Phenotypic and genotypic variations in Candida albicans isolates from Romanian patients

Abstract

Background: During the last two decades a major increase in the proportion of severe fungal infections has been noted due to the excessive use of broad-spectrum antibiotics, catheters, and a growing number of immunocompromised patients. Objectives: This is the first investigation providing complete data regarding the phenotypic and genotypic profiles of Candida albicans (C. albicans) isolates in Romanian patients. Methods: We investigated 301 isolates in terms of genotype determination (G), resistogram (R), phospholipase activity (Pl), haemolysis (Hl), proteinase activity (Pt), and biofilm formation (BF). Results: The analyzed isolates of C. albicans showed low values for Pt (61.73%), Hl (95.49%), and BF (60.71%), and did not present any Pl activity (92.23%). More than half of the investigated samples were genotype A with 450 bp (52.92%) and the majority (86.19%) were resistant to sodium selenite (A), boric acid (B), sodium periodate (D) and silver nitrate (E), but sensitive to cetrimide (-). One-way ANOVA analysis revealed significant effects of the infection site on biofilm formation (p = 0.0137) and no significant correlation was found between the genotype (A, B, C) and the infection site (p =0.449). Conclusions: Based on the obtained results it can be concluded that C. albicans isolates in Romanian patients exhibit different genotypic and phenotypic patterns, and no significant correlations between genotype and infection site could be observed.

Genotyping, antifungal susceptibility, enzymatic activity, and phenotypic variation in Candida albicans from esophageal candidiasis

“…albicans isolates. In a study with diverse clinical samples, Rosca et al 27 found no significant correlation between genotype (A at 52.92%, B at 17.85%, C at 29.20%) and the infection site. It thus appears that genotype A is the most frequent genotype in clinical specimens.…”

“…albicans is divided into several genotypes based on the electrophoresis banding pattern, for example, A, B, C, D, and E. 24 , 25 In oral, vulvovaginal, and nail samples, the A genotype was the predominant type in previous studies. 26 , 27 , 28 …”

Candida albicans Genotyping and Relationship of Virulence Factors with Fluconazole Tolerance in Infected Pediatric Patients

“…The current study revealed that genotype A had the highest prevalence among the isolated C. albicans (52.3%), followed by genotype B (31.8%) and the least was genotype C (15.9%). Several studies have reported similar results like Takakura et al 22 and Da Matta et al 23 However, Sardi et al 24 found the most prevalent genotype was B and did not report any isolates of genotype C. The second prevalent genotype after A was C in study conducted by Rosca et al 25 …”

Fungi in human pathology - are we ready to handle them?

“…For example, further correlations between genotypes and pathogenicity factors are bringing more evidence on the interrelation between host and microorganism. An epidemiological study published on this issue follows these factors that contribute to the pathogenic potential of C. albicans (6), and it was found that the levels of enzymatic activity of C. albicans is a strain-dependent variable, and that not all strains were capable to produce biofilm. Such details are important to be considered when dealing with Candida infections, remembering that even if the identified species is the same from different patients/samples, they can also be totally different in terms of pathogenicity and chemo-resistance.…”