Characterization of Virulence Factors in <i>Candida</i> Species Causing Candidemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand

oleh: Natnaree Saiprom, Thanwa Wongsuk, Worrapoj Oonanant, Passanesh Sukphopetch, Narisara Chantratita, Siriphan Boonsilp

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: MDPI AG 2023-03-01

Deskripsi

Candidemia is often associated with high mortality, and <i>Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata,</i> and <i>Candida parapsilosis</i> are common causes of this disease. The pathogenicity characteristics of specific <i>Candida</i> spp. that cause candidemia in Thailand are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the virulence factors of <i>Candida</i> spp. Thirty-eight isolates of different <i>Candida</i> species from blood cultures were evaluated for their virulence properties, including exoenzyme and biofilm production, cell surface hydrophobicity, tissue invasion, epithelial cell damage, morphogenesis, and phagocytosis resistance; the identity and frequency of mutations in <i>ERG11</i> contributing to azole-resistance were also determined. <i>C. albicans</i> had the highest epithelial cell invasion rate and phospholipase activity, with true hyphae formation, whereas <i>C. tropicalis</i> produced the most biofilm, hydrophobicity, protease activity, and host cell damage and true hyphae formation. <i>ERG11</i> mutations Y132F and S154F were observed in all azole-resistant <i>C. tropicalis</i>. <i>C. glabrata</i> had the most hemolytic activity while cell invasion was low with no morphologic transition. <i>C. glabrata</i> was more easily phagocytosed than other species. <i>C. parapsilosis</i> generated pseudohyphae but not hyphae and did not exhibit any trends in exoenzyme production. This knowledge will be crucial for understanding the pathogenicity of <i>Candida</i> spp. and will help to explore antivirulence-based treatment.