title: Esterase activity of Candida species isolated from immunocompromised hosts.
abstract: A total of 149 clinical isolates of Candida species isolated from immunocompromised patients were examined to ascertain their esterase activity by the Tween 80 opacity test, which is a biochemical test used mainly to differentiate between Candida albicans and Candida dubliniensis. Our results showed that C. albicans (92.3%), Candida tropicalis (92.3%), Candida parapsilosis (25%), C. dubliniensis (16.6%), Candida inconspicua (100%), and Candida lipolytica (100%) produced opacity halos through the 10-day post-inoculation period. The remaining Candida species did not produce a positive test response. These findings indicate that Tween 80 opacity test cannot be used as the sole phenotypic trait in the differentiation of C. albicans and C. dubliniensis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Dr. A. L. Mudaliar Post Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani, Chennai, India.
authors.forename: Chethrapilly Purushothaman Girish
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.forename: Thangam
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: Thangavel
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sundararajan
authors.forename: Sarathy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nalini
authors.forename: Mandayam Anandampillai
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Thirunarayan
authors.forename: Sikhamani
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rajasekaran
authors.forename: Manjetti
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Venkatadesikalu
mesh_terms: D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology*; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D003470:Culture Media / Q000378:metabolism; D004950:Esterases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006868:Hydrolysis; D016867:Immunocompromised Host; D008027:Light; D010641:Phenotype; D011136:Polysorbates / Q000378:metabolism; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D011136:Polysorbates; D004950:Esterases