Investigation and comparison of virulence factors (hydrophobicity, biofilm formation, ergosterol content, secretory enzymes) in Iranian clinical and environmental Candida albicans strains

Abstract

Abstract Background and objectives Nowadays, candidiasis due to Candida species have become a worldwide health problem. The study aimed to detect and compare the prevalence of virulence factors of Candida albicans (hydrophobicity, biofilm formation, ergosterol content, secretory enzymes) isolated from clinical and environmental samples. Materials and Methods A total of 105 clinical and 165 environmental samples suspected of Candida albicans were collected from Imam Khomeini Hospital in Ahvaz, Iran. Isolates were assessed for five putative virulence factor production (ergosterol content, cell surface hydrophobicity, biofilm, protease, and phospholipase activity). Results The total of 60 Candida albicans isolates were identified: clinical (30/60) and environmental (30/60) C. albicans isolates. Biofilm production was observed in 100% of clinical and 80% of environmental C. albicans isolates (p < 0.001). In clinical and environmental C. albicans isolates, protease activity was 66.6% and 76.7%, respectively (p = 0.008). However, phospholipase activity was 60% and 76.7% in clinical and environmental C. albicans isolates, respectively (p = 0.262). The higher cell surface hydrophobicity in clinical isolates (66.4 ± 9.8) than in environmental C. albicans isolates (47.7 ± 17.0) was detected (p < 0.001). The ergosterol content in clinical and environmental C. albicans isolates was 1.2 (± 0.5) and 1.1 (± 0.3), respectively. Conclusions Based on the findings, biofilm formation was the stable characteristic of clinical, and phospholipase and proteinase activity was observed in most environmental C. albicans isolates. The results suggest that it is possible that cross-contamination between patients and the environment occurred because of the high similarity of virulence factors between clinical and environmental isolates.