• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.105-108
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• 2000

Oligonucleotide primers amplifying a 344 bp fragment on the integrin-like protein alpha-INT1p gene (${\alpha}$INT1) of Candida albicans were synthesized for screenign of C. albicans from clinicalsamples by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR specifically amplified DNA from C. albicans and none from any other Candida, fungal, or human DNA in standard used here. The PCR assay showed that the primers (LH1 and LH2) were specific for 26 isolates of C. albicans from clinical smaples, whereas the positive fragment, 344 bp, was not amplified from 15 clinical isolates including 14 other medically important Candida species and an isolate of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. PCR was conducted on the urine samples of 20 patients and 4 samples were C. albicans positive. The detection limit of the PCR assay for C. albicans was shown to be approximately 10 cells/ml saline. The PCR system using 344 bp ${\alpha}$INT1 as a target is more specific and rapid than the conventional culture method, and the sensitive detection method is applicable to clinical diagnosis of C. albicans infections.

• Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.146-150
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• 2002

A multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was developed for the identification of two Candida species-albicans and dubliniensis. Three sets of primers were selected from different genomic sequences to specifically amplify a 516 bp fragment within the tops gene, specific for several species of the genus Candida (CCL primers); a 239 bp fragment within the $\alpha$INT1 gene, specific for Candida albicans (CAL primers); and a 175 bp fragment within the ALSD1 gene, specific for Candida dubliniensis (CDL primers). Using the primers in conjunction (multiplex PCR), we were able to detect both C. albicans and C. dubliniensis and to differentiate between them. The detection limit of the PCR assay was approximately 10 cells per milliliter of saline. Thus, this multiplex PCR assay can be applied for differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis from clinical specimens.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.126-134
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to propose an efficient treatment approach for infection with different candida species. Methods: Fifty-three patients who presented with a chief complaint of oral mucosal pain and exhibited positive candida culture findings were divided into two groups (Candida albicans and non-albicans). Pain, mucosal manifestations, salivary flow rates, durations of disease and treatment, and responses to treatment (nystatin and clonazepam) were investigated in both groups. Results: Patients in the C. albicans group exhibited more prominent clinical characteristics (erythematous lesions, tongue coatings, and hyperalgesia) than those in the non-albicans group. In total, 70% of patients in the non-albicans group showed no abnormalities in the oral mucosa. Patients in the C. albicans group showed increased resistance to nystatin treatment compared to those in the non-albicans group, especially with longer disease durations. The patients resistant to nystatin treatment showed positive responses to clonazepam. Conclusions: Patients with oral mucosal pain should be tested for the presence of Candida, even in the absence of mucosal abnormalities, especially those infected with non-albicans species. If no response to antifungal therapy is observed, treatment with clonazepam should be initiated, especially in patients infected with C. albicans.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to investigate the antifungal effect of bee venom (BV) and sweet bee venom (SBV) against Candida albicans (C. albicans) clinical isolates. Methods: In this study, BV and SBV were examined for antifungal activities against the Korean Collection for Type Cultures (KCTC) strain and 10 clinical isolates of C. albicans. The disk diffusion method was used to measure the antifungal activity and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assays were performed by using a broth microdilution method. Also, a killing curve assay was conducted to investigate the kinetics of the anti-fungal action. Results: BV and SBV showed antifungal activity against 10 clinical isolates of C. albicans that were cultured from blood and the vagina by using disk diffusion method. The MIC values obtained for clinical isolates by using the broth microdilution method varied from $62.5{\mu}g/mL$ to $125{\mu}g/mL$ for BV and from $15.63{\mu}g/mL$ to $62.5{\mu}g/mL$ for SBV. In the killing-curve assay, SBV behaved as amphotericin B, which was used as positive control, did. The antifungal efficacy of SBV was much higher than that of BV. Conclusion: BV and SBV showed antifungal activity against C. albicans clinical strains that were isolated from blood and the vagina. Especially, SBV might be a candidate for a new antifungal agent against C. albicans clinical isolates.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the in-vitro efficacy of PDT using red light emitting diode (LED) with Radachlorin for biofilm inhibition of clinical Candida albicans isolates. The suspensions containing C. albicans at $9{\times}10^8CFU/mL$ were prepared on yeast nitrogen base containing 5% glucose. The biofilm formation was grown for 3 h after seeding suspensions each 100 ul on a 96-well plate and then supernatant was discarded. Each well was treated with $0.39{\mu}g/mL$ from $50{\mu}g/mL$ concentrations of Radachlorin on adherent biofilm. After a 30-minute incubation, light was irradiated for 30, 60, or 90 minutes using the following light source of wavelength 630 nm LED, at energy densities of 14, 29, and $43J/cm^2$. Afterwards, all supernatant was removed and dried. Adherent cells were stained with safranin O and dried. The cell viability was measured using a microplate reader at 490 nm. Also, a fluorescent signal on C. albicans was observed by saturation of a photosensitizer. In conclusion, a significant inhibition of 72.5% was observed to C. albicans on biofilm at the Radachlorin dose of $50{\mu}g/mL$ with 630 nm LED. The Photosensitizer (Radachlorin) was adequate at 30 minuttes for C. albicans. Overall, the results showed that inhibition of biofilm formation was Radachlorine dose-dependent. The results suggest that PDT, using Radachlorin with 630 nm LED, is able to decrease biofilm formation of C. albicans.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.123-126
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• 2023

The prevalence of candidiasis, a contagious disease with high morbidity and mortality, has sharply increased globally over the last two decades. Candida albicans can cause serious infections in patients with weak immunity and in recipients of prolonged antibiotic treatment. Consequently, rapid and accurate identification of species can play an important role in the treatment of candidiasis. Here, we investigated the positive rate and infection trend of C. albicans according to age, specimen type, and sex using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction-based testing of samples collected for the diagnosis of sexually transmitted diseases in Korea between 2018 and 2020. When the type of specimen collected was a swab, the positive rate of C. albicans was higher among younger women, and tended to decrease with age. Analysis of swab samples revealed higher positive rates than urinalysis. The reduction trend in positive rates by age was comparable between the overall samples and urine specimens. Among male patients, the positive rate did not differ substantially across the various types of specimens collected. Previous studies have shown a higher prevalence of non-albicans Candida species than C. albicans in clinical specimens, and exclusion of the former from our analysis may be a limitation of this study. However, our findings contribute significantly to the literature because globally, there is a paucity of epidemiological studies using molecular techniques to detect C. albicans in sexually transmitted disease test samples.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.45-47
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• 2008

Fungal infections of the spine are relatively uncommon. Moreover, cervical spondylodiscitis due to Candida albicans in non-immunocompromised patient is very rare. We report a case of Candida spondylodiscitis in a 64-year-old woman who complained of neck pain. The clinical feature and treatment option are presented with a review of pertinent literatures.

• The Journal of Advanced Prosthodontics
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• v.9 no.5
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• pp.402-408
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• 2017

PURPOSE. The goal of this study was to compare the adhesion of Candida albicans to the surfaces of CAD/CAM and conventionally fabricated complete denture bases. MATERIALS AND METHODS. Twenty discs of acrylic resin poly (methyl methacrylate) were fabricated with CAD/CAM and conventional procedures (heat-polymerized acrylic resin). The specimens were divided into two groups: 10 discs were fabricated using the CAD/CAM procedure (Wieland Digital Denture Ivoclar Vivadent), and 10 discs were fabricated using a conventional flasking and pressure-pack technique. Candida colonization was performed on all the specimens using four Candida albicans isolates. The difference in Candida albicans adhesion on the discs was evaluated. The number of adherent yeast cells was calculated by the colony-forming units (CFU) and by Fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS. There was a significant difference in the adhesion of Candida albicans to the complete denture bases created with CAD/CAM and the adhesion to those created with the conventional procedure. The CAD/CAM denture bases exhibited less adhesion of Candida albicans than did the denture bases created with the conventional procedure (P<.05). CONCLUSION. The CAD/CAM procedure for fabricating complete dentures showed promising potential for reducing the adherence of Candida to the denture base surface. Clinical Implications. Complete dentures made with the CAD/CAM procedure might decrease the incidence of denture stomatitis compared with conventional dentures.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.426-428
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• 2002

A seven-year old mare had endometritis after history of abortion and repeated intra-uterine infusion of antibiotics. She showed hyperemia and oedema of the cervical mucosa with grayish white purulent discharge. Candida albicans was determined to be the causative agent of the endometritis. The diagnosis was established by the direct demonstration of the pathogen in the uterine exudate and its isolation in pure, heavy and luxuriant growth. In vitro disc diffusion test showed the organism was sensitive to all the four antifungal drugs tested, which are amphotericin B, clotrimazole, fluconazole and nystatin. The intrauterine nystatin infusion was found very effective as C. albicans could not be recovered 7 days after the last treatment.