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Updated: Apr 29, 2026
Quantifying the Antifungal Activity of Peptides Against Candida albicans
Published on: January 13, 2023
Protease and phospholipase activities of Candida spp. isolated from cutaneous candidiasis
Lívia de Souza Ramos1, Leonardo Silva Barbedo2, Lys Adriana Braga-Silva3
1Instituto Biomédico, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes and Programa de Pós-Graduação em Bioquímica - Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Background:
Cases of superficial and invasive mycoses caused by emerging species of Candida have been increasingly reported over the last thirty years. The production of hydrolytic enzymes plays a central role in the fungal infective process. In Candida infections the secretion of both proteases and phospholipases are well-known virulence attributes.
Aims:
To determine the protease and phospholipase production from 58 human clinical isolates of Candida obtained from individuals with cutaneous candidiasis seen in the Human and Veterinary Diagnostic Mycology Sector from Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Brazil, from November 2008 to August 2009.
Methods:
Fungal identification was performed using biochemical tests. Proteolytic activity was detected on agar plates containing bovine serum albumin, and phospholipase production was determined on egg-yolk plates.
Results:
The Candida species isolated were Candida parapsilosis (27.59%), Candida famata (18.96%), Candida albicans (15.52%), Candida haemulonii (12.06%), Candida ciferri (8.62%), Candida guilliermondii (6.90%), Candida tropicalis (5.17%) and Candida lipolytica (5.17%). All isolates of C. albicans produced both protease and phospholipase. As regards the isolates of non-C. albicans Candida species, 53.06% and 4.08% were able to produce protease and phospholipase, respectively. For example, the majority of isolates of C. parapsilosis (15/16) produced protease, while 40% of C. ciferri isolates (2/5) were phospholipase producers. This study shows, for the first time, that C. ciferri and C. haemulonii strains were able to produce protease.
Conclusions:
Collectively, our results showed that different species of Candida isolated from cutaneous lesions were able to produce proteases and/or phospholipases, which are multifunctional molecules directly involved in the infectious process of these fungi.
Insights
This study investigated enzyme production in Candida species causing skin infections. Most Candida isolates produced proteases, and some produced phospholipases, highlighting their role in fungal infections.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Clinical Microbiology
- Fungal Pathogenesis
Background:
- Emerging Candida species are increasingly implicated in superficial and invasive mycoses.
- Hydrolytic enzymes, particularly proteases and phospholipases, are key virulence factors in Candida infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine protease and phospholipase production in 58 human clinical isolates of Candida.
- Isolates were obtained from individuals with cutaneous candidiasis in Brazil.
Main Methods:
- Candida species identification using biochemical tests.
- Protease detection on bovine serum albumin agar plates.
- Phospholipase determination on egg-yolk agar plates.
Main Results:
- Commonly isolated species included Candida parapsilosis, Candida famata, and Candida albicans.
- All Candida albicans isolates produced both protease and phospholipase.
- Protease production was high in non-albicans Candida (53.06%), with notable protease production in Candida parapsilosis and phospholipase in Candida ciferri. Candida ciferri and Candida haemulonii were identified as protease producers for the first time.
Conclusions:
- Various Candida species from cutaneous lesions produce proteases and/or phospholipases.
- These enzymes are multifunctional and play a direct role in the pathogenesis of fungal infections.
