title: Candida species from oral cavity of HIV-infected children exhibit reduced virulence factors in the HAART era.
abstract: This study aimed to assess, in vitro, the biofilm viability and the phospholipase and protease production of Candida spp. from the saliva of HIV infected children and healthy controls, and to correlate the results with the use of medical data. A total of 79 isolates were analyzed: 48 Candida albicans isolates (33/15) and 20 Candida parapsilosis sensu lato complex isolates (12/8) (from HIV/control patients, respectively), and 8 Candida krusei, 1 Candida tropicalis, 1 Candida dubliniensis and 1 Candida guilliermondii from HIV patients. The XTT (2, 3-bis (2-methoxy-4-nitro-5-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium-5-Carboxanilide) reduction assay analyzed the biofilm viability. Phospholipase and protease assays were performed using the egg yolk and Bovine Serum Albumin agar plate methods, respectively. All isolates were able to form biofilm with cell viability. Quantitatively, Candida isolates from both groups presented a similar ability to form biofilm (p > 0.05). The biofilm viability activity was higher in C. albicans isolates than in non-albicans Candida isolates (p < 0.05) for both groups. Phospholipase activity was detected in 32 isolates (40.5%) and it was significantly higher in the HIV group (p = 0.006). Protease activity was detected in 66 isolates (84.8%) and most of them were relatively/very strong producers. No statistical association with medical data was found in the HIV group. Although Candida spp. isolates from HIV-positive children presented higher phospholipase production, in vitro they exhibited reduced virulence factors compared to isolates from healthy individuals. This finding may enlighten the role played by immunosuppression in the modulation of Candida virulence attributes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense/Niterói (UFF), Brazil. Electronic address: mbportela@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Maristela Barbosa
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Portela
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lima de Amorim
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
authors.forename: Adrielle Mangabeira
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of General Microbiology, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alexandre da Rocha Curvelo
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense/Niterói (UFF), Brazil.
authors.forename: Karol
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: de Oliveira Martins
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinics and Pediatric Dentistry, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal Fluminense/Niterói (UFF), Brazil.
authors.forename: Cauli Lima
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Capillé
authors.affiliation: Department of General Microbiology, Instituto de Microbiologia Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
authors.forename: Rosangela
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maria de Araújo Soares
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Brazil.
authors.forename: Gloria Fernanda
authors.initials: GF
authors.lastname: Barbosa de Araújo Castro
mesh_terms: D023241:Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active; D018441:Biofilms; D002175:Candida / Q000145:classification* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D002180:Candidiasis, Oral / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D060085:Coinfection; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010641:Phenotype; D019562:Viral Load; D037521:Virulence Factors
chemical_list: D037521:Virulence Factors
keywords: Biofilm formation; Candida; HIV-Infected children; Phospholipase; Protease; Virulence factors