Relation of ALS ۱ and ALS۳ genes and fluconazole resistance in Candida albicans isolated from vaginal candidacies

Candida albicans is an opportunistic fungi that is able to thrive in many host niches, including the skin, mucosal, surfaces, the blood stream and internal organs. Agglutinin-like sequence (ALS) genes which could play a role in forming biofilms, adherence to host surfaces as a virulence factor and antifungal drug resistant. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the presence ALS۱ and ALS۳ genes in clinical strains of C.albicans isolated from women with vaginal candidiasis symptom. Vaginal swabs were collected from patients suffering from vaginal candidiasis and admitted to health care centers (Tehran, Iran) from June ۲۰۱۱ until June ۲۰۱۲ and cultured on Sabaouraud Dextros Agar for ۴۸ hours. A PCR-RFLP was used with MspI restriction enzyme for identification of Candida albicans. Susceptibility testing of ۵۳ clinical isolates of C.albicans isolates was done against Fluconazole by using disk diffusion method. Total DNA was extracted from C.albicans isolates and PCR assay was used to evaluate the presence of ALS۱, ALS۳ and internal control (ACT۱) genes. ۵۳ clinical isolates out of ۱۰۰ were identified as C.albicans by using PCR-RFLP. Three (۵.۷%) of them were susceptible and ۵۰ (۹۴.۳%) were resistant to fluconazole. ۴۴ patients (۸۳%) with vaginal candidiasis were positive for ALS۱ gene and ۴۸ ones (۹۰.۵%) were positive for ALS۳. According our finding, a significant correlation was seen between the presence of ALS۱ and ALS۳ genes and fluconazole resistance in C.albicans isolates.

Keywords:

Candida albicans , ALS۱ , ALS۳ , vaginal candidiasis