Comparative evaluation of enzyme and biocidal activity of <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida albicans</i>

Abstract

Introduction. Secreted metabolites with enzymatic or toxic properties are important for effecting of Candida spp pathogenicity. The most clinically significant species is C. albicans. However, invasive infections associated with C. auris have a great significance.
 The aim of the investigation is comparison the some of enzymatic properties and biocidal activity of C. auris with those of C. albicans.
 Materials and methods. C. albicans and C. auris strains were used in the study. Growth of micromycetes was detected on nutrient agar, Sabouraud agar or blood agar (with hemolysis presence). The Candida spp. proteinase activity was determined on Difco agar with 2% casein and by cleavage of IgG molecules. Candida lipase activity was assessed on the agar with Tween-20. The viability of buccal epithelial cells after exposure (1 4 h) with candida metabolites was estimated by trypan blue assay. Statistical analysis was performed using RStudio software.
 Results. The best growth of C. albicans was observed on Sabouraud agar, and C. auris on blood agar. Only C. auris had hemolytic and lipase activity. Protease activity of some C. auris strains was noted. They were able to cleave casein and damage IgG molecules. The metabolites of some Candida strains decreased the viability of epithelial cells while the reduction was more pronounced in the experiments with C. auris (р 0.05).
 Conclusion. The most suitable medium for C. auris culturing was blood agar. Proteolytic, antiglobulin, hemolytic and lipase activities were observed only for C. auris. C. auris demonstrated more invasive capacity compared to C. albicans. The observed micromycete biocidal activity against buccal epithelial cells was strain-dependent.