Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “CANDIDA”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 883 records · Page 49Linked to original sources
PubMed2004

Distribution of Candida species among bloodstream isolates.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the distribution of Candida species causing bloodstream infections. METHODS: This study was conducted at the Armed Forces Hospital, Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. All cases of candidemia from the period 1996 through to 2002 were retrospectively identified through the records from the Department of Clinical Microbiology. RESULTS: Two hundred and ninety-four candidemic episodes were identified, 176 (59.9%) occurred in the intensive care units (ICUs), 32 (10.9%) medical, 30 (10.2%) surgical wards, 24 (8%) from patients with hematologic malignancies and 15 (5%) from pediatric wards. Candida albicans (C. albicans) was the most frequently isolated species with 149 (50.7%) cases, followed by Candida tropicalis (C. tropicalis) 61 (20.7%), Candida parapsilosis 32 (10.9%), Candida krusei (C. krusei) 23 (7.8%) and Candida glabrata 21 (7.1%). Other species were not common. There is an increase in the proportion of non C. albicans species as the causative agents of candidemia. In certain clinical settings, non C. albicans species predominate as in the Adult General Intensive Care Unit with C. tropicalis as the most common. While in patients with hematologic malignancies, C. krusei species is the most common. CONCLUSION: These findings reinforce the need for continued and active surveillance programs to address the changes in the species distribution among candidal bloodstream isolates which will help to develop effective, preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Activated lactoferrin's ability to inhibit Candida growth and block yeast adhesion to the vaginal epithelial monolayer.

OBJECTIVE: To study in vitro growth-inhibitory effects of activated lactoferrin (ALF) against vaginal isolates of Candida species and to measure the ability of ALF to block interactions of Candida albicans and Candida glabrata to the vaginal epithelial (VE) monolayer. STUDY DESIGN: In vitro effects of ALF on growth of C albicans and C glabrata in Sabouraud dextrose (SD) broth were measured as change in broth turbidity by microscale optical density assay. ALF was tested at 5 and 2.5 mg/mL concentrations against 105 yeast cell inoculum at 370 degrees C for 96 hours and compared with native lactoferrin and control (growth in broth without ALF). VE cells were isolated from human vaginal tissue biopsies to establish a functional monolayer for yeast interaction studies. ALF effects on Candida interactions with the VE monolayer were tested using 3H-thymidine-labeled yeast. Prophylactic (treatment prior to yeast inoculation onto VE) and therapeutic (treatment to detach VE-adherent yeast) potential of ALF (5 mg/mL) was evaluated against vaginal isolates of C albicans strain NTRL809A and C glabrata strain NTRL131G. RESULTS: Growth of Candida species indicated that a 105 yeast inoculum in SD broth proliferated to a stationary growth equilibrium (approximately 10(9) yeast cell density) in 18 hours (approximately 2 hours of generation time). ALF (5 mg/mL) elicited >96 hours of total stasis (100% growth inhibition) and was significantly effective against both Candida species (p < 0.0001). At 2.5 mg/mL dilution, ALF sustained total stasis activity to an average of 18 hours and 24 hours for C albicans (n = 5) and C glabrata (n = 5), respectively. Interaction studies indicated avid binding of C albicans (70 - 140 x 10(3) yeast) and C glabrata (50 - 75 x 10(3) yeast) per square centimeter of VE monolayer. ALF-treated VE showed significant blockade (p < 0.05) of yeast adhesion by 33% and 58% with C albicans and C glabrata, respectively. ALF treatment of yeast-VE complexes resulted in significant detachment (p < 0.05) of C albicans and C glabrata, by 58% and 51%, respectively. CONCLUSION: ALF is a natural fungistatic agent with potent yeast adhesion-blocking and detachment properties and is effective against the vaginal pathogens C albicans and C glabrata.

Candida albicans↗
PubMed2006

[Antifungal susceptibility testing of commensal and pathogenic clinical isolates of oral Candida].

PURPOSE: To evaluate and compare the sensitivity and resistance of commensal and pathogenic oral Candida to antifungal agents. METHODS: YBC Test Kit was used to identify species of commensal and pathogenic oral Candida; The in vitro susceptibilities of oral Candida to 5-flucytosine (5-FC), itraconazole (ITR) and fluconazole (FLU) were determined by NCCLS M27-A2 method. RESULTS: All strains were sensitive to 5-flucytosine, drug resistant strains to fluconazole and itraconazole were found both in commensal and pathogenic oral Candida spp; The proportion of no-C. albicans and antifungal drug resistant strains isolated from head and neck cancer patients treated with radiotherapy or chemotherapy were higher than oral commensal Candida and oral Candidiasis. CONCLUSIONS: The no-C. albicans and drug resistant strains to fluconazole and itraconazole can be found both in commensal and pathogenic oral Candida spp now.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1987

Analysis of fatty acid composition of Candida species by gas-liquid chromatography using a polar column.

The fatty acid composition of representative Candida species was examined by gas-liquid chromatography (GLC) using a polar column. The major fatty acids were C14:0, C16:0, C18:0 saturated, C16:1 and C18:1 monoenoic series, with or without C18 polyunsaturated acids (C18:2 and C18:3). In Torulopsis glabrata and Saccharomyces cerevisiae the C18:2 and C18:3 acids were not found, but the C10:0 and C12:0 acids were detected in S. cerevisiae. These results indicated that the Candida genus could be distinguished from Torulopsis and Saccharomyces genera by GLC analysis of fatty acids. Quantitative differences in the fatty acid composition between cells grown at high temperature (37 degrees C) and low temperature (25 degrees C) were found generally in Candida species, and the amounts of C18 polyunsaturated acids (C18:2 and C18:3) increased in the cells grown at 25 degrees C. Each Candida species showed a characteristic profile in fatty acid composition. Determination of the cellular fatty acid composition in Candida species is likely to be useful for the grouping or chemotaxonomy of newer isolates of Candida species.

Candida↗
PubMed2005

Point prevalence, microbiology and antifungal susceptibility patterns of oral Candida isolates colonizing or infecting Mexican HIV/AIDS patients and healthy persons.

We have conducted a longitudinal study over a 3-year period to address the point prevalence, microbiological characteristics and antifungal susceptibility patterns of yeast isolates colonizing or infecting the oral cavities of 111 HIV-infected (51 adults, 60 children) and 201 non HIV-infected (109 adults, 92 children) Mexican persons. Regarding the epidemiology of oral candidiasis, Candida albicans was the most frequent species isolated. Seventy-one out of 85 isolates from colonized persons were C. albicans (83.5%), 27 isolates of them were from HIV-infected children and 44 from non HIV-infected patients. Sixty-two isolates belonged to serotype A which was the most prevalent serotype of C. albicans. Non-albicans species (Candida glabrata, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae) were isolated from 16.5% of colonized patients and from 38.5% patients with candidiasis or Candida-related lesions. There were nine episodes of infection or colonization by at least 2 different yeast species. In the case of HIV/AIDS patients, it was determined that yeast carriage was not associated with the number of CD4+ cells or the viral load, but HAART reduced the prevalence of oral candidiasis. Overall, most patients harbored strains in vitro susceptible to fluconazole, however 10.8% of the yeasts were resistant to one or more azole antifungal agents and 29% were intermediate susceptible to them. On the contrary, 5-fluorocytosine was very active against all isolates tested, and amphotericin B was active against 97.9% of them.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2002

Betel quid-associated oral lesions and oral Candida species in a female Cambodian cohort.

BACKGROUND: Betel quid chewing (BQC) is still prevalent among elderly Cambodian women and is associated with a wide variety of oral mucosal lesions. BQC has also been associated with a reduced rate of dental caries and changes in the oral microbiological flora. METHODS: Since no studies were available on the impact of BQC on the oral carriage of Candida species, in this study oral swabs (Fungiquick, Hain Diagnostika, Germany) were taken from the tongue and palate of 48 Cambodian women with BQC habit (study group) and 13 control subjects without BQC habit (control group) to determine the spectrum of Candida species in these two groups. In addition, we investigated lesions of the oral mucosa likely to be associated with BQC habit in both study and control groups. RESULTS: The median duration of BQC was 10 years (range 10 months-30 years). The following oral lesions were found in the study group: betel chewer's mucosa (85.4%), oral leukoplakia (8.3%), leukoedema (37.5%) and oral lichen planus (4.2%). Oral candidiasis was seen neither in BQ-chewers nor in controls. Candida spp. were found in 70.8% of the cases (controls 69.2%). Whilst C. albicans was isolated from 27.1% of the study cohort, C. tropicalis was the second most common isolate. One control case was colonised by C. dubliniensis--the first report of this organism from a Cambodian population. There was no significant difference in the candidal carriage rate or the Candida species isolated between the study and the control group. CONCLUSIONS: Mycological findings from the present study do not indicate that BQC has a significant effect on oral colonisation by Candida species.

Adult↗
PubMed1988

The pathogenesis and clinical significance of cytologically detectable oral Candida in acute leukemia.

Using serial examination and oral cytology, 50 adult patients undergoing induction therapy for acute leukemia were studied for oral colonization with candida species. Ninety percent of patients were found to be colonized with Candida, with most of these colonizations present by day 14. The 30 patients exhibiting colonization with pseudohyphae received ketoconazole 400 mg daily by mouth. Of 20 patients in this group treated for 5 or more days, Candida organisms were eradicated in nine. Sixteen patients from the above group with persistent colonization on ketoconazole were treated by independent clinical decision for sustained fever and neutropenia with Amphotericin B, but only one responded by elimination of colonization. Seven of the 15 patients who did not initially receive ketoconazole developed Candida dissemination in contrast to two of 30 who received ketoconazole initially (P = 0.003, Fisher's exact test). No patient who initially had or acquired a negative cytology developed oral or disseminated candidiasis. Clinical oral candidiasis occurred in three patients, all of whom were receiving amphotericin B. Approximately 90% of these patients have or develop oral colonization with Candida organisms as identified by oral cytology. Those with colonization, both with and without pseudohyphae present, are at risk for dissemination. Amphotericin B does not eliminate colonization remaining after treatment with 400 mg of ketoconazole daily. More effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies are needed to identify and eliminate Candida organisms and to prevent disseminated candidiasis in this population of patients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2002

Candida dubliniensis, a new fungal pathogen.

There is a high interest in Candida species other than Candida albicans because of the rise and the epidemiological shifts in candidiasis. These emerging Candida species are favored by the increase of immunocompromised patients and the use of new medical practices, and m. Most oropharyngeal candidiasis can be foundare observed in those HIV-infected patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Candida dubliniensis is a recently described opportunistic pathogen that is closely related to C. albicans but differs from it with respect to epidemiology, certain virulence characteristics, and the ability to develop fluconazole resistance in vitro. C. dubliniensis has been linked to oral candidiasis in AIDS patients, although it has recently been associated to invasive disease. C. dubliniensis shares diagnostic characteristics with C. albicans, as germ tube- and chlamydospore-production, and it is generally misclassified as C. albicans by standard diagnostic procedures. Several recent studies have attempted to elucidate useful phenotypic and genotypic characteristics for separating both species. A large variety of methods have been developed with the aim of facilitating rapid and, accurate identification of this species. These have included differential chromogenic isolation platesculture media, direct immunological tests, and enhanced manual and automated biochemical and enzymatic panels. Chromogenic isolation media, as CHROMagar Candida, demonstrate better detection rates than traditional media, and allow the presumptive identification of C. dubliniensis by means of colony color (dark-green colonies). API 20 C AUX system is considered a reference method, but ID 32 C strip, the VITEK Yeast Biochemical Card and the VITEK 2 ID-YST system correctly identify most C. dubliniensis isolates, being the latter the most accurate. Spectroscopic methods, such as Fourier transformed-infrared spectroscopy, offer potential advantages. However, many authors consider that standard methods for differentiation of Candida species are time-consuming, often insensitive and can fail to distinguish C. dubliniensis. To overcome these low sensitivity, poor specificity and intolerable delay,drawbacks, molecular tools have been developed to discriminate C. dubliniensis, and particularly those based on the polymerase chain reaction. But, molecular tools prove difficult and too complex for routine use in the clinical laboratory setting and new developments are necessary. Moreover, an increased resistance to antifungal drugs has been described. Although preliminary studies indicate that most strains of C. dubliniensis are susceptible to antifungal agents, fluconazole-resistant strains have been detected. Furthermore, fluconazole-resistant strains are easily derived in vitro, showing an increased expression of multidrug resistance transporters, as MDR1.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1994

Detection of Candida enolase antibody in patients with candidiasis.

The serodiagnostic value of candida enolase antibody was evaluated in 27 patients with systemic candidiasis. The glycolytic enzyme enolase was prepared from Candida albicans IFM 40009 and used as the antigen for immunoblot assays. IgG class antibody was found in the sera of 17 of 27 patients (62.9%) obtained during the early course of the infection. Serial sampling of sera increased the number of patients with positive Candida enolase antibody, which was detected in 25 of 27 patients (92.5%). None of the patients with localized candidiasis showed a positive IgG titer more than 1:100. The specificity of Candida enolase IgG antibody was 95%. This antibody was observed in various candida species: Candida albicans (6/7, 85.7%); C. parapsilosis (7/9, 77.9%); C. tropicalis (5/5, 100%); C. guilliermondii (4/4, 100%); and C. glabrata (1/3, 33.3%).

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Modulation of macrophage phagocytic activity by cell wall components of Candida albicans.

Cell wall components of the pathogenic yeast Candida albicans have been shown to possess significant immunomodulatory activity both in vivo and in vitro. We have previously found that an ethylenediamine (EDA) extract of the Candida cell wall exhibits significant immunosuppressive activity. In an effort to further characterize the immunomodulatory activity of the EDA extract, we attempted to determine the effect of this extract on macrophage phagocytic activity. Our results show that nonelicited peritoneal macrophages treated for 24 or 48 hr with the EDA extract fail to phagocytize Candida yeast cells normally. We have observed that the phagocytosis of Candida is mediated by a combination of lectin-like receptor-, Fc receptor-, and complement receptor-type 3 (CR3)-dependent processes. Results show, however, that the most efficient uptake of this organism is dependent on CR3-mediated phagocytosis. Experiments carried out under various opsonic conditions suggest that the level of CR3-mediated phagocytosis of Candida is depressed following EDA extract treatment. These results show that a substantial mechanism of macrophage phagocytosis is depressed following contact with cell wall components of Candida.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

An anaerobic continuous-flow culture model of interactions between intestinal microflora and Candida albicans.

The finding by earlier workers that Escherichia coli suppressed the growth of Candida albicans in vitro or in gnotobiotic mice has led to numerous, erroneous conclusions regarding the identity of the organisms and mechanisms responsible for the suppression of Candida in the gut. This is due, in part, to the fact that nearly all studies to date have not reflected interactions as they occur in the intestinal tract. This paper describes a series of experiments that establish that an anaerobic continuous-flow (CF) culture model of the ecology of the large intestinal flora reproduces interactions between bacteria and Candida as they occur in the large intestine. This was determined in the following ways. (i) Bacterial counts in CF cultures of conventional mouse cecal flora or human fecal flora closely resembled that found in the mouse intestine and human feces. (ii) Dense layers of bacterial growth that formed on the glass walls of the CF culture vessels resembled bacterial populations that colonize intestinal mucosa. (iii) Total and individual levels of certain metabolic end-products of the predominant anaerobic bacterial flora present in CF cultures coincided with those found in the large intestine of conventional mice or human feces used to establish the CF cultures. (iv) C. albicans was eliminated from CF cultures of mouse cecal flora at a rate similar to that of untreated experimental animals. (v) Contents of CF cultures fed to antibiotic-treated mice redressed several cecal abnormalities, and suppressed Candida populations to levels found in conventional animals. Thus, a number of complex ecological mechanisms were maintained in CF cultures which normally control Candida populations in the large intestine. It is suggested, therefore, that the CF culture model should help to further define the mechanisms which control C. albicans and other fungi in the intestinal tract, as well as define which components of the indigenous microflora are responsible for suppression of Candida in the gut.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1983

Latex agglutination test for detection of Candida antigen in patients with disseminated disease.

A latex agglutination test has been devised which allows detection of a circulating antigen in patients with systemic infection due to Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida parapsilosis. Latex is sensitized with serum from rabbits immunized with whole heat killed Candida albicans blastoconidia. The active component of this serum is IgG. Control latex, used to differentiate non-specific agglutination, is sensitized with the same dilution of serum from a rabbit without antibody to Candida species. Sera from a number of patient groups were tested. While none of the hundred normal controls had an antigen titer of greater than or equal to 1:4, 30 of 33 patients with documented disseminated candida infection had antigen titers of 1:4 to 1:32. Two of the 33 gave false negative results, and one caused nonspecific agglutination. In all patients who recovered after antifungal therapy antigen levels returned to within the range found in normal controls.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Esophageal Candida infection and adherence mechanisms in the nonimmunocompromised rabbit.

Candida infection of the esophagus has been reported not only in immunocompromised hosts but also in healthy individuals. However, its mechanisms of action in healthy individuals have not been clarified. Our previous study suggested that physical contact was an important factor for the adherence of Candida albicans. The aim of the present study was to test our hypothesis and clarify the adherence mechanisms. Suspensions of Candida albicans cells were given to rabbits in drinking water without the use of immunosuppressive drugs and/or antibiotics, and the esophagus was examined. Candidial lesions were observed in 14 of 15 rabbits given the suspensions held in water with and without 30% sucrose for 13 days. The number of Candida albicans cells adhering to the esophagus per square millimeter by subepithelial cell insertion was significantly larger than that adhering by attachment. These results indicate that adherence of Candida albicans to the esophagus occurs by sustained physical contact alone under a nonimmunosuppressive state, and that subepithelial cell insertion results in greater attachment on adherence. Our findings provide a clue that may help clarify the mechanism of Candida infection in healthy individuals.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Secreted aspartate proteinases, a virulence factor of Candida spp.: occurrence among clinical isolates.

Production of secreted aspartate proteinases was determined in a set of 646 isolates of Candida and non-Candida yeast species collected from 465 patients of the University Hospital in Olomouc (Czechia) in the period 1995-2002, and Candida samples obtained from 64 healthy volunteers using solid media developed for this purpose. Using random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis (RAPD) 79 Candida isolates from blood were analyzed to show potential relationships between clustering of the fingerprints and extracellular proteolytic activity of these strains. C. albicans, C. tropicalis and C. parapsilosis possess always proteolytic activity while non-Candida species did not display any proteolysis. A tight relationship between fingerprints and extracellular proteolysis in the Candida isolates was not shown. A remarkable consistency between fingerprint clusters and proteolysis occurred in a subset of C. parapsilosis samples. Suboptimal pH of the growth medium was shown to facilitate the investigation of potential co-incidence of genotypic and phenotypic traits.

Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases↗
PubMed1998

Structural and immunochemical characterization of beta-1,2-linked mannobiosyl phosphate residue in the cell wall mannan of Candida glabrata.

A mannan of Candida glabrata IFO 0622 digested by Arthrobacter exo-alpha-mannosidase and a beta-1,2-linked mannobiose obtained from the parent mannan by acid treatment was analyzed using 13C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The results show that the beta-1, 2-linked mannobiosyl residue is esterified to a phosphate group through position C-1 in the alpha-configuration, Manbeta1- 2Manalpha1-HPO3-. The results of immunochemical assays of these mannans using the commercial antigenic factor sera of the genus Candida (Candida Check, Iatron) indicate that the main recognition site of serum no. 6 in this kit is the mannotetraosyl side-chain Manbeta1-2Manalpha1- 2Manalpha1-2Man in C. glabrata mannan and also suggest that the phosphate-containing unit (such as Manbeta1- 2Manalpha1-HPO3- in this mannan) behaves as one of the antigenic determinants of serum no. 6, but not of serum no. 5. Therefore, the present and previous findings indicate that serum no. 5 recognizes relatively longer beta-1,2-linked oligomannosyl side-chains, Manbeta1-[2Manbeta1-]n 2Man (n = 1-6), attached to the phosphate groups previously observed in the cell wall mannans of Candida albicans, Candida stellatoidea, and Candida tropicalis.

Agglutination↗
PubMed2006

Novel lysine biosynthetic gene sequences (LYS1 and LYS5) used as PCR targets for the detection of the pathogenic Candida yeast.

We report here a sensitive and specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection assay for the pathogenic Candida yeast based on the novel LYS1 [encoding saccharopine dehydrogenase (SDH)] and LYS5 [encoding phosphopantetheinyl transferase (PPTase)] gene sequences of the fungal unique lysine biosynthetic pathway. Both LYS1 and LYS5 DNA-specific PCR primers SG1, SG2 and SG3, SG4, respectively, amplified predicted 483 and 648-bp fragments from Candida albicans genomic DNA but not from other selected fungal, bacterial, or human DNA. The 18S rDNA control primers exhibited positive amplifications in all PCR assays. The LYS1-and LYS5-specific primers strongly amplified C. albicans and Candida tropicalis target sequences; however, the LYS1 primers also weakly amplified fragments from Candida kefyr and Candida lusitaniae DNA. Both sets of primers amplified target sequences from less than 10 pg of serially diluted C. albicans DNA, and the LYS1 specific primers also detected DNA isolated from serially diluted 50 C. albicans cells. The PCR primers reported here are sufficiently sensitive and specific for the potential early detection of Candida infections with no possibility of false positive results from cross-contamination with bacterial or human DNA.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Strain characterization of Candida parapsilosis fungemia by molecular typing methods.

The present study used two molecular typing methods to investigate a cluster of eight cases of Candida parapsilosis fungemia in a hospital in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Candida parapsilosis is an important opportunistic pathogen that is frequently involved in outbreaks of nosocomial fungemia. Identification of a common source of infection and determination of genetic relatedness among the strains involved in outbreaks are important for infection control. Candida parapsilosis strains were isolated from the bloodstream of patients housed in an intensive-care unit (n=5) and in individual rooms (n=3). An additional strain of Candida parapsilosis was isolated from a hyperalimentation infusion flask, which was implicated by molecular typing to be the source of infection. All strains were identified using morphological and biochemical methods. The genetic relationship between patients' strains and the hyperalimentation infusion strain was assessed by electrophoretic karyotype (EK) analysis and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD). Both methods resulted in patterns that allowed differentiation of the isolates. Candida parapsilosis fungemia, in three of the eight patients, resulted from a common source of infection, as demonstrated by molecular typing methods. Image analysis of EK patterns indicated that these strains were closest to Candida parapsilosis Group II, a grouping that is a less frequent clinical isolate than the major Group I strains.

Candida↗
PubMed1984

Oral Candida in children.

One hundred forty healthy children, 3 to 12 years of age, were examined for the presence of oral Candida. Forty-five percent of the 3 to 5 1/2-year olds and 65% of the 6- to 12-year olds were found to be Candida "carriers" (p less than 0.05). No significant sex difference was found in the incidence of Candida "carriers." The salivary IgA concentration did not differ significantly in Candida "carriers" and noncarriers. A significantly higher IgA concentration was found in children 6 to 12 years old (0.02 less than p less than 0.05). The concentration of salivary electrolytes was similar in Candida-positive and Candida-negative children.

Age Factors↗