Candida tropicalis affects the virulence profile of Candida albicans: an in vitro and in vivo study

Author(s)

de Barros, Patricia Pimentel ^[1] ; Rossoni, Rodnei Dennis ^[1] ; Freire, Fernanda ^[1] ; Ribeiro, Felipe de Camargo ^[1] ; das Chagas Lopes, Lucas Alexandre ^[1] ; Junqueira, Juliana Campos ^[1] ; Cardoso Jorge, Antonio Olavo ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] UNESP Univ Estadual Paulista, Inst Sci & Technol, Dept Biosci & Oral Diag, Francisco Jose Longo 777, BR-12245000 Sao Jose Dos Campos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: PATHOGENS AND DISEASE; v. 76, n. 2 MAR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 5

Abstract

Candida albicans and Candida tropicalis are commensal microorganisms occurring in the oral cavity of approximately 50%-70% of healthy individuals. However, these microbes can become pathogenic through changes in the environment or weakened host immune system. Thus, the aim of this investigation was to evaluate the interaction between species of the genus Candida in the biofilm formation, filamentation, gene expression and virulence in Galleria mellonella. Coincubation of C. albicans with C. tropicalis cells after 48 h resulted in significant reduction of biofilm formation by decreasing viable cell counts, metabolic activity and hyphal growth. The C. albicans genes (BCR1, CPH1, EFG1, UME6, HWP1, ALS3, SAP5 and PLB2) were quantified by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and most of genes were downregulated. Regarding in vivo assay, the groups that the larvae received C. albicans and C. tropicalis had a significant survival increase compared to the control group of C. albicans (P = 0.0001) in agreement with the in vitro results. In conclusion, C. tropicalis colonization was associated with a decrease in the growth of C. albicans, suggesting an antagonistic relation between these two species. Therefore, C. tropicalis by reducing C. albicans virulence profile may limit the ability of this pathogenic fungus to cause infection. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/25181-8 - Isolation and characterization of Lactobacillus spp. from oral cavity and their probiotic action in Candida albicans: biofilm formation, infection in invertebrate models and EFG1, HWP1 and ALS1 gene expression
• Grantee: Rodnei Dennis Rossoni
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 15/09770-9 - Isolation and characterization of Lactobacillus spp. from oral cavity and its probiotic action in Candida albicans and Streptococcus mutans
• Grantee: Juliana Campos Junqueira
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/15250-0 - EVALUATION OF TEMPORAL EXPRESSION OF GENES SAP5, SAP9, PLB1, PLB2, LIP9 LIP10 IN INTERACTIONS BETWEEN SPECIES C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. glabrata and C. krusei.
• Grantee: Patrícia Pimentel de Barros
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate