In vitro proteinase production by Candida species
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A Chakrabarti1, N Nayak, P Talwar
1Department of Medical Microbiology, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.
Abstract:
A total of 290 Candida isolates from patients were investigated for in vitro proteinase production. Overall, sixty percent of these strains were found to be proteinase producers. Of the C. albicans strains, 81.4% of the significant isolates in contrast to 19.7% of nonsignificant isolates were proteinase producers, the difference being statistically significant (P less than 0.001). Amongst the different Candida species, the proteinase production was found not only in Candida albicans, but also in C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis and C. glabrata. Thus this in vitro method of demonstration of proteinase may be a good adjunct to smear and culture examination in identifying pathogenic Candida species from anatomical sites where they can also be present as commensals.
Insights
This study found that 60% of Candida isolates produce proteinase. This enzyme production is significantly higher in pathogenic Candida albicans, aiding in their identification.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Candida species are opportunistic fungal pathogens.
- Proteinase production is a virulence factor in Candida.
- Accurate identification of pathogenic Candida is crucial for patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate in vitro proteinase production in clinical isolates of Candida.
- To determine the correlation between proteinase production and pathogenicity in Candida albicans.
- To evaluate the utility of in vitro proteinase detection as a diagnostic aid.
Main Methods:
- Cultured 290 Candida isolates from patient samples.
- Assessed in vitro proteinase production quantitatively.
- Performed statistical analysis to compare proteinase production between significant and non-significant isolates and across different Candida species.
Main Results:
- Sixty percent of all investigated Candida isolates exhibited proteinase production.
- Significantly higher proteinase production was observed in pathogenic Candida albicans isolates (81.4%) compared to non-significant isolates (19.7%) (P < 0.001).
- Proteinase activity was detected in multiple Candida species, including Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, Candida parapsilosis, and Candida glabrata.
Conclusions:
- In vitro proteinase production is a common characteristic among clinical Candida isolates.
- Proteinase production is significantly associated with pathogenic Candida albicans.
- In vitro proteinase detection can serve as a valuable adjunct to conventional methods for identifying pathogenic Candida species.