Relationship Between Antifungal Resistance and Enzymatic Activities of Yeasts Causing Oral and Vaginal Mycosis

Abstract

This study was designed to highlight the relationship between resistance of yeast strains, isolated from oral and vaginal infections, to polyene and azole compounds and their abilities to produce protease and lipase enzymes. A total of 194 patients admitted to Assiut University Hospitals, Egypt from January 2015 to December 2017 were clinically diagnosed with candidiasis. Most patients (129 cases) were immunocompromised (ICPs) receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy or corticosteroids, whereas 65 of patients were non-ICPs. Yeast colonies were purified and identified using traditional methods including germ tube test, chlamydospore formation, and plating on CHROMagar Candida. Identification of some isolates was confirmed using API 20C AUX strips and rDNA sequencing. Also, the yeast strains were tested for their sensitivity to antifungal agents as well as for their abilities to produce proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes. A total of 146 yeast strains were recovered from patients and classified into 10 species belonging to 7 genera. Candida albicans was the most common species being represented by 87 (59.6%) strains. C. albicans showed higher statistically significant proteolytic and lipolytic activity than other yeast strains. There was a highly significant statistical correlation between enzymatic production and resistance of yeasts to azole antifungal agents. Proteolytic activity was detected in 58.7 -79.8% of azole-resistant yeasts compared with 20.2 -41.3% of sensitive ones. Similarly, 56.8 -76.0% of lipolytic yeasts exhibited resistance to azole drugs compared to 24.0 -43.2% of azole sensitive yeasts. In case of polyene antifungal compounds (nystatin and amphotericin-B), almost all yeast strains were sensitive and could produce both protease and lipase enzymes.

Mycobiota associated with teeth and oral cavity and their relevant to dental and periodontal diseases

“…These fungi were also recorded previously as protease producers. Hydrolysis of protein was observed by Candida albicans [73], C. tropicalis [74], C. glabrata [75][76][77]. 7).…”