Advanced Biomedical Research
Phospholipase activity of Candida species isolated from diabetic patients
Authors
1 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
2 Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences; Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
Abstract
Background: Candidiasis is one of the prevalent fungal infections caused by the genus Candida. The clinical manifestation ranges from mucocutaneous colonization to disseminated and fatal infections such as candidemia. Diabetes mellitus is one of the significant predisposing factors for this fungal infection. Candida spp. may release many exoenzymes such as phospholipase to debilitate the immune system and facilitate adherence and invasion of the fungus to the host cells. The aim of the present study is evaluation of phospholipase activity of Candida species isolated from candidemia and gastroesophageal candidiasis (GEC) among diabetic patients.
Materials and Methods: Eighty-three Candida isolates were evaluated for enzyme activity by phenotypic (the precipitation zone around the colonies) and molecular methods (detection of phospholipase genes using duplex polymerase chain reaction with specific primers).
Results: Eight out of eighty-three clinical isolates (9.6%) were negative for phospholipase production. All phospholipase producers among candidemia and GEC isolates were categorized in high production group.
Conclusions: Our findings revealed no differences in phospholipase activity among isolates obtained from different body sites (blood, oesophagus and stomach); however, non-albicans Candida species had less phospholipase activity.
Keywords
| 1. |
Bhattacharya S, Sae-Tia S, Fries BC. Candidiasis and mechanisms of antifungal resistance. Antibiotics (Basel) 2020;9:312.  |
| 2. |
Bassyouni RH, Wegdan AA, Abdelmoneim A, Said W, AboElnaga F. Phospholipase and aspartyl proteinase activities of Candida species causing vulvovaginal candidiasis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2015;25:1734-41. |
| 3. |
Kadir T, Gümrü B, Uygun-Can B. Phospholipase activity of Candida albicans isolates from patients with denture stomatitis: The influence of chlorhexidine gluconate on phospholipase production. Arch Oral Biol 2007;52:691-6. |
| 4. |
Price MF, Wilkinson ID, Gentry LO. Plate method for detection of phospholipase activity in Candida albicans. Sabouraudia 1982;20:7-14. |
| 5. |
Shirkhani S, Sepahvand A, Mirzaee M, Anbari K. Phospholipase and proteinase activities of Candida spp. isolates from vulvovaginitis in Iran. J Mycol Med 2016;26:255-60. |
| 6. |
Naglik JR, Rodgers CA, Shirlaw PJ, Dobbie JL, Fernandes-Naglik LL, Greenspan D, et al. Differential expression of Candida albicans secreted aspartyl proteinase and phospholipase B genes in humans correlates with active oral and vaginal infections. J Infect Dis 2003;188:469-79. |
| 7. |
Deorukhkar SC, Saini S, Mathew S. Virulence factors contributing to pathogenicity of candida tropicalis and its antifungal susceptibility profile. Int J Microbiol 2014;2014:456878. |
| 8. |
Pakshir K, Zomorodian K, Karamitalab M, Jafari M, Taraz H, Ebrahimi H. Phospholipase, esterase and hemolytic activities of Candida spp. isolated from onychomycosis and oral lichen planus lesions. J Mycol Med 2013;23:113-8. |
| 9. |
Kantarcioglu AS, Yücel A. Phospholipase and protease activities in clinical Candida isolates with reference to the sources of strains. Mycoses 2002;45:160-5. |
)