title: Candida tropicalis from veterinary and human sources shows similar in vitro hemolytic activity, antifungal biofilm susceptibility and pathogenesis against Caenorhabditis elegans.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro hemolytic activity and biofilm antifungal susceptibility of veterinary and human Candida tropicalis strains, as well as their pathogenesis against Caenorhabditis elegans. Twenty veterinary isolates and 20 human clinical isolates of C. tropicalis were used. The strains were evaluated for their hemolytic activity and biofilm production. Biofilm susceptibility to itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, amphotericin B and caspofungin was assessed using broth microdilution assay. The in vivo evaluation of strain pathogenicity was investigated using the nematode C. elegans. Hemolytic factor was observed in 95% of the strains and 97.5% of the isolates showed ability to form biofilm. Caspofungin and amphotericin B showed better results than azole antifungals against mature biofilms. Paradoxical effect on mature biofilm metabolic activity was observed at elevated concentrations of caspofungin (8-64μg/mL). Azole antifungals were not able to inhibit mature C. tropicalis biofilms, even at the higher tested concentrations. High mortality rates of C. elegans were observed when the worms were exposed to with C. tropicalis strains, reaching up to 96%, 96h after exposure of the worms to C. tropicalis strains. These results reinforce the high pathogenicity of C. tropicalis from veterinary and human sources and show the effectiveness of caspofungin and amphotericin B against mature biofilms of this species.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil. Electronic address: brilhante@ufc.br.
authors.forename: Raimunda Sâmia Nogueira
authors.initials: RSN
authors.lastname: Brilhante
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jonathas Sales de
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.affiliation: Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Antônio José de Jesus
authors.initials: AJJ
authors.lastname: Evangelista
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Serpa
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary, Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Aline Lobão da
authors.initials: ALD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Felipe Rodrigues Magalhães de
authors.initials: FRM
authors.lastname: Aguiar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vandbergue Santos
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Débora de Souza Collares Maia
authors.initials: DSCM
authors.lastname: Castelo-Branco
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Waldemiro Aquino
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Pereira-Neto
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Medical Sciences, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rossana de Aguiar
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Cordeiro
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Júlio Costa
authors.initials: JJC
authors.lastname: Sidrim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, School of Medicine, Specialized Medical Mycology Center, Postgraduate Program in Medical Microbiology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; School of Veterinary, Postgraduate Program in Veterinary Sciences, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil.
authors.forename: Marcos Fábio Gadelha
authors.initials: MFG
authors.lastname: Rocha
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D018441:Biofilms / Q000187:drug effects*; D017173:Caenorhabditis elegans / Q000382:microbiology*; D041022:Candida tropicalis / Q000502:physiology*; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D025141:Drug Resistance, Fungal; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents
keywords: Biofilm susceptibility; Caenorhabditis elegans; Candida tropicalis; Pathogenesis; Virulence