title: Candida bracarensis: Evaluation of Virulence Factors and its Tolerance to Amphotericin B and Fluconazole.
abstract: Candida bracarensis is an uncommon Candida species found during an epidemiological study of candidiasis performed in Braga, Portugal. Initially, it was identified as C. glabrata, but recently detailed analyses pointed out their differences. So, little information is still available about C. bracarensis virulence factors and antifungal susceptibilities. Therefore, the main goal of this work is to evaluate the ability of C. bracarensis to form biofilms, to produce hydrolytic enzymes (proteases, phospholipases and hemolysins), as well as its susceptibility to amphotericin B and fluconazole. It was shown, for the first time, that all C. bracarensis strains were able to form biofilms and display proteinase and hemolytic activities. Moreover, although planktonic cells presented antifungal susceptibility, amphotericin B and fluconazole were unable to inhibit biofilm formation and eradicate pre-formed biofilms. Due to the propensity of C. bracarensis to display antifungal resistance and virulence attributes, the control of these emerging pathogens is recommended.
authors.affiliation: CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: André
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal. soniasilva@deb.uminho.pt.
authors.forename: Sónia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Cláudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Botelho
authors.affiliation: CBMA, Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sampaio
authors.affiliation: CBMA, Centre of Molecular and Environmental Biology, Department of Biology, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Célia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pais
authors.affiliation: CEB, Centre of Biological Engineering, LIBRO - Laboratório de investigação em Biofilmes Rosário Oliveira, University of Minho, Campus de Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Henriques
mesh_terms: D000666:Amphotericin B / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D015725:Fluconazole / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006461:Hemolysis; D006801:Humans; D006867:Hydrolases / Q000032:analysis; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000032:analysis; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D009183:Mycotoxins; D037521:Virulence Factors; D000666:Amphotericin B; D015725:Fluconazole; D006867:Hydrolases
keywords: Amphotericin B; Antifungal resistance; Candida bracarensis; Fluconazole; Virulence factors