Characterization of Virulence Factors in Candida Species Causing Candidemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand
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Issued Date
2023-03-01
Resource Type
eISSN
2309608X
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-85151715012
Journal Title
Journal of Fungi
Volume
9
Issue
3
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Fungi Vol.9 No.3 (2023)
Suggested Citation
Saiprom N., Wongsuk T., Oonanant W., Sukphopetch P., Chantratita N., Boonsilp S. Characterization of Virulence Factors in Candida Species Causing Candidemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand. Journal of Fungi Vol.9 No.3 (2023). doi:10.3390/jof9030353 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/82366
Title
Characterization of Virulence Factors in Candida Species Causing Candidemia in a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Candidemia is often associated with high mortality, and Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida glabrata, and Candida parapsilosis are common causes of this disease. The pathogenicity characteristics of specific Candida spp. that cause candidemia in Thailand are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the virulence factors of Candida spp. Thirty-eight isolates of different Candida 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 ERG11 contributing to azole-resistance were also determined. C. albicans had the highest epithelial cell invasion rate and phospholipase activity, with true hyphae formation, whereas C. tropicalis produced the most biofilm, hydrophobicity, protease activity, and host cell damage and true hyphae formation. ERG11 mutations Y132F and S154F were observed in all azole-resistant C. tropicalis. C. glabrata had the most hemolytic activity while cell invasion was low with no morphologic transition. C. glabrata was more easily phagocytosed than other species. C. parapsilosis generated pseudohyphae but not hyphae and did not exhibit any trends in exoenzyme production. This knowledge will be crucial for understanding the pathogenicity of Candida spp. and will help to explore antivirulence-based treatment.