Revista da Sociedade Brasileira de Medicina Tropical (Jan 2020)

In vitro characterization of virulence factors among species of the Candida parapsilosis complex

  • Fábio Silvestre Ataides,
  • Carolina Rodrigues Costa,
  • Andressa Santana Santos,
  • Vivianny Aparecida Queiroz Freitas,
  • Thaisa Cristina Silva,
  • Ana Laura Sene Amâncio Zara,
  • Rosália Santos Amorim Jesuino,
  • Maria Rosário Rodrigues Silva

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0037-8682-0336-2019
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 53

Abstract

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Abstract INTRODUCTION: Candida parapsilosis complex species differ from each other with regard to their prevalence and virulence. METHODS: The hydrolytic enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells were analyzed in 87 C. parapsilosis complex strains. RESULTS: Among the studied isolates, 97.7%, 63.2%, and 82.8% exhibited very strong proteinase, esterase, and hemolysin activity, respectively. All the C. parapsilosis complex isolates produced biofilms and presented an average adherence of 96.0 yeasts/100 epithelial cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that Candida parapsilosis complex isolates showed different levels of enzyme activity, biofilm production, and adhesion to epithelial cells.

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