Does alternation of Candida albicans TUP۱ gene expression affect the progress of symptomatic recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis?

Background and Purpose: Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is one of the most common gynecological conditions in healthy and diabetic women, as well as antibiotic users. The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between TUP۱ gene expression patterns and symptomatic recurrent C. albicans infections. Materials and Methods: This research was performed on C. albicans samples isolated from the vaginal specimens obtained from ۳۱ individuals with RVVC in ۲۰۱۶. The reference strain C. albicans ATCC ۱۰۲۳۱, ۱۰ C. albicans strains isolated from minimally symptomatic patients, and ۱۰ isolates from asymptomatic patients were also used as control strains. The relative mRNA expression of the TUP۱ gene was quantified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QRT-PCR). Results: The QRT-PCR results revealed that TUP۱ mRNA expression was significantly decreased (۰.۰۰۱-۰.۹۳۰ fold) in the C. albicans isolates obtained from RVVC patients (p <۰.۰۰۱). However, no TUP۱ expression was detectable in the isolates collected from asymptomatic patients. The results also indicated a significant correlation between TUP۱ mRNA expression level and the severity of itching and discharge (p <۰.۰۰۱). Conclusion: The present results were suggestive of the probable contribution of TUP۱, as a part of the transcriptional repressor, to the severity of the symptoms related to C. albicans infections in the vagina. Regarding this, it is required to perform more in vivo studies using a larger sample size to characterize the regulatory or stimulatory function of TUP۱ in the severity of RVVC symptoms. Furthermore, the study and identification of the genes involved in the severity of the symptomatic manifestations of C. albicans, especially in resistant strains, may lead to the recognition of an alternative antifungal target to enable the development of an effective agent.

Keywords:

candida albicans , Expression , Filamentous growth , TUP۱ gene , Vulvovaginal candidiasis