Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC

Background and Objectives: Candida tropicalis is one of the major non-albicans species causing nosocomial infection. There is limited data about mechanisms of azole-resistance and virulence factors of Candida tropicalis. This study was designed to investigate molecular mechanism of azole -resistanc...

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Main Authors: Zahra Jahanshiri, Soheila Manifar, Farahnaz Hatami
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2023-02-01
Series:Iranian Journal of Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/3895
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author Zahra Jahanshiri
Soheila Manifar
Farahnaz Hatami
author_facet Zahra Jahanshiri
Soheila Manifar
Farahnaz Hatami
author_sort Zahra Jahanshiri
collection DOAJ
description Background and Objectives: Candida tropicalis is one of the major non-albicans species causing nosocomial infection. There is limited data about mechanisms of azole-resistance and virulence factors of Candida tropicalis. This study was designed to investigate molecular mechanism of azole -resistance and major virulence factors of C. tropicalis isolated from oropharyngeal candidiasis in head and neck cancer patients. Materials and Methods: After collecting 38 C. tropicalis clinical isolates, antifungal susceptibility pattern and the expression levels of ERG11, CDR1, CDR2 and MDR1 were evaluated. Moreover, proteinase and phospholipase activity and biofilm formation of the isolates were investigated as virulence factors. Results: We detected fluconazole resistance in 7 C. tropicalis isolates. The expression levels of CDR1, ERG11 and MDR1 were increased respectively. Protease activity and biofilm formation were seen in all isolates. Five isolates did not exhibit phospholipase activity. Conclusion: Taken together, the overexpressions of ERG11, CDR1 and MDR1 genes were found in fluconazole resistant C. tropicalis, isolated from oropharyngeal candidiasis patients. Also, voriconazole was an effective antifungal against C. tropicalis isolates. The observed high protease enzyme activity and biofilm formation suggested strong pathogenicity of these isolates.
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spelling doaj.art-64a0af96d1ef426eb7841287e5cb80e22023-02-20T08:49:02ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesIranian Journal of Microbiology2008-32892008-44472023-02-0115110.18502/ijm.v15i1.11933Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPCZahra Jahanshiri0Soheila Manifar1Farahnaz Hatami2Department of Mycology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, IranDepartment of Oral Medicine, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IranDepartment of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Advanced Science and Technology, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran Background and Objectives: Candida tropicalis is one of the major non-albicans species causing nosocomial infection. There is limited data about mechanisms of azole-resistance and virulence factors of Candida tropicalis. This study was designed to investigate molecular mechanism of azole -resistance and major virulence factors of C. tropicalis isolated from oropharyngeal candidiasis in head and neck cancer patients. Materials and Methods: After collecting 38 C. tropicalis clinical isolates, antifungal susceptibility pattern and the expression levels of ERG11, CDR1, CDR2 and MDR1 were evaluated. Moreover, proteinase and phospholipase activity and biofilm formation of the isolates were investigated as virulence factors. Results: We detected fluconazole resistance in 7 C. tropicalis isolates. The expression levels of CDR1, ERG11 and MDR1 were increased respectively. Protease activity and biofilm formation were seen in all isolates. Five isolates did not exhibit phospholipase activity. Conclusion: Taken together, the overexpressions of ERG11, CDR1 and MDR1 genes were found in fluconazole resistant C. tropicalis, isolated from oropharyngeal candidiasis patients. Also, voriconazole was an effective antifungal against C. tropicalis isolates. The observed high protease enzyme activity and biofilm formation suggested strong pathogenicity of these isolates. https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/3895Candida tropicalis;Azole-resistance;Proteinase;Phospholipase;Biofilm
spellingShingle Zahra Jahanshiri
Soheila Manifar
Farahnaz Hatami
Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC
Iranian Journal of Microbiology
Candida tropicalis;
Azole-resistance;
Proteinase;
Phospholipase;
Biofilm
title Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC
title_full Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC
title_fullStr Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC
title_short Evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of Candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with OPC
title_sort evaluation of virulence factors and azole resistance mechanisms of candida tropicalis isolates from head and neck cancer patients with opc
topic Candida tropicalis;
Azole-resistance;
Proteinase;
Phospholipase;
Biofilm
url https://ijm.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijm/article/view/3895
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AT farahnazhatami evaluationofvirulencefactorsandazoleresistancemechanismsofcandidatropicalisisolatesfromheadandneckcancerpatientswithopc