Clade-related phenotypic switching among fluconazole resistant Candida albicans isolates.
BACKGROUND
C. albicans undergoes phenotypic switchng, a putative virulence trait assisting the organism to adapt to different environments. Although this switching has been studied among C. albicans isolates, not much is known about the process among various C. albicans clades (a group of genetic variants within a single species).


OBJECTIVE
To determine whether phenotypic switching among fluconazole resistant C. albicans isolates is clade-related.


METHODS
Fifteen fluconazole resistant C. albicans isolates from different clades were studied. Phenotypic switching was determined by a method previously described. Switching behaviour and different colony morphologies among different clades were compared.


RESULTS
Phenotypic switching was observed in all clades, with clade SA exhibiting the most switching (75%), and clade NG the east (5.6%). Stipple was the most dominant phenotype observed in all clades (p = 0.024), occurring mostly in clade SA (35%). Irregular wrinkle phenotype was dominant in clade SA (62%).


CONCLUSIONS
Phenotypic switching was clade-related. Highest switching in clade SA isolates suggests better survival un der adverse conditions. Stipple and irregular wrinkle phenotypes among clade SA isolates need to be studied further.
Department of Experimental Odontology, School of Oral Health Science, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa. julitha.molepo@wits.ac.za
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Molepo
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Musenge
D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002176:Candida albicans / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D003470:Culture Media; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal / Q000235:genetics; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D009172:Mycology / Q000379:methods; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
D000935:Antifungal Agents; D003470:Culture Media; D015725:Fluconazole