Correlative Relationship between Proteinase, Phospholipase Activity and Adherence to Buccal Epithelial Cells of Experimental Strains of Candida albicans

Candida albicans의 Proteinase 및 Phospholipase 분비능과 구강상피세포 부착능과의 상호관계

This study investigated whether a correlation exists between proteinase activity, phospholipase activity and adherence of Candida albicans to buccal epithelial cells by using of various strains isolated from oral cavity. The proteinase activity of 30 strains was tested by culture on agar media that contained bovine serum albumin as a nitrogen source. Using the serum-protein-agar method to test proterolysis of serum albumin in 20 strains of Candida albicans. Twenty-six strains of Candida albicans were phospholipase producers and the degree of phopholipase activity of experimental strains were $0.51{\sim}0.89$ measured by Pz-value. Twenty-eight strains of Candida albicans were adhersive to buccal epithelial cells and 15 strains were foung significantly active adherence. Fifteen strains of Candida albicans were correlated with proteinase activity and adherence to epithelial cells and concomitantly 20 strains of Candida albicans were also correlated with phospholipase activity and adherence. In conclusion our investigation provides evidence of a correlation between quantitative proteinase, phospholipase and adherence. An association of these parameters may be an important contributory factor for pathogenicity.