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Figure 2. Comparison of tissue-damaging and invasive potential of oral C. glabrata and oral C. albicans in an in vitro 3-D model of the oral mucosa. (A) Infection with oral C. glabrata strain GDH2269 caused minimal loss of the normal mucosal architecture, with only a mild edema in the uppermost keratinocyte layers 48 hrs post-infection. C. glabrata formed a thin biofilm and invaded only the superficial epithelial layers. (B) Oral C. albicans strain ATCC28366 formed a thicker soft-tissue biofilm and invaded both the mucosal and submucosal layers. Extensive cellular necrosis and loss of cellular junctions in the stratum basale were evident 48 hrs post-infection. Bars = 60 µm.
