In Vitro Appraisal of Potential Association between Some Virulence Factors and Resistance to Antifungal Agents in Candida albicans Recovered from Different Clinical Specimens

Abstract

ABSTRACT Background: Candida albicans remains the most frequent pathogen of nosocomial fungal infections due to several virulence determinants involved in its pathogenesis. Moreover, antifungal resistance has increased dramatically, narrowing the few available therapeutic options due to their potential toxicity. Nevertheless, correlation between resistance profiles and virulence patterns of C. albicans is not very well- investigated, in addition to the impact of antifungal therapy on such virulence attributes.

Objectives: Based on this information, the present study was carried out to explore the potential associations between resistance profiles and virulence patterns of C. albicans clinical isolates, as well as their potential correlation with the source of clinical specimens. Moreover, this study addressed the effect of subinhibitory concentrations of selected antifungal agents on some virulence factors of C. albicans clinical isolates, since common antifungal agents may disturb the production of secreted hydrolases as well as biofilm formation.