Phospholipid molecular species distributions of Candida isolates from the UK and Iran.
OBJECTIVE
Some species of Candida have been shown to differ with respect to their polar lipid fingerprints when analysed by fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry (FABMS). The aims of this study were to contribute to the existing body of information by (i) examining representatives of species not previously examined and (ii) seeking strains differences associated with country of origin (UK or Iran).


RESULTS
FABMS analysis was performed on extracted lipids of 22 strains representing eight species of Candida. The most abundant anion (19 isolates) in spectra was with mass to charge (m/z) 281, corresponding to C18:1 carboxylate. The major phospholipid analogue anions were m/z 515 and 501 (13 strains). These anions were putatively identified as the phosphatidyl molecular species PA(23 : 2) and PA(22 : 2) respectively. Data for strain pairs were compared using the Pearson's coefficient of linear correlation. The values generated were used to cluster strains by nearest-neighbour linkage, using both carboxylate and phospholipid analogue anion data. Isolates of C. parapsilosis were clearly distinct from other isolates. Iranian isolates tended to cluster together when phospholipid anion data were used. However, if carboxylate anion data were used, four Iranian isolates of C. albicans were tightly clustered with three UK isolates, of which two were C. albicans and one was C. dubliniensis.


CONCLUSIONS
It is concluded that both lower, and higher, mass peaks in FABMS spectra can be of potential value in comparing Candida isolates from different countries and from different species.


CONCLUSIONS
When polar lipids of different Candida species are compared, it is important to bear in mind that geographical differences affect results as has been observed with bacteria in similar studies.
Mahmoudabadi
A Z
AZ
Oral Microbiology Laboratory, University Dental Hospital of Manchester, Manchester, UK.
Boote
V
V
Verran
J
J
Johnson
E
E
Drucker
D B
DB
D000838:Anions; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000378:metabolism; D002264:Carboxylic Acids / Q000032:analysis; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D007492:Iran; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis*; D016339:Spectrometry, Mass, Fast Atom Bombardment / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom
D000838:Anions; D002264:Carboxylic Acids; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids