Hydrolytic enzyme production is associated with Candida Albicans biofilm formation from patients with type 1 diabetes

Ranjith Rajendran, Douglas P. Robertson, Penny J. Hodge, David F. Lappin, Gordon Ramage*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

44 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Oral candidosis is common in patients with diabetes mellitus, as yeasts, particularly Candida albicans, have the propensity to colonise, form biofilms and release hydrolytic enzymes which cause inflammation. This study aimed to investigate these characteristics in isolates from three groups of patients with type 1 diabetes: individuals with better controlled diabetes (BCD; ≥6 <8%), individuals with poorly controlled diabetes (PCD; ≥8%) and non-diabetics (ND; HbA1c <5.9%). The biomass (Bm), phospholipase (Pz), haemolysin (Hz) and proteinase (Prz) were assessed using a microtitre biofilm assay and agar-based hydrolytic enzyme assays. Biofilm formation was significantly increased in the PCD group compared to ND and BCD groups (P < 0.05). No significant differences in Pz levels were observed between groups, whereas both Hz and Prz were significantly greater in the diabetes groups than in the healthy control group (P < 0.05). Statistically significant correlations were found to exist between the HbA1c levels of the patients and the Bm (R = 0.384; P = 0.033), haemolysin activity (R = -0.455; P = 0.010) and proteinase activity (R = -0.531; P = 0.002). There was no apparent correlation between the Bm and Pz activity (R = -0.305; P = 0.053) or Hz activity (R = -0.100; P = 0.296). However, a negative correlation was found between Bm and Prz values (R = -0.343; P = 0.030). These data suggest that biofilm formation is likely to play a role in the pathogenicity of oral candidosis, and in patients with diabetes, this may be due to the ability of C. albicans to adapt to the altered physiological environment. The production of hydrolytic enzymes is independently associated with this growth modality.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)229-235
Number of pages7
JournalMycopathologia
Volume170
Issue number4
Early online date30 May 2010
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Biofilm
  • Candida
  • Haemolysin
  • Phospholipase
  • Proteinase
  • Type 1 diabetes mellitus

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology
  • Agronomy and Crop Science
  • veterinary (miscalleneous)

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