Metabolic profiling of Candida clinical isolates of different species and infection sources

Josidel Conceição Oliver,Carola Parolin,Beatrice Vitali,Monica Cricca,Claudio Foschi,Luca Laghi,Amanda Latercia Tranches Dias,Andrea Liberatore,Antonella Marangoni

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-73889-1

Josidel Conceição Oliver, Carola Parolin + Show 7 more

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https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-73889-1

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Abstract

Candida species are the most common cause of opportunistic fungal infections. Rapid identification and novel approaches for the characterization of these fungi are of great interest to improve the diagnosis and the knowledge about their pathogenic properties. This study aimed to characterize clinical isolates of Candida spp. by proteomics (MALDI-TOF MS) and metabolomics (1H-NMR), and to correlate their metabolic profiles with Candida species, source of infection and different virulence associated parameters. In particular, 49 Candida strains from different sources (blood, n = 15; vagina, n = 18; respiratory tract, n = 16), belonging mainly to C. albicans complex (61%), C. glabrata (20%) and C. parapsilosis (12%) species were used. Several extracellular and intracellular metabolites showed significantly different concentrations among isolates recovered from different sources of infection, as well as among different Candida species. These metabolites were mainly related to the glycolysis or gluconeogenesis, tricarboxylic acid cycle, nucleic acid synthesis and amino acid and lipid metabolism. Moreover, we found specific metabolic fingerprints associated with the ability to form biofilm, the antifungal resistance (i.e. caspofungin and fluconazole) and the production of secreted aspartyl proteinase. In conclusion, 1H-NMR-based metabolomics can be useful to deepen Candida spp. virulence and pathogenicity properties.

Highlights

Candida species are the most common cause of opportunistic fungal infections
At the distance of 1000 arbitrary units C. dubliniensis 91 appeared as separated from all the other C. albicans strains, while at the distance of 760 arbitrary units it is possible to recognize two sub-groups comprising 4 and 25 C. albicans strains, respectively
Methods for the rapid identification of microorganisms have been developed, which have enabled the detection of new species and characterization of their components and/or metabolites

Summary

Introduction

Candida species are the most common cause of opportunistic fungal infections. Rapid identification and novel approaches for the characterization of these fungi are of great interest to improve the diagnosis and the knowledge about their pathogenic properties. This study aimed to characterize clinical isolates of Candida spp. by proteomics (MALDI-TOF MS) and metabolomics (1H-NMR), and to correlate their metabolic profiles with Candida species, source of infection and different virulence associated parameters. Metabolic profiles have the potential to be used as antifungal resistance markers[20] These methods are widely used in the search for factors associated with virulence of microorganisms, besides, they can help in the differential diagnosis of clinical isolates of Candida spp. for appropriate treatments. The present study aims to characterize clinical isolates of Candida spp. by proteomic and metabolomic methodologies, and to correlate Their metabolic profiles with Candida species, infection source and important virulence factors, such as the ability to form biofilm, antifungal resistance and production of secreted aspartyl proteinase (SAP)

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