outlook on putative complement-based therapeutic approaches