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Salivary Zinc modifies Histatin 5 activity towards C. albicans survivor cells and commensalism

Award Number: R01DE034141
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2024
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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Salivary Zinc modifies Histatin 5 activity towards C. albicans survivor cells and commensalism - Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungus and the causative agent of oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC) that develops in a wide spectrum of immunocompromised people. However, in healthy populations, C. albicans is a commensal organism that is part of the oral microbiome. Salivary Histatin 5 (Hst 5) is a highly abundant salivary protein that is well characterized for its fungicidal activity. Hst 5 contains six histidine residues that comprise two zinc-binding motifs. Zinc (Zn) is the most abundant salivary metal, and Zn binding with Hst 5 causes oligomerization of Hst 5 that alters it fungicidal activity. We found that treated C. albicans cells exposed to low doses of Hst 5/Zn2+ recover as phenotypically different “survivor cells” that have altered cell wall composition, increased adhesion and reduced invasion of oral epithelial cells (OECs) along with dampened OEC inflammatory responses. Our hypothesis is that the major role of salivary Hst 5 when bound with zinc in vivo is to promote commensalism of oral C. albicans thus maintaining this organism as member of the healthy oral microbiome. We will test our hypothesis with following Specific Aims: 1. Determine whether cell wall changes in Hst5-Zn induced survivor cells modify susceptibility to cell wall targeting antifungal drugs or alter binding with their microbial mucosal binding partners. Aim 2. Determine how survivor cells modulate OECs inflammatory responses and alter Candida colonization along with mucosal binding partners in vitro. Aim 3. Test commensalism of survivor cells in vivo using a murine model of oral candidiasis by altering ambient oral zinc levels. Our goal is to fully understand the how salivary Hst 5-Zn complexes might promote commensalism and maintain a healthy homeostasis with mucosal oral binding partners, so that future clinical studies might be directed to therapeutic oral rinses that alter zinc levels to improve the function of Hst 5.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $402,500 )
2026	2026	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	3	6/12/2026	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$402,500
														Subtotal = $402,500

Issue Date FY: 2025 ( Subtotal = $402,500 )
2025	2025	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	001	2	5/9/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$40,250
2025	2025	THE RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	2	4/18/2025	NON-COMPETING CONTINUATION	$362,250
														Subtotal = $402,500

Issue Date FY: 2024 ( Subtotal = $398,840 )
2024	2024	RESEARCH FOUNDATION FOR THE STATE UNIVERSITY OF NEW YORK, THE	520 LEE ENTRANCE STE 211	AMHERST	NY	14228	ERIE	USA	Oral Diseases and Disorders Research	000	1	6/20/2024	NEW	$398,840
														Subtotal = $398,840

Grand Total All Awards = $1,203,840

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Salivary Zinc modifies Histatin 5 activity towards C. albicans survivor cells and commensalism

Award Number: R01DE034141

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DENTAL AND CRANIOFACIAL RESEARCH

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 07/01/2024

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2029

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