Candida glabrata Has No Enhancing Role in the Pathogenesis of Candida -Associated Denture Stomatitis in a Rat Model

Many denture wearers suffer from Candida -associated denture stomatitis (DS), a fungal infection of the hard palate in contact with dentures. Biofilm formation by Candida albicans on denture/palate surfaces is considered a central process in the infection onset. Although Candida glabrata is frequently coisolated with C. albicans , its role in DS pathogenesis is unknown. We show here, using a contemporary rat model that employed a patented intraoral denture system, that C. glabrata established stable colonization on the denture/palate. However, in contrast to C. albicans inoculated rats, rats inoculated with C. glabrata exhibited minimal changes in weight gain or palatal tissue damage. Likewise, coinoculation with the two Candida species resulted in no exacerbation of C. albicans -induced DS pathology. Together, our findings indicate that C. glabrata has no inducing/enhancing role in DS pathogenesis.