Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species Complex
The opportunistic fungal pathogens belonging to the <i>Candida haemulonii</i> complex and the phylogenetically related species <i>Candida auris</i> are well-known for causing infections that are difficult to treat due to their multidrug-resistance profiles. <i>Candida a...
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MDPI AG
2023-07-01
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| Series: | Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/8/382 |
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| author | Lívia S. Ramos Claudia M. Parra-Giraldo Marta H. Branquinha André L. S. Santos |
| author_facet | Lívia S. Ramos Claudia M. Parra-Giraldo Marta H. Branquinha André L. S. Santos |
| author_sort | Lívia S. Ramos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The opportunistic fungal pathogens belonging to the <i>Candida haemulonii</i> complex and the phylogenetically related species <i>Candida auris</i> are well-known for causing infections that are difficult to treat due to their multidrug-resistance profiles. <i>Candida auris</i> is even more worrisome due to its ability to cause outbreaks in healthcare settings. These emerging yeasts produce a wide range of virulence factors that facilitate the development of the infectious process. In recent years, the aggregative phenotype has been receiving attention, as it is mainly associated with defects in cellular division and its possible involvement in helping the fungus to escape from the host immune responses. In the present study, we initially investigated the aggregation ability of 18 clinical isolates belonging to the <i>C. haemulonii</i> species complex (<i>C. haemulonii sensu stricto</i>, <i>C. duobushaemulonii</i>, and <i>C. haemulonii</i> var. <i>vulnera</i>) and <i>C. auris</i>. Subsequently, we evaluated the effects of physicochemical factors on fungal aggregation competence. The results demonstrated that cell-to-cell aggregation was a typically time-dependent event, in which almost all studied fungal isolates of both the <i>C. haemulonii</i> species complex and <i>C. auris</i> exhibited high aggregation after 2 h of incubation at 37 °C. Interestingly, the fungal cells forming the aggregates remained viable. The aggregation of all isolates was not impacted by pH, temperature, β-mercaptoethanol (a protein-denaturing agent), or EDTA (a chelator agent). Conversely, proteinase K, trypsin, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) significantly diminished the fungal aggregation. Collectively, our results demonstrated that the aggregation ability of these opportunistic yeast pathogens is time-dependent, and surface proteins and hydrophobic interactions seem to mediate cell aggregation since the presence of proteases and anionic detergents affected the aggregation capability. However, further studies are necessary to better elucidate the molecular aspects of this intriguing phenomenon. |
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| spelling | doaj.art-f48e0b190db2480590fdc309a37f7b122023-11-19T03:15:44ZengMDPI AGTropical Medicine and Infectious Disease2414-63662023-07-018838210.3390/tropicalmed8080382Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species ComplexLívia S. Ramos0Claudia M. Parra-Giraldo1Marta H. Branquinha2André L. S. Santos3Laboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilUnidad de Proteómica y Micosis Humanas, Grupo de Enfermedades Infecciosas, Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá 110231, ColombiaLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilLaboratório de Estudos Avançados de Microrganismos Emergentes e Resistentes (LEAMER), Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes (IMPG), Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, BrazilThe opportunistic fungal pathogens belonging to the <i>Candida haemulonii</i> complex and the phylogenetically related species <i>Candida auris</i> are well-known for causing infections that are difficult to treat due to their multidrug-resistance profiles. <i>Candida auris</i> is even more worrisome due to its ability to cause outbreaks in healthcare settings. These emerging yeasts produce a wide range of virulence factors that facilitate the development of the infectious process. In recent years, the aggregative phenotype has been receiving attention, as it is mainly associated with defects in cellular division and its possible involvement in helping the fungus to escape from the host immune responses. In the present study, we initially investigated the aggregation ability of 18 clinical isolates belonging to the <i>C. haemulonii</i> species complex (<i>C. haemulonii sensu stricto</i>, <i>C. duobushaemulonii</i>, and <i>C. haemulonii</i> var. <i>vulnera</i>) and <i>C. auris</i>. Subsequently, we evaluated the effects of physicochemical factors on fungal aggregation competence. The results demonstrated that cell-to-cell aggregation was a typically time-dependent event, in which almost all studied fungal isolates of both the <i>C. haemulonii</i> species complex and <i>C. auris</i> exhibited high aggregation after 2 h of incubation at 37 °C. Interestingly, the fungal cells forming the aggregates remained viable. The aggregation of all isolates was not impacted by pH, temperature, β-mercaptoethanol (a protein-denaturing agent), or EDTA (a chelator agent). Conversely, proteinase K, trypsin, and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) significantly diminished the fungal aggregation. Collectively, our results demonstrated that the aggregation ability of these opportunistic yeast pathogens is time-dependent, and surface proteins and hydrophobic interactions seem to mediate cell aggregation since the presence of proteases and anionic detergents affected the aggregation capability. However, further studies are necessary to better elucidate the molecular aspects of this intriguing phenomenon.https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/8/382<i>Candida haemulonii</i> cladecell-cell interactionemerging yeastsdrug resistancevirulencephysicochemical conditions |
| spellingShingle | Lívia S. Ramos Claudia M. Parra-Giraldo Marta H. Branquinha André L. S. Santos Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species Complex Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease <i>Candida haemulonii</i> clade cell-cell interaction emerging yeasts drug resistance virulence physicochemical conditions |
| title | Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species Complex |
| title_full | Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species Complex |
| title_fullStr | Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species Complex |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species Complex |
| title_short | Cell Aggregation Capability of Clinical Isolates from <i>Candida auris</i> and <i>Candida haemulonii</i> Species Complex |
| title_sort | cell aggregation capability of clinical isolates from i candida auris i and i candida haemulonii i species complex |
| topic | <i>Candida haemulonii</i> clade cell-cell interaction emerging yeasts drug resistance virulence physicochemical conditions |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2414-6366/8/8/382 |
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