Role of EphA2 in host defense against oro-pharyngeal candidiasis.

Oral defense should be able to sense the burden of, and distinguish between fungal commensals and pathogens, so that an adequate inflammatory response can be set up. Recently, Ephrin type-A receptor 2 (EphA2) was identified on oral epithelial cells and neutrophils that recognizes Candida albicans and induces adaptive protective host responses against this organism. The studies have increased our knowledge of how epithelial cells and neutrophils contribute to host defense against oral yeast infection.