COMPARISON OF PRIMERS FOR RAPD-PCR FROM ENVIRONMENTAL ISOLATES OF CRYPTOCOCCUS NEOFORMANS, CRYPTOCOCCUS ALBIDUS AND CRYPTOCOCCUS LAURENTII COMPLEX

Various organisms have been characterized by molecular methods, including fungi of the genus Cryptococcus. The purposes of this study were: to determine the discriminatory potential of the RAPD (Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA) primers, the pattern of similarity of the Cryptococcus species, and discuss their useful application in epidemiological studies. We analyzed 10 isolates of each specie/group: C. albidus, C. laurentii complex, C. neoformans var. grubii, all from environmental source, and two ATCC strains, C. neoformans var. grubii ATCC 90112, and C. neoformans var. neoformans ATCC 28957 by RAPD-PCR using the primers CAV1, CAV2, ZAP19, ZAP20, OPB11 and SEQ6. The primers showed a good discriminatory power, revealing important differences between them and between species; the SEQ6 primer discriminated a larger number of isolates of three species. Isolates of C. laurentii showed greater genetic diversity than other species revealed by all six primers. Isolates of C. neoformans were more homogeneous. Only the primer CAV2 showed no amplification of DNA bands for C. albidus. It was concluded that the use of limited number of carefully selected primers allowed the discrimination of different isolates, and some primers (e. g., CAV2 for C. albidus) may not to be applied to some species.Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq), BrazilCNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico), Brazi

Isolation, quantification, enzymatic activity and antifungal susceptibility of yeasts from whole saliva of non-compromised patients with clinical signs of candidiasis

A candidíase é a mais freqüente infecção fúngica oportunista, causada por leveduras do gênero Candida, de ocorrência comum na cavidade bucal. O aumento da incidência está relacionado, em grande parte, ao surgimento das terapias e patologias imunossupressoras, embora ela possa ocorrer em indivíduos considerados saudáveis. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a microbiota leveduriforme de pacientes com lesão bucal suspeita de candidíase e compará-la com a de indivíduos saudáveis através da quantificação, produção de enzimas fosfolipase, proteinase e determinação da CIM dos antifúngicos: anfotericina B, itraconazol e fluconazol pelo método de microdiluição em caldo. As leveduras foram isoladas a partir de amostras de saliva não estimulada no meio CHROMagar® Candida, que permitiu a observação de colonização mista e uma identificação presuntiva. Posteriormente os isolados foram identificados pela metodologia clássica, através das provas: formação de tubo germinativo em soro humano, estudo da micromorfologia, crescimento a 37°C e 42°C, provas de assimilação e fermentação de carboidratos. Das 100 amostras de saliva dos pacientes com lesão, 70 apresentaram crescimento de leveduras e foram identificadas 63 C. albicans e 16 C. tropicalis. Entre as 50 amostras de salivas do grupo controle, 16 apresentaram crescimento e foram identificadas 14 C. albicans e 3 C. tropicalis. Quanto à capacidade de síntese das exoenzimas observou-se que 100% das C. albicans de ambos os grupos avaliados produziram as enzimas fosfolipase e proteinase em diferentes níveis de atividade. Os isolados de C. tropicalis não apresentaram produção da fosfolipase, com relação à proteinase 43,8% dos isolados de pacientes com lesão bucal foram positivos. Em relação aos testes de sensibilidade, a faixa da CIM para anfotericina B foi de 0,125 ? 4µg/mL para os isolados de C. albicans e de 2 ? 4 µg/mL para os de C. tropicalis, com o itraconazol o intervalo da CIM foi de 0,03 ? 16µg/mL para as duas espécies e para o fluconazol a faixa da CIM foi de 0,125 - ?64µg/mL para os isolados de C. albicans e de 0,25 - ?64µg/mL para os de C. tropicalis. Com base nos resultados obtidos conclui-se que: a análise de saliva é sensível para detecção de leveduras tanto em pacientes com sinais clínicos de candidíase quanto em indivíduos saudáveis portadores da levedura; C. albicans foi à espécie mais isolada em ambos os grupos; todas os isolados de C. albicans foram produtores das enzimas fosfolipase e proteinase; nenhum isolado de C. tropicalis apresentou atividade da enzima fosfolipase. A maioria dos isolados de C. albicans e C. tropicalis foram sensíveis in vitro aos antifúngicos testadosCandidiasis is the most frequent oportunistic fungal infection. It is caused by Candida yeasts, commonly seen in the oral cavity. Newer therapies and immunosupressive pathologies are related to the increase of oral candidiasis incidence, although it may occur in healthy subjects. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate yeasts frequency in the oral cavity from patients with clinical signs of oral candidiasis and compare it with frequency observed in healthy subjects through quantification, phospholipase and proteinase activity tests and antifungal susceptibility (amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole) by broth microdilution test. The yeasts were isolated from unstimulated whole saliva samples in CHROMagar® Candida medium, which allowed association between two or more species observation and presumptive identification. Latter, strains identification were confirmed by classical methodology. Of 100 candidiasis patients samples, yeast growth was observed in 70 samples and 63 C. albicans and 16 C. tropicalis strains were identified. Of 50 healthy subjects samples, yeast growth was observed in 16 samples and 14 C. albicans e 3 C. tropicalis strains were identified. Differential activity of phospholipase and proteinase enzymes was detected in 100% C. albicans strains in both groups. Phospholipase activity was not detected in C. tropicalis strains, and proteinase activity was detected in 43,8% strains from oral candidiasis group. Susceptibility tests showed amphotericin B MIC range from 0,125 ? 4 µg/mL for C. albicans strains and 2 ? 4 µg/mL for C. tropicalis strains; itraconazole MIC range from 0,03 ? 16 µg/mL for both species; fluconazole MIC range from 0,125 - ? 64 µg/mL for C. albicans strains and 0,25 - ? 64 µg/mL for C. tropicalis strains. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that saliva analysis is sensitive to detect yeasts from patients with clinical signs of oral candidiasis and from yeasts carriers; C. albicans was prevalent in both groups; all C. albicans strains showed phospholipase and proteinase activity; None C. tropicalis strains showed phospholipase activity. The majority of C. albicans and C. tropicalis strains were inhibited in vitro by antifungals evaluate

Phenotypic and molecular aspects of adhesion and enzymatic activity of Candida sp recovered from patients with clinical signs of oral candidiasis

O amplo espectro da candidíase e respectiva importância clínica da infecção impulsionam as pesquisas que visam esclarecer os mecanismos de patogenicidade e identificação dos fatores de virulência de Candida sp. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar através de testes fenotípicos e moleculares a capacidade de adesão, atividade de proteases e variabilidade genética de isolados clínicos de C. albicans e C. tropicalis. A capacidade de adesão às glicoproteínas de matriz extracelular laminina e fibronectina foi avaliada utilizando-se a técnica de ELISA (Enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay). A pesquisa de proteases foi realizada pelos métodos semiquantitativo, em placa de ágar com albumina bovina, e quantitativo, em solução-tampão com hemoglobina. A presença dos genes ALS2, ALS3, SAP1, SAP3 e PLB1 foi verificada pela Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) e os polimorfismos intra e interespécies pela técnica do DNA Polimórfico Amplificado ao Acaso (RAPD). Todos os isolados de C. albicans e C. tropicalis apresentaram ligação a laminina e a fibronectina imobilizadas. Os isolados Ca33 e Ct13 apresentaram índice de adesão relativa significativamente maiores em relação aos demais isolados para as duas glicoproteínas (p < 0,001). A atividade de proteases foi observada em todos os isolados de C. albicans tanto pelo método semiquantitativo quanto pelo método quantitativo. A atividade de proteases dos isolados de C. tropicalis foi melhor evidenciada através do método quantitativo. A amplificação de fragmentos dos genes relacionados à adesão (ALS2 e ALS3), atividade de proteases (SAP1 e SAP3) e fosfolipase (PLB1) foi observada em todos os isolados de C. albicans. Os isolados de C. tropicalis não apresentaram produtos de amplificação para os genes pesquisados. A variabilidade genética avaliada pela técnica do RAPD revelou uma população heterogênea em ambas as espécies. No entanto, C. tropicalis apresentou maior diversidade genética que C. albicans.The wide spectrum of candidiasis and its clinical importance encourage the research with the purpose of clarifying the mecanisms of pathogenicity and identification of virulence factors of Candida sp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify through phenotypic and molecular assays the adhesion, enzymatic activity e genetic variability of clinical C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates. The adhesion ability to the extracellular matrix glycoproteins laminin and fibronectin was evaluated using the ELISA technique (Enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay). The research of proteases was carried out in agar plate containing bovine albumin and through a quantitative method in buffer solution containing hemoglobin. The presence of ALS2, ALS3, SAP1, SAP3 and PLB1 was verified using polimerase chain reaction (PCR) and intra and interespecies polimorphisms through Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. All C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates binded to immobilized laminin and fibronectin. Ca33 and Ct13 isolates had relative adhesion index significantly higher than the other isolates for both glycoproteins (p < 0,001). Protease activity was observed in all isolates of C. albicans using either the semi-quantitative or quantitative assay. The protease activity of C. tropicalis was better detected through the quantitative assay. The amplification of genes related to adhesion (ALS2 and ALS3), proteases (SAP1 and SAP3) and phospholipase (PLB1) activity using PCR was observed in all C. albicans strains. PCR amplification products were not observed in C. tropicalis isolates for the researched genes. The genetic variability by RAPD revealed an heterogeneous population in both species. Nevertheless, C. tropicalis presented higher genetic variability than C. albicans strains

Isolation, quantification, enzymatic activity and antifungal susceptibility of yeasts from whole saliva of non-compromised patients with clinical signs of candidiasis

A candidíase é a mais freqüente infecção fúngica oportunista, causada por leveduras do gênero Candida, de ocorrência comum na cavidade bucal. O aumento da incidência está relacionado, em grande parte, ao surgimento das terapias e patologias imunossupressoras, embora ela possa ocorrer em indivíduos considerados saudáveis. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a microbiota leveduriforme de pacientes com lesão bucal suspeita de candidíase e compará-la com a de indivíduos saudáveis através da quantificação, produção de enzimas fosfolipase, proteinase e determinação da CIM dos antifúngicos: anfotericina B, itraconazol e fluconazol pelo método de microdiluição em caldo. As leveduras foram isoladas a partir de amostras de saliva não estimulada no meio CHROMagar® Candida, que permitiu a observação de colonização mista e uma identificação presuntiva. Posteriormente os isolados foram identificados pela metodologia clássica, através das provas: formação de tubo germinativo em soro humano, estudo da micromorfologia, crescimento a 37°C e 42°C, provas de assimilação e fermentação de carboidratos. Das 100 amostras de saliva dos pacientes com lesão, 70 apresentaram crescimento de leveduras e foram identificadas 63 C. albicans e 16 C. tropicalis. Entre as 50 amostras de salivas do grupo controle, 16 apresentaram crescimento e foram identificadas 14 C. albicans e 3 C. tropicalis. Quanto à capacidade de síntese das exoenzimas observou-se que 100% das C. albicans de ambos os grupos avaliados produziram as enzimas fosfolipase e proteinase em diferentes níveis de atividade. Os isolados de C. tropicalis não apresentaram produção da fosfolipase, com relação à proteinase 43,8% dos isolados de pacientes com lesão bucal foram positivos. Em relação aos testes de sensibilidade, a faixa da CIM para anfotericina B foi de 0,125 ? 4µg/mL para os isolados de C. albicans e de 2 ? 4 µg/mL para os de C. tropicalis, com o itraconazol o intervalo da CIM foi de 0,03 ? 16µg/mL para as duas espécies e para o fluconazol a faixa da CIM foi de 0,125 - ?64µg/mL para os isolados de C. albicans e de 0,25 - ?64µg/mL para os de C. tropicalis. Com base nos resultados obtidos conclui-se que: a análise de saliva é sensível para detecção de leveduras tanto em pacientes com sinais clínicos de candidíase quanto em indivíduos saudáveis portadores da levedura; C. albicans foi à espécie mais isolada em ambos os grupos; todas os isolados de C. albicans foram produtores das enzimas fosfolipase e proteinase; nenhum isolado de C. tropicalis apresentou atividade da enzima fosfolipase. A maioria dos isolados de C. albicans e C. tropicalis foram sensíveis in vitro aos antifúngicos testadosCandidiasis is the most frequent oportunistic fungal infection. It is caused by Candida yeasts, commonly seen in the oral cavity. Newer therapies and immunosupressive pathologies are related to the increase of oral candidiasis incidence, although it may occur in healthy subjects. Therefore, the aim of this work was to evaluate yeasts frequency in the oral cavity from patients with clinical signs of oral candidiasis and compare it with frequency observed in healthy subjects through quantification, phospholipase and proteinase activity tests and antifungal susceptibility (amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole) by broth microdilution test. The yeasts were isolated from unstimulated whole saliva samples in CHROMagar® Candida medium, which allowed association between two or more species observation and presumptive identification. Latter, strains identification were confirmed by classical methodology. Of 100 candidiasis patients samples, yeast growth was observed in 70 samples and 63 C. albicans and 16 C. tropicalis strains were identified. Of 50 healthy subjects samples, yeast growth was observed in 16 samples and 14 C. albicans e 3 C. tropicalis strains were identified. Differential activity of phospholipase and proteinase enzymes was detected in 100% C. albicans strains in both groups. Phospholipase activity was not detected in C. tropicalis strains, and proteinase activity was detected in 43,8% strains from oral candidiasis group. Susceptibility tests showed amphotericin B MIC range from 0,125 ? 4 µg/mL for C. albicans strains and 2 ? 4 µg/mL for C. tropicalis strains; itraconazole MIC range from 0,03 ? 16 µg/mL for both species; fluconazole MIC range from 0,125 - ? 64 µg/mL for C. albicans strains and 0,25 - ? 64 µg/mL for C. tropicalis strains. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that saliva analysis is sensitive to detect yeasts from patients with clinical signs of oral candidiasis and from yeasts carriers; C. albicans was prevalent in both groups; all C. albicans strains showed phospholipase and proteinase activity; None C. tropicalis strains showed phospholipase activity. The majority of C. albicans and C. tropicalis strains were inhibited in vitro by antifungals evaluate

Phenotypic and molecular aspects of adhesion and enzymatic activity of Candida sp recovered from patients with clinical signs of oral candidiasis

O amplo espectro da candidíase e respectiva importância clínica da infecção impulsionam as pesquisas que visam esclarecer os mecanismos de patogenicidade e identificação dos fatores de virulência de Candida sp. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi verificar através de testes fenotípicos e moleculares a capacidade de adesão, atividade de proteases e variabilidade genética de isolados clínicos de C. albicans e C. tropicalis. A capacidade de adesão às glicoproteínas de matriz extracelular laminina e fibronectina foi avaliada utilizando-se a técnica de ELISA (Enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay). A pesquisa de proteases foi realizada pelos métodos semiquantitativo, em placa de ágar com albumina bovina, e quantitativo, em solução-tampão com hemoglobina. A presença dos genes ALS2, ALS3, SAP1, SAP3 e PLB1 foi verificada pela Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase (PCR) e os polimorfismos intra e interespécies pela técnica do DNA Polimórfico Amplificado ao Acaso (RAPD). Todos os isolados de C. albicans e C. tropicalis apresentaram ligação a laminina e a fibronectina imobilizadas. Os isolados Ca33 e Ct13 apresentaram índice de adesão relativa significativamente maiores em relação aos demais isolados para as duas glicoproteínas (p < 0,001). A atividade de proteases foi observada em todos os isolados de C. albicans tanto pelo método semiquantitativo quanto pelo método quantitativo. A atividade de proteases dos isolados de C. tropicalis foi melhor evidenciada através do método quantitativo. A amplificação de fragmentos dos genes relacionados à adesão (ALS2 e ALS3), atividade de proteases (SAP1 e SAP3) e fosfolipase (PLB1) foi observada em todos os isolados de C. albicans. Os isolados de C. tropicalis não apresentaram produtos de amplificação para os genes pesquisados. A variabilidade genética avaliada pela técnica do RAPD revelou uma população heterogênea em ambas as espécies. No entanto, C. tropicalis apresentou maior diversidade genética que C. albicans.The wide spectrum of candidiasis and its clinical importance encourage the research with the purpose of clarifying the mecanisms of pathogenicity and identification of virulence factors of Candida sp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify through phenotypic and molecular assays the adhesion, enzymatic activity e genetic variability of clinical C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates. The adhesion ability to the extracellular matrix glycoproteins laminin and fibronectin was evaluated using the ELISA technique (Enzyme-linked imunosorbent assay). The research of proteases was carried out in agar plate containing bovine albumin and through a quantitative method in buffer solution containing hemoglobin. The presence of ALS2, ALS3, SAP1, SAP3 and PLB1 was verified using polimerase chain reaction (PCR) and intra and interespecies polimorphisms through Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. All C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates binded to immobilized laminin and fibronectin. Ca33 and Ct13 isolates had relative adhesion index significantly higher than the other isolates for both glycoproteins (p < 0,001). Protease activity was observed in all isolates of C. albicans using either the semi-quantitative or quantitative assay. The protease activity of C. tropicalis was better detected through the quantitative assay. The amplification of genes related to adhesion (ALS2 and ALS3), proteases (SAP1 and SAP3) and phospholipase (PLB1) activity using PCR was observed in all C. albicans strains. PCR amplification products were not observed in C. tropicalis isolates for the researched genes. The genetic variability by RAPD revealed an heterogeneous population in both species. Nevertheless, C. tropicalis presented higher genetic variability than C. albicans strains

Biotype stability of Candida albicans isolates after culture storage determined by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA and phenotypical methods

P>Typing methods to evaluate isolates in relation to their phenotypical and molecular characteristics are essential in epidemiological studies. In this study, Candida albicans biotypes were determined before and after storage in order to verify their stability. Twenty C. albicans isolates were typed by Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD), production of phospholipase and proteinase exoenzymes (enzymotyping) and morphotyping before and after 180 days of storage in Sabouraud dextrose agar (SDA) and sterilised distilled water. Before the storage, 19 RAPD patterns, two enzymotypes and eight morphotypes were identified. The fragment patterns obtained by RAPD, on the one hand, were not significantly altered after storage. On the other hand, the majority of the isolates changed their enzymotype and morphotype after storage. RAPD typing provided the better discriminatory index (DI) among isolates (DI = 0.995) and maintained the profile identified, thereby confirming its utility in epidemiological surveys. Based on the low reproducibility observed after storage in SDA and distilled water by morphotyping (DI = 0.853) and enzymotyping (DI = 0.521), the use of these techniques is not recommended on stored isolates.Coordenacao de Aperfeic, oamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis in Oral Candidosis: Quantitative Analysis, Exoenzyme Activity, and Antifungal Drug Sensitivity

Candida albicans and C. tropicalis obtained from whole saliva of patients presenting signs of oral candidosis were assayed for quantification of colony forming units, exoenzyme activity (phospholipase and proteinase) and antifungal drug sensitivity (amphotericin B, fluconazole and itraconazole) by the reference method of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. The number of colony forming units per milliliter varied according to the Candida species involved and whether a single or mixed infection was present. Proteinase activity was observed in both C. albicans and C. tropicalis, but phospholipase activity was noted only in C. albicans. In vitro resistance to antifungals was verified in both species, but C. tropicalis appears to be more resistant to the tested antifungals than C. albicans.Coordenacao de Aperfeicoamento de Pessoal de Nivel Superior (CAPES

Virulence attributes and genetic variability of oral Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis isolates

The wide spectrum of candidiasis and its clinical importance encourage the research with the purpose of clarifying the mechanisms of pathogenicity and identification of virulence factors of Candida sp. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the adhesion capacity, protease activity and genotypic diversity of oral C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates. The adhesion ability to the extracellular matrix glycoproteins laminin and fibronectin was evaluated using the ELISA technique. The research of proteases was carried out in agar plate containing bovine albumin and through a quantitative method in buffer solution containing haemoglobin. Intra and interspecies polymorphisms was verified through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique. All C. albicans and C. tropicalis isolates binded to immobilised laminin and fibronectin. Ca33 and Ct13 isolates had relative adhesion index significantly higher than the other isolates for both glycoproteins (P &lt; 0.001). Protease activity was observed in all isolates of C. albicans using either the semi-quantitative or quantitative assay. The protease activity of C. tropicalis was better detected through the quantitative assay. The genotypic diversity by RAPD revealed a heterogeneous population in both species. Nevertheless, C. tropicalis presented higher genetic variability than C. albicans strains.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Amazonas (FAPEAM