This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Animals from existing studies (that were otherwise going to be euthanized) were recycled to test whether we could establish a Candida albicans colonization model in order to pursue future studies on dissecting changes to oral immune function during immunodeficiency virus infection. We hypothesized that Candida would colonize animals with more advanced disease due to impaired immune function. Candida yeast colonization was observed in two animals with high viral loads and lowering CD4 counts, but was not apparent in several healthy animals (uninfected or low-level infected animals). Interestingly, different several cytokines and chemokines were increased in oral swabs after challenge in the different groups and these are currently being analyzed further. Candida challenge had little/if any impact on plasma viral loads. As additional (infected and uninfected) animals became available, we explored this further and found that very few additional animals could be significantly colonized with Candida yeasts. This indicates that the immune system is able to control oral Candida yeast infection. Using additional 'recycled' animals, we plan to determine if Candida germ tubes (the more pathogenic form of Candida) will better colonize the animals following oral application. This will provide the basis for the newly awarded R01 that will explore the integrity of oral immune function during SIV infection and how this is impacted by long term ART.
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