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Updated: Jul 26, 2025
Author Spotlight: Oral Candida Diagnosis to Advance Clinical Treatment Regimen for pSS Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
Detection of Virulence Factors from Candida spp. Isolated from Oral and Vaginal Candidiasis in Iraqi Patients
A Ali Hameed Al-Dabbagh1, H Ali Ajah1, J Abdul Sattar Salman1
1Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq.
Abstract:
Yeast-like fungi (YLF) of the genus Candida are unicellular microorganisms of relatively large size and rounded shape, aerobes, and belong to conditionally pathogenic microorganisms. The genus Candida includes approximately 150 species, which are classified as Deuteromycetes due to the absence of a sexual stage of development. This study aimed to identify virulence factors from Candida spp. isolated from oral and vaginal candidiasis. Fifty-eight oral and vaginal swab specimens were collected from patients, including (28) oral swabs from children and (30) vaginal swabs from different infected women. All isolates were subjected to direct examination, Morphological tests, Germ tube formation, growth at 45ºC, CHROM agar Candida culture, and VITEK 2 Compact system to ensure this diagnosis. (31) isolates were identified as Candida spp., including (21) (C. albicans (14), C. glabrata (1), C. guilliermondii (2), C. dubliniensis (3), C. parapsilosis (1)) were isolated from oral swabs and (10) isolates includedC. parapsilosis (4), C. albicans (6) were isolated from vaginal swabs. Moreover, these isolates had been detected to have some virulence factors, including phospholipase, esterase, proteinase, coagulase, hemolysin, and biofilm formation. Different species of Candida were isolated and identified from oral and vaginal. Phospholipase (Pz), Esterase (Ez), and Proteinase (Prz) were produced by 19 (61.29%), 16 (51.61%), and 26(83.87%), respectively, out of 31 isolates, whereas. All isolates produce coagulase enzyme except C. dubliniensis, which did not produce coagulase enzyme. All Candida spp. isolates produce hemolysin and biofilm formation in different percentages.
Insights
This study identified virulence factors in Candida species from oral and vaginal infections. Key factors like phospholipase, proteinase, hemolysin, and biofilm formation were prevalent in oral and vaginal Candida isolates.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Microbiology
Background:
- Candida species are common causes of opportunistic infections, particularly oral and vaginal candidiasis.
- These yeast-like fungi (YLF) are classified as Deuteromycetes and are known for their conditional pathogenicity.
- Understanding virulence factors is crucial for developing effective treatments against Candida infections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify and characterize virulence factors in Candida species isolated from patients with oral and vaginal candidiasis.
- To determine the prevalence of specific virulence factors among different Candida species found in oral and vaginal samples.
Main Methods:
- Collection of 58 oral and vaginal swab specimens from infected patients.
- Identification of Candida isolates using direct examination, morphological tests, germ tube formation, growth at 45°C, CHROM agar Candida, and VITEK 2 Compact system.
- Detection of virulence factors including phospholipase, esterase, proteinase, coagulase, hemolysin, and biofilm formation.
Main Results:
- Thirty-one Candida isolates were identified, including Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida guilliermondii, Candida dubliniensis, and Candida parapsilosis.
- High percentages of isolates produced phospholipase (61.29%), esterase (51.61%), and proteinase (83.87%).
- All identified Candida species, except C. dubliniensis for coagulase, exhibited coagulase, hemolysin, and biofilm formation.
Conclusions:
- The study successfully identified and characterized key virulence factors in Candida species isolated from oral and vaginal candidiasis.
- The presence of phospholipase, proteinase, hemolysin, and biofilm formation highlights their role in the pathogenesis of these infections.
- These findings contribute to a better understanding of Candida pathogenicity and can inform diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.
