• Mycobiology
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• 제44권2호
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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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• 제15권24호
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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.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제54권2호
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• pp.133-141
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• 2022

혈류 감염(BSI)의 주요 원인균의 하나로 입원환자에서 이환율과 사망률을 높이는 칸디다의 항진균제 내성률을 조사하여 칸디다 혈증(candidemia)의 경험적 치료 방침에 중요한 정보를 제공하고자 한다. 2009~2018년 S병원의 혈액배양 검사에서 분리된 Candida 균주(973건) 중 Candida spp. (932 균주)에 대한 fluconazole 감수성 시험결과에서 4.7% (N=44)가 내성(resistant, R)을 보였고 C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata에서 내성 균주를 확인하였다. 또한, Candida spp. (947 균주)의 amphotericin B에 대한 감수성 결과에서는 내성(N=6, 0.6%)이 나타났고, 전체 Candida spp.(973 균주)에 대한 flucytosine 감수성 시험에서는 내성(N=23, 2.4%)을 보였다. Candida spp. (768 균주)의 voriconazole에 대한 감수성 시험에서는 내성(N=24, 3.1%)을 보였다. C. albicans는 fluconazole (N=23, 6.9%), voriconazole (N=21, 6.0%)이 내성이고 통계학적으로 C. albicans과 non-albicans Candida species은 fluconazole (P=0.039), voriconazole (P<0.001)로 나타났다. 칸디다 혈증의 감염률을 이해하고 예방하기 위한 감시 시스템이 요구되고 항진균제의 적절한 투여와 치료가 요구된다. 따라서 항진균제 감수성 결과의 모니터링을 통한 칸디다의 내성을 추적하는 감염감시활동 정책이 필요할 것으로 사료된다.

• 생명과학회지
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.122-128
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• 2020

Candida albicans가 칸디다 혈증의 주요 원인 균으로 알려져 있지만, 최근에는 non-albicans Candida (NAC)에 의한 심각한 감염이 증가하고 있다. NAC 중에서 C. glabrata는 두 번째로 병원성을 나타내는 원인 균이지만 C. glabrata의 구조, 역학 등의 기본적인 연구는 거의 없는 실정이다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 다양한 유형의 임상 표본으로부터 분리된 총 102개의 C. glabrata균주로 multi-locus sequence typing (MLST)을 수행하였다. FKS, LEU2, NMT1, TRP1, UGP1 및 URA3을 포함한 6개의 하우스키핑 유전자를 증폭하여 염기서열을 분석하였다. 총 3,345개의 DNA 염기서열 중 49개의 가변 염기서열 부위가 발견되었으며, 그 결과 102개의 균주에서 총 12개의 상이한 서열 유형을 확인하였고, 알려지지 않은 서열 유형(USTs) 중 UST1이 가장 많이 나타났다. 이 연구의 결과는 국내 C. glabrata 항생제 처방에 도움이 될 것으로 사료되며, 한국에서 유행하는 C. glabrata에 대한 추가 연구를 위한 기본 역학자료로 사용될 것으로 기대한다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권10호
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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.

• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제45권4호
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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.