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An Ex vivo Assay to Study Candida albicans Hyphal Morphogenesis in the Gastrointestinal Tract
Published on: July 1, 2020
Virulence of Candida albicans isolated from HIV infected and non infected individuals
Tri Wibawa1, Praseno1, Abu Tholib Aman1
1Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Farmako, Sekip Utara, Depok, Sleman, Yogyakarta, 55281 Indonesia.
Abstract:
Candida sp contributes 33.1 % of fungal infections among HIV patients. Among the species of the genus Candida, Candida albicans is the most frequently isolated from HIV patients. This study aimed to analyze putative virulence factors of C. albicans isolated from oral cavities of HIV infected patients and healthy individuals. Twenty isolates from HIV infected patients and fourteen from healthy individuals were analyzed for phenotypic switching, cell growth rate, hyphae formation, hemolytic activity and biofilm formation characteristics. The frequency of phenotypic switching was low in both groups. The cell growth rate of C. albicans from HIV infected patients were significantly higher than those from healthy individuals (p < 0.001). After 48 h incubation, the concentration of C. albicans isolated from HIV infected patients was 8.6 × 10(6) cells/ml while the concentration of C. albicans isolated from healthy individuals was 7.8 × 10(6) cells/ml. After 72 h incubation, the concentration of C. albicans isolated from HIV infected patients was 9.5 × 10(6) cells/ml while the concentration of C. albicans isolated from healthy individuals was 8.2 × 10(6) cells/ml. In contrast, the hemolytic activity of C. albicans isolated from healthy individuals were significantly higher compared to those from HIV infected patients (p < 0.001) at both aerobic (6 vs. 3.5 mm) and anaerobic (3.8 vs. 1.3 mm) conditions. The percentages of hyphae forming cells were higher in C. albicans collected from HIV infected patients (27.5 %) compared to the healthy individual group (14.7 %). However, this trend was not statistically significant (p = 0.1). Candida albicans isolated from HIV infected patients have similar ability to develop biofilms compared to those from healthy individuals. (OR = 4.2; 95 % CI 0.724-26.559). The virulence factors of C. albicans isolated from HIV infected patients were not significantly different from those of healthy individuals. The results add new insights into the contribution of virulence factors in the pathogenesis of C. albicans infection in HIV infected patients.
Insights
Candida albicans, a common fungal infection in HIV patients, showed varied virulence factors. While C. albicans from HIV individuals had higher growth rates and hyphae formation, those from healthy individuals exhibited greater hemolytic activity.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Immunocompromised Hosts
Background:
- Candida species are significant causes of fungal infections, particularly in individuals with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).
- Candida albicans is the most frequently identified Candida species in HIV-infected patients, necessitating an understanding of its virulence factors in this population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and compare the putative virulence factors of Candida albicans isolated from the oral cavities of HIV-infected patients and healthy individuals.
- To elucidate the role of specific virulence traits in the pathogenesis of C. albicans infections within the context of HIV infection.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of phenotypic switching, cell growth rate, hyphae formation, hemolytic activity, and biofilm formation in C. albicans isolates.
- Comparison of these virulence factors between isolates from 20 HIV-infected patients and 14 healthy individuals.
Main Results:
- C. albicans from HIV patients demonstrated significantly higher cell growth rates (p < 0.001) and a trend towards increased hyphae formation (27.5% vs. 14.7%).
- Conversely, C. albicans from healthy individuals showed significantly higher hemolytic activity under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions (p < 0.001).
- Biofilm formation capabilities were comparable between the two groups.
Conclusions:
- The study found no significant overall differences in the key virulence factors of C. albicans between HIV-infected patients and healthy individuals.
- These findings contribute to understanding the complex interplay between C. albicans virulence and host immune status in HIV infection.
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