title: Determination of germ tube, phospholipase, and proteinase production by bloodstream isolates of Candida albicans.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Candida albicans is a commensal and opportunistic agent that causes infection in immunocompromised individuals. Several attributes contribute to the virulence and pathogenicity of this yeast, including the production of germ tubes (GTs) and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, particularly phospholipase and proteinase. This study aimed to investigate GT production and phospholipase and proteinase activities in bloodstream isolates of C. albicans.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred fifty-three C. albicans isolates were obtained from blood samples and analyzed for GT, phospholipase, and proteinase production. The assays were performed in duplicate in egg yolk medium containing bovine serum albumin and human serum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Detectable amounts of proteinase were produced by 97% of the isolates, and 78% of the isolates produced phospholipase. GTs were produced by 95% of the isolates. A majority of the isolates exhibited low levels of phospholipase production and high levels of proteinase production.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Bloodstream isolates of C. albicans produce virulence factors such as GT and hydrolytic enzymes that enable them to cause infection under favorable conditions.
authors.affiliation: Programa de Pós Graduação em Ciências Pneumológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil. antonella.mattei@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Antonella Souza
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Mattei
authors.forename: Sydney Hartz
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Cecília Bittencourt
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Severo
authors.forename: Luciana da Silva
authors.initials: Lda S
authors.lastname: Guazzelli
authors.forename: Flávio de Mattos
authors.initials: Fde M
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Luiz Carlos
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Severo
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D002417:Cattle; D006801:Humans; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors; D012710:Serum Albumin, Bovine; D010740:Phospholipases; D010447:Peptide Hydrolases