Haemolytic and proteinase activities in clinical isolates of Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis with reference to the isolation anatomic site

Abstract

The aim of this study was to determine in vitro haemolytic and protease activities of Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis isolates, obtained from anatomically distinct sites. Analysis of haemolytic activity of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates obtained from the same anatomic site revealed that C. tropicalis isolates from blood had statistically higher activity (P < 0.05) than C. parapsilosis. On comparison of haemolytic activities of Candida isolates obtained from different anatomic sites, C. parapsilosis isolates from tracheal secretion were found to have higher activity than blood isolates. Protease activity was detected in the majority of the isolates analysed. Analysis of proteinase activity of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates obtained from the same anatomic site revealed that C. parapsilosis isolates from tracheal secretion had statistically higher activity than C. tropicalis isolates. On comparison of proteinase activities of Candida isolates obtained from different anatomic sites, C. parapsilosis isolates from tracheal secretion were found to have higher activity than blood and superficial lesions isolates. Furthermore, C. tropicalis isolates from superficial lesions had higher activity than tracheal secretion isolates. Our results show the potential of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolates, obtained from distinct anatomic sites, to produce haemolytic factor and proteinases. Anatomic sites of isolation seem to be correlated with these activities, particularly for C. parapsilosis isolates.

Comparison of the hemolytic activity between C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species

“…França et al 28 investigated the hemolytic activity of C. parapsilosis and C. tropicalis isolated from different human anatomical sites. According to their data, enzymatic activity varies widely from species to species and is associated with the site of isolation.…”

Pathogenic Attributes of Non-Candida albicans Candida Species Revealed by SEM

“…Concerning NCAC species, C. parapsilosis distinct switch phenotypes exhibited differential ability to form biofilm on polystyrene surfaces (Laffey and Butler, 2005). For C. tropicalis, França et al (2010) also found a correlation in phenotypic switching and biofilm formation.…”

Ultrastructural Analysis of in Vitro Adherence and Production of Acid Proteases by Clinical Isolates of &lt;i&gt;Candida parapsilosis&lt;/i&gt; Sensu Stricto Following Growth in the Presence of Keratinous Substrates from Human Source

“…According to Monod and Borg-von [25] Saps play a role in fungal adherence and invasion of skin by C. albicans. The occurrence of Saps has been previously demonstrated in C. parapsilosis isolates obtained from distinct clinical samples [10,[26][27][28] and it has being suggested that Saps are associated in superficial, but not with systemic invasion, caused by C. parapsilosis [26]. They observed the induction of Saps from C. parapsilosis cultivated in media containing bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a nitrogen source.…”

“…We previ-ously reported the production of proteinases and haemolytic factor by isolates of C. parapsilosis obtained from distinct clinical sources [10]. More recently, we have demonstrated that C. parapsilosis sensu stricto secretes a hemolytic factor into culture medium [11].…”

“…The identity of isolates was determined by the PCR technique as described by França et al [10] using C. parapsilosis (formerly C. parapsilosis group I) specific primers for URA3 gene (orotidine-5'-phosphate decarboxylase) [16] that allows to distinguish C. parapsilosis sensu stricto from the cryptospecies belonging to the C. parapsilosis complex.…”