MLEE typing of potentially virulent Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis isolated from diabetic patients

The incidence of Candida species, the genetic diversity and the hydrolytic exoenzyme characteristics of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis clinical isolates from patients diagnosed with diabetes mellitus under glycemic clinical control were assessed. Clinical samples were collected from the oral cavity and the isolation and identification of Candida species were performed by microbiological methods. The genetic diversity of clinical isolates was established using isoenzyme markers (MLEE), Nei’s statistics, and clustering analysis. The virulence of oral isolates was evaluated by the in vitro production tests of aspartyl proteinases (SAPs) and phospholipases (PLs). The oral colonization incidence by the Candida species went by the order of 83.3%. A high prevalence of the C. albicans (70.4%) among the species found (C. tropicalis, C. krusei, C. dubliniensis and Candida sp.). A total of 84 electrophoretic types (ETs; 43.1%) was observed in the population of clinical isolates. Genetic relationship analyses showed 18 clusters (I to XVIII) and 7 taxa (A to G). The SAPs expressions was detected in all of the clinical isolates, while the PLs expressions occurred in the majority one (C. albicans: 92.6%; C. dubliniensis: 66.7%). The results showed a high prevalence of the Candida species, particularly the genetically diversified and potentially virulent C. albicans strains, in the oral cavity of diabetic patients with glucose level controlled and without oral candidiasis clinical manifestations.

Author(s):

Boriollo MFG, Rodrigues Netto MF, Bassi RC, Oliveira MC, Martini C, Bassinello V, Neves Filho TH, Silva TA, Spolidorio DMP, Silva JJ

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