Molecular Detection of INT, HWP, PLB, SAP and ALS Genes in Candida Species Isolated from Patients with Vulvovaginal Candidiasis

Yıl 2023, Cilt: 25 Sayı: 3, 431 - 437, 26.12.2023

Semih Tokak , İbrahim Halil Kılıç , Elif Gülbahçe Mutlu , Fadime Beyazyüz , Jule Eriç Horasanlı , Fatma Esenkaya Taşbent

https://doi.org/10.24938/kutfd.1332656

Öz

Objective: Vulvovaginal candidiasis is a superficial fungal infection that occurs in approximately 75% of women at least once in their lifetime. Some genes are involved in the adhesion and pathogenesis of Candida species to the mucosa and epithelial cells of the vagina. The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency of HWP1 (hyphal wall protein), ALS1 (agglutinin-like sequence), SAP1 (secreted aspartyl proteases), PLB1 (phospholipase B), INT1 (integrin A) genes in Candida strains isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis patients.
Material and Methods: The study included 100 vaginal Candida isolates identified by using molecular technique. The presence of INT1, HWP1, PLB1, SAP1 and ALS1 genes, which play an important role in infection, were investigated using PCR method in all isolated Candida strains.
Results: SAP1, INT1 and HWP1 virulence genes were commonly found in Candida strains, while the PLB gene was least detected. The SAP1 (93.0%) gene was the most detected virulence gene, followed by the HWP1 gene (86%) in Candida albicans strains. Similarly, among the virulence genes in non-albicans Candida strains, the SAP1 gene (86%) was the most detected virulence gene. At least two virulence factors have been identified that can cause VVC in 95% of the different Candida species.
Conclusion: The results obtained in this study suggests that INT, HWP, PLB, SAP and ALS genes expressed during vulvovaginal candidiasis infection may have contributed to the adherence of Candida strains to the vagina and biofilm formation.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Candida, vulvovaginal candidiasis, virulence genes, adhesion

Proje Numarası

Yok

VULVOVAJİNAL KANDİDİYAZİSLİ HASTALARDAN İZOLE EDİLEN CANDİDA TÜRLERİNDEKİ INT, HWP, PLB, SAP VE ALS GENLERİNİN MOLEKÜLER TESPİTİ

Öz

Amaç: Vulvovajinal kandidiyazis, kadınların yaklaşık %75’inde yaşamları boyunca en az bir kez görülen yüzeysel mantar enfeksiyonudur. Bazı genler, Candida türlerinin vajina mukozasına ve epitel hücrelerine yapışmasında ve patogenezinde rol oynamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın amacı, vulvovajinal kandidiyazisli hastalardan izole edilen Candida suşlarındaki HWP1 (hifal duvar proteini), ALS1 (agglutinin benzeri sekans), SAP1 (sekrete aspartil proteaz), PLB1 (fosfolipaz B), INT1 (integrin A) genlerinin sıklığının araştırılmasıdır.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışmaya moleküler teknik kullanılarak tanımlanan 100 vajinal Candida izolatı dahil edildi. İzole edilen tüm Candida suşlarında, enfeksiyon da önemli rol oynayan INT1, HWP1, PLB1, SAP1 ve ALS1 genlerinin varlığı PCR yöntemi kullanılarak araştırıldı.
Bulgular: SAP1, INT1 ve HWP1 virülans genleri Candida suşları arasında en yaygın, PLB geni en az tespit edilen gen olmuştur. Candida albicans suşlarında SAP1 (%93.0) geni en çok saptanan virülans geni olurken, bunu HWP1 geni (%86) takip etmiştir. Benzer şekilde non-albicans Candida türlerinde saptanan virülans genleri arasında SAP1 geni (%86) en fazla saptanan virülans geni olmuştur. Farklı Candida türlerinin %95’inde VVK’ya neden olabilecek en az iki virülans faktörü tanımlanmıştır.
Sonuç: Bu çalışmada elde edilen sonuçlar, vulvovajinal kandidiyazis enfeksiyonu sırasında eksprese edilen INT, HWP, PLB, SAP ve ALS genlerinin, Candida suşlarının vajinaya adezyonuna ve biyofilm oluşumuna katkıda bulunmuş olabileceğini düşündürmektedir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

Candida, vulvovajinal kandidiyaz, virülans genleri, adezyon

Destekleyen Kurum

Yok

Proje Numarası

Yok

Teşekkür

Yok

Kaynakça

• Gonçalves SS, Souza, ACR, Chowdhary A, Meis JF, Colombo AL. Epidemiology and molecular mechanisms of antifungal resistance in Candida and Aspergillus. Mycoses. 2016;59(4):198-219.
• Ferrer J. Vaginal candidosis: Epidemiological and etiological factors. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2000;71(1):21-7.
• Achkar JM, Fries BC. Candida infections of the genitourinary tract. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2010;23(2):253-73.
• Gauwerky K, Borelli C, Korting HC. Targeting virulence: A new paradigm for antifungals. Drug Discov Today. 2009;14(3):214-22.
• Hoyer LL, Green CB, Oh SH, Zhao X. Discovering the secrets of the Candida albicans agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) gene family-a sticky pursuit. Med Mycol. 2008;46(1):1-15.
• Czechowicz P, Nowicka J, Gościniak G. Virulence factors of candida spp. and host immune response important in the pathogenesis of vulvovaginal candidiasis. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022;23(11):5895.
• Dekkers BGJ, Veringa A, Marriott DJE, Boonstra JM. van der Elst KCM, Doukas FF, et al. Invasive candidiasis in the elderly: Considerations for drug therapy. Drugs aging. 2018;35(9):781-89.
• Rodríguez-Cerdeira C, Gregorio MC, Molares-Vila A, López-Barcenas A, Fabbrocini G, Bardhi B, et al. Biofilms and vulvovaginal candidiasis. Colloids Surf. Biointerfaces. 2019;174(1):110-25.
• Asleson CM, Bensen ES, Gale CA, Melms AS, Kurischko C, Berman J. Candida albicans INT1- induced filamentation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae depends on Sla2p. Mol Cell Biol. 2001;21(4):1272- 84.
• Silva S, Negri M, Henriques M, Oliveira R, Williams DW, Azeredo J. Candida glabrata, Candida parapsilosis and Candida tropicalis: Biology, epidemiology, pathogenicity and antifungal resistance. FEMS Microbiol Rev. 2011;36(2):288- 305.
• Sikora M, Dabkowska M, Swoboda-Kopec E, Jarzynka S, Netsvyetayeva I, Jaworska-Zaremba M, et al. Differences in proteolytic activity and gene profiles of fungal strains isolated from the total parenteral nutrition patients. Folia Microbiol. 2011;56(2):143-48.
• Staniszewska M, Bondaryk M, Siennicka K, Piłat J, Schaller M, Kurzatkowski W. Role of aspartic proteinases in Candida albicans virulence. Substrate specificity of Aspartic proteinases and Candida albicans pathogenesis. Postep. Mikrobiol. 2012;51(2):236.
• Tellapragada C, Eshwara VK, Johar R, Shaw T, Malik N, Bhat PV, et al. Antifungal susceptibility patterns, in vitro production of virulence factors, and evaluation of diagnostic modalities for the speciation of pathogenic candida from blood stream infections and vulvovaginal candidiasis. J. Pathog. 2014;2014(1):142864.
• Tokak S, Kılıç İH, Horasanlı JE, Mutlu EG, Taşbent FE, Karagöz ID. Vaginal candidiasis in Konya area: Etiology, risk factors, virulence patterns, and antifungal susceptibility. Rev Romana Med Lab. 2021;29(2):201-15.
• Romani L, Bistoni F, Puccetti P. Adaptation of Candida albicans to the host environment: The role of morphogenesis in virulence and survival in mammalian hosts. Curr Opin Microbiol. 2003;6(4):338-43.
• Cannon RD, Chaffin WL. Oral colonization by Candida albicans. Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 1999;10(3):359-83.
• Tri W. The role of virulence factors in Candida albicans pathogenicity. J Med Sci. 2016;48(1):58- 68.
• Nas T, Kalkanci A, Fidan I, Hizel K, Bolat S, Yolbakan S, et al. Expression of ALS1, HWP1 and SAP4 genes in Candida albicans strains isolated from women with vaginitis. Folia Microbiol (Praha). 2008;53(2):179‑83.
• Monroy-Pérez E, Paniagua-Contreras G, Vaca- Paniagua F, Negrete-Abascal E, Vaca S. SAP expression in candida albicans strains isolated from mexican patients with vaginal candidosis. Int J Clin Med. 2013;4(1):25-31.
• Hoyer LL, Clevenger J, Hecht JE, Ehrhart EJ, Poulet FM. Detection of Als proteins on the cell wall of Candida albicans in murine tissues. Infect Immun. 1999;67(8):4251-5.
• Roudbarmohammadi S, Roudbary M, Bakhshi B, Katiraee F, Mohammadi R, Falahati M. ALS1 and ALS3 gene expression and biofilm formation in Candida albicans isolated from vulvovaginal candidiasis. Adv Biomed Res. 2016;5(1):105.
• Monroy-Pérez E, Sáinz-Espuñes T, Paniagua- Contreras G, Negrete-Abascal E, Rodríguez- Moctezuma JR, Vaca S. Frequency and expression of ALS and HWP1 genotypes in Candida albicans strains isolated from Mexican patients suffering from vaginal candidosis.Mycoses.2012;55(3):e151- e157.
• Shrief R, Zaki MES, el-Sehsah EM, Ghaleb S, Mofreh M. Study of antifungal susceptibility, virulence genes and biofilm formation in Candida albicans. Open Microbiol J. 2019;13(1):241-8.
• Borst A, Fluit AC. High levels of hydrolytic enzymes secreted by Candida albicans isolates involved in respiratory infections. J Med Microbiol. 2003;52(11):971-74.
• Lian CH, Liu WD. Differential expression of Candida albicans secreted aspartyl proteinase in human vulvovaginal candidiasis. Mycoses. 2007;50(5):383-90.
• Bassyouni RH, Wegdan AA, Abdelmoneim A, Said W, AboElnaga F. Phospholipase and aspartyl proteinase activities of Candida species causing vulvovaginal candidiasis in patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology. 2015;25(10):1734-41.
• De Luca C, Guglielminetti M, Ferrario A, Clabro M, Casari E. Candidemia: Species involved, virulence factors and antimycotic susceptibility. New Microbiol. 2012;35(4):459-68.
• Lotfali E, Fattahi A, Noorbakhsh F, Ansari S, Ghasemi R, Rabiei MM. Alternation of HWP1 and PLB1 mRNA expression level in progression of Candida albicans in different anatomical sites. Arch Clin Infect Dis. 2019;14(6):e91258.
• Monroy-Pérez E, Paniagua-Contreras GL, Rodríguez-Purata P, Vaca-Paniagua F, Vázquez- Villaseñor M, Díaz-Velásquez C, et al. High virulence and antifungal resistance in clinical strains of Candida albicans. Can J Infect Dis Med Microbiol. 2016;2016(1):5930489.