Abstract
The yeast Candida is a normal flora of the skin and the mucous membrane and it then becomes pathogen in immunocompromised people. Various virulence factors are contributing to establishment of the infection in the host. Adherence of the pathogen to host tissues, yeast-hyphal transition and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes secretion are important virulence factors of Candida species. These hydrolytic enzymes play important roles in pathogenicity of Candida infection. The present study was conducted with an aim to determine in vitro phospholipase, proteinase, haemolysin, esterase activities and biofilm formation in oral Candida isolates. A total of 38 Candida species were isolated from oral cavity of patients with symptoms of oral candidiasis. The specimens were identified by standard mycological techniques up to species level and were investigated for production of hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation. Phospholipase activity was in 52.6% of isolates, 86.8% produced proteinase and haemolysin activity was seen in 63.1%, esterase activity was demonstrated in 50% of isolates, 78.9% of Candida isolates showed biofilm formation. Candida albicans showed more extracellular hydrolytic enzyme activity, whereas, Candida tropicalis showed more biofilm formation. Both the C. albicans and Non-albicans Candida (NAC) species are capable of producing extracellular hydrolytic enzymes and biofilm formation. Key words: Candida species, virulence factors, extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, biofilm formation.
Highlights
The dimorphic fungus Candida sp. can respond rapidly to environmental changes, and this flexibility could allow this organism to take advantage of impaired immunity and facilitate establishment of disease
Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) (Oxoid) containing 7% sheep blood and 3% glucose with a final pH adjusted to 5.6 ± 0.2 was employed
As reported by Gultekin et al (2011), no biofilm formation was detected in any C. albicans strains by microplate method, while it was found in 50% of nonalbicans Candida sp
Summary
The dimorphic fungus Candida sp. can respond rapidly to environmental changes, and this flexibility could allow this organism to take advantage of impaired immunity and facilitate establishment of disease. The enzymes are secreted in vitro when the organism is cultured in the presence of exogenous protein (usually bovine serum albumin) as the nitrogen source Phospholipase enzymes, another important virulence factor, are associated with the function related to host cell damage, adherence and penetration (Kabir et al, 2012). There are four secreted phosphorlipase, A to D (PLA, PLB, PLC and PLD) Their activity is very high during tissue damage because these enzymes carry out hydrolysis of one or more ester linkages of glycerophospholipids on the host cell membrane. C. albicans produces a hemolysis factor that induces lysis of the erythrocyte This factor most likely corresponds to a mannoprotein bound to the cell surface of the fungus (Almeida et al., 2009; Watanabe et al, 1999). The present study was conducted with an aim to determine in vitro phospholipase, proteinase, haemolysin, esterase activities and biofilm formation in oral Candida isolates
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