How much do we know about hemolytic capability of pathogenic Candida species?

Abstract

Hemolytic factor production by pathogenic Candida species is considered an important attribute in promoting survival within the mammal host through the ability to assimilate iron from the hemoglobin-heme group. Hemolytic capability has been evaluated for Candida species based on hemolysis zones on plate assay, analysis of hemolytic activity in liquid culture medium, and hemolysis from cell-free culture broth. The production of hemolytic factor is variable among Candida species, where C. parapsilosis is the less hemolytic species. In general, no intraspecies differences in beta-hemolytic activities are found among isolates belonging to C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. tropicalis, and C. parapsilosis. The production of hemolytic factor by Candida species is affected by several factors such as glucose supplementation in the culture medium, blood source, presence of erythrocytes and hemoglobin, and presence of electrolytes. On the basis of existing achievements, more researches are still needed in order to extend our knowledge about the biochemical nature of hemolytic molecules produced by distinct Candida species, the mechanism of hemolysis, and the molecular basis of the hemolytic factor expression.

Phenotypes Associated with Pathogenicity: Their Expression in Arctic Fungal Isolates

“…Fungal isolates were cultured on blood agar base (Honeywell Fluka, Charlotte, NC, USA) containing 5% of sterile bovine blood and incubated at both 15 • C and 37 • C for a week. Candida albicans (EXF-14635; ATTC90028) was used as a positive beta-hemolytic control [40,41]. An isolate was considered alpha-hemolytic when a green zone of discoloration was observed in the media, beta-hemolytic when a clear zone was observed denoting complete lysis of the erythrocytes of the blood agar plate, and gamma-hemolytic (not hemolytic) when there was no change noted in the media [42].…”

Attack, Defend and Persist: How the Fungal Pathogen Candida auris was Able to Emerge Globally in Healthcare Environments

“…Other molecules such as the pore-forming toxins hemolysins are needed to achieve host colonization. Secretion of hemolysins is considered to promote survival within the mammalian host by allowing assimilating iron from the hemoglobin-heme group [50]. Many common pathogenic Candida species display hemolysin activity, including C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis [50][51][52][53].…”

“…Secretion of hemolysins is considered to promote survival within the mammalian host by allowing assimilating iron from the hemoglobin-heme group [50]. Many common pathogenic Candida species display hemolysin activity, including C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis [50][51][52][53]. Hemolysin production seems to be higher in strains isolated from hospital infections compared to those from environmental sources, indicating this trait to be an important virulence factor [5].…”

Newly Emerging Candida Specie: Should Clinicians and Mycologist be Concerned?

“…The secretion of hemolysin by C. auris promotes survival in mammalian host, conferring a high capacity for iron acquisition, growth, and invasiveness leading to widespread infection [25,26,27]. Hemolysin activity enables C. auris assimilate iron from the hemoglobin-heme group [28]. C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis also display hemolysin activity [28,29,30,31].…”

“…Hemolysin activity enables C. auris assimilate iron from the hemoglobin-heme group [28]. C. albicans, C. dubliniensis, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis also display hemolysin activity [28,29,30,31]. Hemolysin production can be seen as an important virulence factor because it is higher in strains isolated from hospital infections compared to those from environmental sources [1].…”