Hemolytic capability and expression of a putative haem oxygenase-encoding gene by blood isolates of Candida tropicalis are influenced by iron deprivation and the presence of hemoglobin and erythrocytes.

Although hemolytic activity is known to be a putative virulence factor contributing to candidal pathogenesis, its production by Candida tropicalis, a species closely related to Candida albicans, is poor understood. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the hemolytic activity and the expression level of a putative haem oxygenase encoding gene by blood isolates of C. tropicalis following growth in iron deprivation, and in the presence of hemoglobin and erythrocytes.

Effects of human blood red cells on the haemolytic capability of clinical isolates of Candida tropicalis.

Background: Candida tropicalis is an increasingly important human pathogen associated with high mortality rates; however, little is known regarding the virulence properties of C. tropicalis, particularly the production of haemolytic factor. Although Candida spp may acquire iron from human blood red cells (RBCs) by producing a haemolytic factor that promotes cell lyses, at present there are no data regarding the effect of RBCs on the production of haemolytic molecules.

Hemolytic factor production by clinical isolates of Candida species.

Most cases of fungal bloodstream infections (BIs) are attributed to Candida albicans; however, non-Candida albicans Candida species have recently been identified as common pathogens. Although hemolytic factor is known to be putative virulence factor contributing to pathogenicity in Candida species, its production is poorly evaluated. The present study was undertaken to analyze the production of hemolytic factor by C.

Phenotypic switching in Candida tropicalis: association with modification of putative virulence attributes and antifungal drug sensitivity.

Although Candida tropicalis has become an increasingly important human pathogen, little is known regarding its potential to cause disease. In this study we evaluated the phenotypic switching ability of C. tropicalis and analyzed the effect of switching on biological properties related to virulence factors.

In vitro antifungal activity of the flavonoid baicalein against Candida species.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the in vitro activity of baicalein, the flavone constituent of Scutellaria baicalensis, and synergism of the combination of baicalein and fluconazole against Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis. The MIC(50) (lowest concentration at which there was 50 % inhibition of growth) of baicalein alone against six Candida strains ranged from 13 to 104 µg ml(-1). For the three species tested, exposure to baicalein at the MIC(50) concentrations obtained for each strain resulted in a high loss of viability.

Species distribution and in vitro fluconazole susceptibility of clinical Candida isolates in a Brazilian tertiary-care hospital over a 3-year period.

Introduction: In this study, we aimed at identifying Candida isolates obtained from blood, urine, tracheal secretion, and nail/skin lesions from cases attended at the Hospital Universitário de Londrina over a 3-year period and at evaluating fluconazole susceptibilities of the isolates.

Methods: Candida isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using species-specific forward primers. The in vitro fluconazole susceptibility test was performed according to EUCAST-AFST reference procedure.

Ultrastructural architecture of colonies of different morphologies produced by phenotypic switching of a clinical strain of Candida tropicalis and biofilm formation by variant phenotypes.

Candida tropicalis has been identified as one of the most prevalent pathogenic yeast species of the Candida-non-albicans (CNA) group. Study of switching in C. tropicalis has not been the subject of extensive research.

[Hemolysis produced by Candida tropicalis isolates from clinical samples].

Introduction: Yeasts belonging to the genus Candida are responsible for the majority of fungal infections in humans. Candida tropicalis has been one of most commonly isolated non-albicans species. To analyze in vitro hemolysis promoted by clinical isolates of C.

Interaction of Candida parapsilosis isolates with human hair and nail surfaces revealed by scanning electron microscopy analysis.

Candida parapsilosis is found frequently as commensal organism on epithelial tissues, and is also an increasing cause of nosocomial infection. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) observations were used to analyse the capability of C. parapsilosis cells to adhere and grow as biofilm on human natural substrates and to compare the adherence pattern of isolates exhibiting distinct phenotypes.