title: Phospholipase and Aspartyl Proteinase Activities of Candida Species Causing Vulvovaginal Candidiasis in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.
abstract: Few research had investigated the secretion of phospholipase and aspartyl proteinase from Candida spp. causing infection in females with type 2 diabetes mellitus. This research aimed to investigate the prevalence of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) in diabetic versus non-diabetic women and compare the ability of identified Candida isolates to secrete phospholipases and aspartyl proteinases with characterization of their genetic profile. The study included 80 females with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 100 non-diabetic females within the child-bearing period. Candida strains were isolated and identified by conventional microbiological methods and by API Candida. The isolates were screened for their extracellular phospholipase and proteinase activities by culturing them on egg yolk and bovine serum albumin media, respectively. Detection of aspartyl proteinase genes (SAP1 to SAP8) and phospholipase genes (PLB1, PLB2) were performed by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Our results indicated that vaginal candidiasis was significantly higher among the diabetic group versus nondiabetic group (50% versus 20%, respectively) (p = 0.004). C. albicans was the most prevalent species followed by C. glabrata in both groups. No significant association between diabetes mellitus and phospholipase activities was detected (p = 0.262), whereas high significant proteinase activities exhibited by Candida isolated from diabetic females were found (82.5%) (p = 0.000). Non-significant associations between any of the tested proteinase or phospholipase genes and diabetes mellitus were detected (p > 0.05). In conclusion, it is noticed that the incidence of C. glabrata causing VVC is increased. The higher prevalence of vaginal candidiasis among diabetics could be related to the increased aspartyl proteinase production in this group of patients.
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Rasha H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Bassyouni
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ahmed Ashraf
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Wegdan
authors.affiliation: Obstetric and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdelsamie
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Abdelmoneim
authors.affiliation: Obstetric and Gynecology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Wessam
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Said
authors.affiliation: Medical Microbiology and Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Egypt.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: AboElnaga
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D057055:Aspartic Acid Proteases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002181:Candidiasis, Vulvovaginal / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D002417:Cattle; D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000032:analysis* / Q000235:genetics; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D010740:Phospholipases; D057055:Aspartic Acid Proteases
keywords: Candida; aspartyl proteinases; phospholipases; type 2 diabetes mellitus; vulvovaginitis