The impact of Candida albicans in oral biomaterial-associated infections and modulation of biofilm formation

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Sebastian Hahnel; Dr. Nadine Kommerein
• Subject Area: Dentistry, Oral Surgery
• Term: since 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 470769735

This project aims to investigate the interactions between surface properties of dental prosthesis materials and Candida albicans. C. albicans is a fungal species that can lead to highly prevalent and inflammatory changes in the mucous membranes under removable dental prostheses (denture stomatopathia). On the basis of in vitro experiments, the influence of surface properties and material-specific ageing processes of defined materials – first of model materials with standardised surface properties and subsequently of various denture base resins – on the adhesion, proliferation, biofilm formation, and virulence of C. albicans will be analyzed. In this context, the effect of C. albicans on the surface properties of the materials will be determined. Moreover, it will be investigated whether and to what extent the biofilms lead to degeneration or relevant ageing phenomena of the material surfaces. With the help of the data obtained in the present project, it will be determined to what extent the expression of virulence factors of C. albicans can be specifically controlled by material surface properties.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants