[Cell surface hydrophobicity as an indicator of other virulence factors in Candida albicans].

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate virulence factors involved in the adhesion process, such as cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH), adherence to plastic capacity, adherence capacity to buccal epithelial cells (BEC), and biofilm formation, in 17 strains of C. albicans isolated from bronchial aspirates of critically ill patients.

METHOD

The CSH of the strains of C. albicans was determined using the MATH method, a microbial adhesion to hydrocarbons test. The study of adherence to plastic was performed in microtitre plates in accordance with Christensen's technique. Biofilm formation was studied in polystyrene microtitre plates, according to the method of Ramage. Adherence to BEC was evaluated by quantifying the percentage of adhered yeasts to cells.

RESULTS

All the strains studied showed factors directly involved in adhesion, with variability in the degree of expression among them. Medium-high levels of CSH were found in 52.9% of the strains. The percentage of strains with high values in adherence to plastic was 35.3%. The most hydrophobic strains were the most adherent to plastic, with a correlation coefficient of 0.76. Of the 12 biofilm-producing strains, 6 were high producers. These strains had also high levels of CSH and adherence to plastic, with significant results. All the strains studied adhered to BEC, with results ranging widely from 45 to 157 yeasts/100 BEC, with no significant correlation with the rest of the parameters studied, although CSH was seen to be an indispensable prior requisite for adherence to cells.

CONCLUSION

CSH is a variable characteristic in C. albicans and is directly related to adherence to plastic and biofilm formation. Ease in evaluating CSH permits its quantification, and could be used as an indicator of the presence of other determinants of pathogenicity.