Aspartyl Proteinase and Phospholipase Activities of Candida albicans Isolated From Oropharyngeal Candidiasis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients

Abstract

Background: Candida albicans is one of the most important members of the human normal flora that can cause opportunistic fungal infections. Hydrolytic enzymes are one of the main virulence factors in the pathogenesis of Candida species. Objectives: This study was carried out to determine proteolytic activities, and their related gene expressions in C. albicans isolates obtained from oropharyngeal candidiasis in head and neck cancer patients. Methods: Thirty-two C. albicans clinical isolates were included in this study. Secreted aspartyl protease and phospholipase activities were analyzed by appropriate agar media and precipitation zones. The expression levels of SAP1, 3 and PLB1, 2 genes were evaluated by real-time PCR. Results: All the 32 isolates exhibited proteinase activity while 28 of them showed phospholipase activity. All the strains possessed all SAPs genes; however, PLBs genes were not expressed in four isolates. Conclusions: Our findings demonstrated that the clinical strains of C. albicans had strong proteolytic activity and high expression levels of the pertaining genes.

Prevalence of Oropharyngeal Candidiasis and distribution of Candida species among People Living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Africa: a systematic review and meta-analysis

“…Exposure to these agents may exert positive selection pressure on NAC species, which are considered intrinsically resistant to antifungal agents, thus increasing their prevalence ( 11 , 50 ). In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that C. albicans and C. glabrata have a synergistic relationship in which C. albicans facilitates the initial development of OPC infection by C. glabrata ( 6 , 51 ).…”

Green synthesis of novel antifungal 1,2,4‐triazoles effective against γ‐irradiated Candida parapsilosis

“…Prz = 1 (no activity, −), Prz = 0.64 to 1 (moderate activity, +), and Prz < 0.64 (high activity, ++). [43] similarity, with only minor deviations in the ligand-binding group. [36] Therefore, a docking study was performed with the X-ray crystal structure of lanosterol 14α-demethylase from C. albicans in complex with itraconazole (PDB ID: 5V5Z).…”

Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC

“…The phospholipase production of Candida isolates was evaluated by using the egg yolk agar plate method ( 23 , 24 ). The test medium consisted of SDA, 57.3 g NaCl, 0.55 g CaCl 2 and 8% sterile egg yolk emulsion were added in.…”

“…The plates were incubated at 37°C and the diameter of the colonies and the colonies plus precipitation zone (Pz) were evaluated after 3–8 days. The PL activity was calculated ( 23 ). The average of Pz was measured for each isolates.…”