• Mycobiology
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2016

Candida spp. is an invasive infectious fungus, a major risk factor that can increase morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients. In this study, 2,508 Candida spp. were isolated from various clinical specimens collected from university hospitals from July 2011 to October 2014. They were identified in order to determine isolation frequencies and characteristics by specimen, gender, age group, year, season, and month. The strain-specific isolation rate of Candida spp. is in the order of Candida albicans (1,218 strains, 48.56%), Candida glabrata (416 strains, 16.59%), Candida utilis (305 strains, 12.16%), Candida tropicalis (304 strains, 12.12%), and Candida parapsilosis (116 strains, 4.63%) and these five species accounted for more than 94% of the total strains. Of the specimens, Candida spp. were most frequently isolated from urine-catheter, followed by urinevoided, blood, sputum, other, open pus, vaginal discharge, Tip, ear discharge, bronchial aspiration and bile, in that order. Looking at the age distribution, the detection rate of patients in their 60s and older was significantly higher at 75.8% (1,900/2,508). The detection rate of patients in their 20s and younger was shown to be very low at 2.55% (64/2,508). By year, the detection rate of non-albicans Candida spp. showed a tendency to gradually increase each year compared with C. albicans. As isolation of Candida spp. from clinical samples at the specie level can vary depending on characteristics of the patient, sample, season, etc., continual studies are required.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.24
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• pp.10933-10935
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• 2015

Background: Many scientists have reported Candida species to be of great concern because of the high frequency that they colonize and infect human hosts, particularly cancer patients. Moreover, in the last decades Candida species have developed resistance to many antifungal agents. Based on this, we aimed to identify and determine the prevalence of Candida spp from blood culture bottles among cancer patients and their antifungal resistance pattern. Materials and Methods: From the blood culture bottles isolation and identification of the Candida spp were performed by conventional microbiological techniques. The in vitro antibiotic resistance pattern of the isolates was determined by CLSI guidelines. Genomic DNA was isolated and amplified. Each gene was separated by agar gel electrophoresis. Results: Identification of Candida spp was based on the presence of yeast cells in direct examination, culture and DNA extraction. Of the 68 blood samples collected during the study period (April 2013 to October 2013), five (7.35%) were positive for the presence of Candida spp, 2 (40%) of which were identified as Candida albicans and 3 (60%) were Candida non-albicans. Conclusions: High resistance to amphotricin B was observed among all the Candida non-albicans isolates. Regular investigations into antifungal resistance will help us to get an updated knowledge about their antibiotic resistance pattern which may help the physician in selecting the antibiotics for empirical therapy.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2022

Candida is one of the most common causes of bloodstream infections and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to provide important information for formulating empirical treatment plans for candidemia by investigating the antifungal resistance rate of Candida. Among the Candida strains (973 cases) isolated from blood culture tests at the S hospital in 2009~2018, 4.7% (N=44) comprising the Candida spp. (932 strains) showed resistance to fluconazole. The resistant strains included C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata. In addition Candida spp. (947 strains) showed resistance to amphotericin B (N=6, 0.6%), flucytosine (N=23, 2.4%) and voriconazole (N=24, 3.1%). C. albicans was resistant to fluconazole (N=23, 6.9%) and voriconazole (N=21, 6.0%), The statistical analysis showed that C. albicans and non-albicans Candida species were resistant to fluconazole (P=0.039) and voriconazole (P<0.001). A monitoring system to understand the rate of candidiasis infections in a hospital setting is required. It is also important to make the right choice of the antifungal agent based on drug susceptibility patterns. Therefore, an infection surveillance policy that tracks Candida resistance through regular antifungal susceptibility tests is necessary.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.122-128
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• 2020

Although Candida albicans is the major fungal pathogen of candidemia, severe infections by non-albicans Candida (NAC) spp. have been increasing in recent years. Among NAC spp., C. glabrata has emerged as the second most common pathogen. However, few studies have been conducted to investigate its structure, epidemiology, and basic biology. In the present study, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) was performed with a total of 102 C. glabrata clinical isolates that were isolated from various types of clinical specimen. For MLST, six housekeeping genes-FKS, LEU2, NMT1, TRP1, UGP1, and URA3-were amplified and sequenced. The results were analyzed using the C. glabrata database. Out of a total of 3,345 base-pair DNA sequences, 49 variable nucleotide sites were found, and the results showed that 12 different sequence types (ST) were identified from the 102 clinical isolates. The data also demonstrated that the undetermined ST1 was the most predominant ST in Korea. Further, seven undetermined STs (UST) containing UST2-8 were classified at specific loci. The data from this study may provide a fundamental database for further studies on C. glabrata, including its epidemiology and evolution. The data may also contribute to the development of novel antifungal agents and diagnostic tests.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.10
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• pp.1734-1741
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• 2015

Few research had investigated the secretion of phospholipase and aspartyl proteinase from Candida spp. causing infection in females with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research aimed to investigate the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in diabetic versus non-diabetic women and compare the ability of identified Candida isolates to secrete phospholipases and aspartyl proteinases with characterization of their genetic profile. The study included 80 females with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 100 non-diabetic females within the child-bearing period. Candida strains were isolated and identified by conventional microbiological methods and by API Candida. The isolates were screened for their extracellular phospholipase and proteinase activities by culturing them on egg yolk and bovine serum albumin media, respectively. Detection of aspartyl proteinase genes (SAP1 to SAP8) and phospholipase genes (PLB1, PLB2) were performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Our results indicated that vaginal candidiasis was significantly higher among the diabetic group versus nondiabetic group (50% versus 20%, respectively) (p = 0.004). C. albicans was the most prevalent species followed by C. glabrata in both groups. No significant association between diabetes mellitus and phospholipase activities was detected (p = 0.262), whereas high significant proteinase activities exhibited by Candida isolated from diabetic females were found (82.5%) (p = 0.000). Non-significant associations between any of the tested proteinase or phospholipase genes and diabetes mellitus were detected (p > 0.05). In conclusion, it is noticed that the incidence of C. glabrata causing VVC is increased. The higher prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among diabetics could be related to the increased aspartyl proteinase production in this group of patients.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.358-364
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• 2017

Asymmetric PCR preferentially amplifies one DNA strand for use in DNA hybridization studies. Linear-After-The-Exponential-PCR (LATE-PCR) is an advanced asymmetric PCR method which uses innovatively designed primers at different concentrations. This study aimed to optimise LATE-PCR parameters to produce single-stranded DNA of Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp. for detection via probe hybridisation. The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was used to design limiting primer and excess primer for LATE-PCR. Primer annealing and melting temperature, difference of melting temperature between limiting and excess primer and concentration of primers were optimized. In order to confirm the presence of single-stranded DNA, the LATE-PCR product was hybridised with digoxigenin labeled complementary oligonucleotide probe specific for each fungal genus and detected using anti-digoxigenin antibody by dot blotting. Important parameters that determine the production of single-stranded DNA in a LATE-PCR reaction are difference of melting temperature between the limiting and excess primer of at least $5^{\circ}C$ and primer concentration ratio of excess primer to limiting primer at 20:1. LATE-PCR products of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis and Aspergillus terreus at up to 1:100 dilution and after 1 h hybridization time, successfully hybridised to respective oligonucleotide probes with no cross reactivity observed between each fungal genus probe and non-target products. For Aspergillus fumigatus, LATE-PCR products were detected at 1:10 dilution and after overnight hybridisation. These results indicate high detection sensitivity for single-stranded DNA produced by LATE-PCR. In conclusion, this advancement of PCR may be utilised to detect fungal pathogens which can aid the diagnosis of invasive fungal disease.