title: Investigating biofilm production, coagulase and hemolytic activity in Candida species isolated from denture stomatitis patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral candidiasis, in the form of Candida-associated denture stomatitis, represents a common disease in a large percentage of denture wearers, and Candida albicans remains the most commonly isolated species. In this study, we aimed to evaluate biofilm production, coagulase and hemolytic activity of Candida species isolated from denture stomatitis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study included 70 patients (31 female, 39 male). Forty-eight of the patients were found to have a positive culture. A total of 48 Candida isolates representing five species, C. albicans (n=17), C. glabrata (n=10), C. krusei (n=9), C. kefyr (n=7) and C. parapsilosis (n=5), were tested. Their coagulase activities were evaluated by a classical tube coagulase test with rabbit plasma. A blood plate assay on 3% enriched sheep blood Sabouraud-dextrose agar (SDA) was used to determine their in vitro hemolytic activities. Biofilm production was determined by a visual tube method.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-one Candida isolates exhibited coagulase activity, and the coagulase activities of the C. albicans (64.7%) isolates were higher than other species. C. albicans, C. glabrata, C. kefyr and C. krusei species demonstrated beta hemolysis. C. parapsilosis strains failed to demonstrate any hemolytic activities. Fifteen (88.0%) of the C. albicans strains were biofilm positive. Six (35.2%) of these strains were strongly positive, 8 (47.0%) C. albicans strains were moderately positive and 1 (5.8%) C. albicans strain was weakly positive. Sixteen (51.6%) of the non-albicans Candida strains were biofilm positive while 15 (48.3%) did not produce biofilms.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of this present study indicate coagulase, hemolytic activity and biofilm production by Candida spp. isolated from patients with denture stomatitis. Investigations of these virulence factors might be helpful in gaining information about the possible virulence of oral Candida species related to denture stomatitis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Laboratory, Health Services Vocational Training School, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nimet
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yigit
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aktas
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Saadettin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dagistan
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Clinical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ahmet
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ayyildiz
keywords: Candida species; Coagulase activity; Denture stomatitis