In vitro characterization of virulence factors among species of the Candida parapsilosis complex

• Published in: Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical
• Main Authors: Fábio Silvestre Ataides, Carolina Rodrigues Costa, Andressa Santana Santos, Vivianny Aparecida Queiroz Freitas, Thaisa Cristina Silva, Ana Laura Sene Amâncio Zara, Rosália Santos Amorim Jesuino, Maria Rosário Rodrigues Silva
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (SBMT) 2020
• Subjects: Candida parapsilosis; Virulence factors; Biofilms; Cell adhesion; Hydrolytic enzymes; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0336-2019; https://doaj.org/article/ff83872087bb473eb5581529cd55ab91

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Candida parapsilosis complex species differ from each other with regard to their prevalence and virulence. METHODS: The hydrolytic enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells were analyzed in 87 C. parapsilosis complex strains. RESULTS: Among the studied isolates, 97.7%, 63.2%, and 82.8% exhibited very strong proteinase, esterase, and hemolysin activity, respectively. All the C. parapsilosis complex isolates produced biofilms and presented an average adherence of 96.0 yeasts/100 epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Candida parapsilosis complex isolates showed different levels of enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells.