Determination of the proteinase, phosphlipase and esterase activity among the candida strains isolated from various clinic samples

2. ABSTRACT Determination of the Proteinase, Phospholipase and Esterase Activity Among the Candida Strains Isolated From Various Clink Samples Candidas are the yeast which can be found free in nature or in the various microbial flora of human and mammalian animals. In recent years, the patients', with cancer, transplant and receiving immunosuppressive therapy, life expectancy has been increased due to developed therapy protocols. The increasing isolation rates of non-albicans strains from the yeast infections, caused to augment of the medical importance of the virulence factors of these strains. Virulence factors of Candida contribute to develop infection as much as the host's factors. In this study, species determinations were performed of a total of 100 Candida strains and proteinase, phospholipase and esterase activity according to species were investigated. Of the total 100 Candida strains, 58 were found as Candida albicans, 14 were C. glabrata, 1 1 were C. tropicalis, five were C. tropicalis, four were C.famata, four were C. sake, three were C. krusei, two were C. guiellermondii, one was C. lusitaniaee, one was C. pelluculosa and one was C. curvata. Proteinase activity was investigated in bovine serum albumin agar according to visualize translucent area due to protein lysis. Proteinase rate according to species were; 82.7 % for C. albicans, 72.7 % for C. tropicalis, 40 % for C. famata, 50 % for C. guillermondii, 100 % C. lusitaniaee and for C. cruvata. No proteinase activity detected in C. sake, C. krusei and C. pelluculosa strains. The distribution of the proteinase activity according to clinic samples were; 100% for stool, nasopharynx,sputum and wound; 83.3 % for blood, 57.9 % for vaginal discharge and 46.6 % for urine. The phospholipase activity was investigated in agar with egg's allontois media. The radius of the Candida's colony was divided to length of the colony plus precipitation zone diameter. In the case of the rate was 1, it was commenced as negative; smaller than 1 ones were accepted as positive reaction. According to species rates were found as; 89.6 % for C. albicans, 72.7 for C. tropicalis. There was no phospholipase activity in the other species. The distribution of the phospholipase activity according to clinic samples were; 100 % for nasopharynx, 66.6 % for blood and urine sputum and 59.4 % for vaginal discharge. The esterase activity was investigated in Tween-80 agar. In the inoculation area; collection of the translucent opaque crystals or emerging opaque zones were indicated that the esterase production. Esterase production rate according to species were; 93.1 % for C. albicans, 100 % for C. tropicalis, 7.1 % for C. glabrata, 60 % for C.famata, 50 % C. guillermondii and 100 % C. cruvata. There was no esterase activity in the other species. The distribution of the esterase activity according to clinic samples were; 100 % for stool, nasopharynx, sputum and wound; 73.9 for vaginal discharge, 66.6 % for blood and 53.3 % for urine. Among the Candida strains that were included in to the study, proteinase, phospholipase and esterase production rates, as the virulence factors of Candida species, were found in moderate to high levels and in the case of Candida infections, investigation of the production of these factors will contribute to planning the therapy. Keywords: Candida strains, proteinase, phospholipase, esterase.