Fluconazole Resistance Candida albicans in Females With Recurrent Vaginitis and Pir1 Overexpression.
BACKGROUND
Some genes may be associated with Candida albicans resistance to azoles. Pir1 gene is described as responsible to induce resistance in C. albicans.


OBJECTIVE
The current study aimed to find the relationship between fluconazole resistance and Pir1 protein (Pir1p) overexpression in the females with recurrent C. albicans vaginitis requiring longer fluconazole therapy.


METHODS
A total of 52l vaginal samples were obtained from the females with C. albicans vaginitis. The azole susceptibility phenotype was determined according to the Clinical Laboratory for Standards Institute (CLSI) protocol for disk diffusion method and inhibition zone for fluconazole. Expression of pir1 gene and fluconazole -resistance were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in C. albicans.


RESULTS
In the 52 isolates, 49 (94%) were resistant to fluconazole. Overexpression of Pir1 gene was detected in 47 (96%) fluconazole-resistant C. albicans isolates.


CONCLUSIONS
The findings show fluconazole -resistance in C. albicans isolates with overexpression of Pir1p.
Religion and Medicine Research center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, IR Iran.
Zahra
Z
Nasrollahi
Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
Mohammad Hossein
MH
Yadegari
Religion and Medicine Research center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, IR Iran.
Shahla
S
Roudbar Mohammadi
Department of Parasitology and Mycology, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Maryam
M
Roudbary
Department of Mycology, Faculty of Medicine, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, IR Iran.
Maryam
M
Hosseini Poor
Religion and Medicine Research center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, IR Iran.
Fatemeh
F
Nikoomanesh
Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, IR Iran.
Masumeh
M
Rajabi Bazl
Candida albicans; Fluconazole-Resistance; PCR; Pir1; Vaginitis