The ability to change between yeast and hyphal cells (dimorphism) is known to be a virulence property of the human pathogen Candida albicans. The pathogenesis of disseminated candidosis involves adhesion and penetration of hyphal cells from a colonized mucosal site to internal organs. Parenchymal organs, such as the liver and pancreas, are invaded by C. albicans wild-type hyphal cells between 4...

Candida dubliniensis is a pathogenic yeast species closely related to Candida albicans. However, it is less frequently associated with human disease and displays reduced virulence in animal models of infection. Here comparative genomic hybridization was used in order to assess why C. dubliniensis is apparently less virulent than C. albicans. In these experiments the genomes of the two species w...

The ability of Candida albicans to invade mucosal tissues is a major virulence determinant of this organism; however, the mechanism of invasion is not understood in detail. Proteolytic breakdown of E-cadherin, the major protein in epithelial cell junctions, has been proposed as a mechanism of invasion of certain bacteria in the oral mucosa. The objectives of this study were (i) to assess whethe...

To comprehensively assess the in vivo expression of Candida albicans hydrolytic enzyme genes during oropharyngeal candidiasis (OPC), a controlled sequential analysis of the temporal expression of individual members of the SAP (secretory aspartyl proteinase) gene family and PLB1 (phospholipase B) in a murine model of OPC was conducted. Acute infections in intact C3H and DBA/2 mice were terminate...

Although the echinocandin caspofungin primarily inhibits the synthesis of cell wall 1,3-beta-D-glucan, its fungicidal activity could also potentially perturb the expression of virulence factors involved in the ability of Candida albicans to cause infection. Expression of the C. albicans secretory aspartyl proteinase (SAP) and phospholipase B (PLB) virulence genes was determined by reverse trans...

PURPOSE To correlate the morphogenic and molecular traits that affect fungal virulence in human corneas. METHODS C. albicans wild-type strains SC5314 and VE175 were compared using in vitro growth kinetics, filamentation assays, and microarray analysis. Corneal virulence was assessed ex vivo by inoculating C. albicans onto superficially scarified human corneas that were processed after 1 and 3...

Invasive candidiasis (IC) is associated with high morbidity and mortality in hospitalized patients if not diagnosed early. Long-term use of central venous catheters a predisposing factor for IC. Hyphal forms Candida albicans (the major etiological agent IC) are related to invasion host tissues. The secreted proteins hyphae involved virulence, interaction, immune response, evasion. To identify I...

Polar extracts of Tapirira guianensis Aubl. were prepared for evaluation biological activities. Identification and quantification phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity, inhibition acetylcholinesterase enzyme antifungal potential performed in all extracts. High contents total phenols detected the ethanolic aqueous leaves (237.10±5.39 mg EAG/g 346.46±5.67 EAG) respectively. The same had a free...

PURPOSE Candida albicans (C. albicans) and Proteus species are causative agents in a variety of opportunistic nosocomial infections, and their ability to form biofilms is known to be a virulence factor. In this study, the influence of co-cultivation with Proteus vulgaris (P. vulgaris) and Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) on C. albicans biofilm formation and its underlying mechanisms were examin...