MOLECULAR DETECTION OF THE TWO VIRULENCE GENES HWP1 AND ALS1 IN CANDIDA SPECIES ISOLATED FROM ONYCHOMYCOSIS

Abstract

The aim: This article was aimed to assess the prevalence of Candida species causing nail infections and to investigate the most important virulence genes that cause adhesion. Materials and methods: Samples were collected from General Hospital and the outpatient’s clinics in Thi-Qar Province, southern Iraq, during the period from January 2021 to May 2021. Samples were inoculated on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar plates containing 0.5 mg chloramphenicol, then Petri dishes were incubated at 30°C under aerobic conditions and observed for Candida species growth for 24-72 hrs. All isolates were identified by morphologic and chromatic properties on CHROMagar and by Api Candida. Results: Twenty five isolates were obtained from hundred samples, which belong to five species of the genus Candida, distributed in percentage 9(36%), 4(16%), 4(16%), 4(16%) and 3(12%) of C. glabrata, C. krusei, C. albicans, C. famata and C. tropicalis consecutively and one isolate was not identified. Monoplex PCR technique was used to detect virulence genes (hwp1 and als1) of Candida species. Four Candida albicans isolates (16%) were carried of both hwp1 and als1 genes. Conclusions: The virulence gene (hwp1) can be relied upon in molecular detection as a special diagnostic tool of Candida albicans species except other types causing Candidal onychomycosis.