Molecular Identification, Dimorphism and Virulence of C. albicans

Abstract

C. albicans causes human diseases, especially in immune-compromised patients. The current study aimed to identify Candida albicans using different techniques. Dimorphism and virulence behaviour were also studied. A Candida albicans strain was firstly identified by biochemical methods using VITEK 2 Compact automated technique and chromogenically using CHROMagar differential media that differentiate between Candida spp. Based on an enzymatic reaction. Molecular identification using ITS primers was also used to confirm Candida albicans identification. Accession number of the identified C. albicans was obtained as OK104215. The enhancement of dimorphism was studied using RPMI 1640 media (Roswell Park Memorial Institute Medium), while monitoring growth at different time intervals under microscope to investigate dimorphic changes. C. albicans showed its optimum dimorphism after 36-66 hours at 37◦C. HPLC analysis for the enzyme product S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) was carried out at different time intervals. By increasing time, SAM production increased until optimum production reached after 72h of incubation on RPMI 1640. After that the production of SAM began to decrease.