Abstract
An essential factor to the virulence of the genus Candida is the ability to produce enzymes and this may be crucial in the establishment of fungal infections. AIM:This study investigated in vitro enzymatic activities of Candida species and their virulence in an in vivo Galleria mellonella experimental model. METHODS: Twenty-four clinical strains of Candida spp. isolated from the human oral cavity were evaluated, including the following species: C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. parapsilosis, C. norvegensis, C. lusitaniae and C. guilliermondii. All Candida strains were tested in vitro for production of proteinase and phospholipase. The Candida strains were also injected into Galleria mellonella larvae to induce experimental candidiasis, and after 24 hours, the survival rate was assessed. RESULTS: Phospholipase and proteinase activity were observed in 100% of the C. albicans strains. In the non-albicans species, proteinase and phospholipase activity were observed in 25 and 43% of the studied strains, respectively. The most pathogenic Candida species in G. mellonella were C. albicans, C. dubliniensis and C. lusitaniae, whereas C. glabrata was the least virulent species. Furthermore, a positive significant correlation was found between both enzymatic activities with virulence in G. mellonella. CONCLUSIONS: The virulence of Candida strains in G. mellonella is related to the quantity of proteinases and phospholipases production of each strain.
Highlights
IntroductionCorrespondence to: Rodnei Dennis Rossoni Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP Avenida Eng. Francisco José Longo 777
Received for publication: June 12, 2013 Accepted: September 13, 2013Correspondence to: Rodnei Dennis Rossoni Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP Avenida Eng
Candida species have many virulence factors, which in the presence of local and systemic host failures may result in their transition from commensal to pathogenic organisms
Summary
Correspondence to: Rodnei Dennis Rossoni Department of Biosciences and Oral Diagnosis Universidade Estadual Paulista – UNESP Avenida Eng. Francisco José Longo 777. As the most common yeasts in humans, Candida spp. are responsible for most fungal diseases. Understanding the mechanisms by which these microorganisms colonize and cause disease in humans is a great challenge for planning and establishing treatments[1]. Candida species have many virulence factors, which in the presence of local and systemic host failures may result in their transition from commensal to pathogenic organisms. The virulence factors vary between different Candida species. C. albicans is the most virulent species, and it has virulence factors that allow it to adhere to oral tissues, invade tissue, escape host defenses, form germ tubes and hyphae, and produce histolytic enzymes such as proteinases and phospholipases[2,3]
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