AUTHOR=Shing Samuel R. , Ramos Anissa R. , Patras Kathryn A. , Riestra Angelica M. , McCabe Sinead , Nizet Victor , Coady Alison 

TITLE=The Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans Promotes Bladder Colonization of Group B Streptococcus

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 9 - 2019

YEAR=2020

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2019.00437

DOI=10.3389/fcimb.2019.00437

ISSN=2235-2988

ABSTRACT=Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is a common cause of bacterial urinary tract infections (UTI) in susceptible populations, including pregnant women and the elderly; however, the factors that govern GBS persistence and disease severity in this niche are not fully understood. Here, we report that the presence of the fungus Candida albicans, a common urogenital colonizer, can promote GBS UTI. Co-inoculation of GBS with C. albicans increased bacterial adherence to bladder epithelium and promoted GBS colonization in vivo in a C. albicans adhesin-dependent manner. This study demonstrates that fungal colonization of the urogenital tract may be an important determinant of bacterial pathogenesis during UTI.